Merdanya Monastery St. Forty Martyrs
Type: Monastery
Location: Village Merdanya »
In Bulgarian: Мердански манастир "Св. четиридесет мъченици" »
The monastery "St. Forty Martyrs" (aka Merdanski Monastery) is located in Turnovo heights of the Balkan Mountain, in southern part of Merdanya village, 10 km west of the town of Zlataritsa and 11 km southeast of the town of Lyaskovets. The monastery dates from the Second Bulgarian Kingdom (XIII century) and today is acting as a nunnery. It is believed that the monastery was founded at the place, where the Patriarch of Turnovo Joanikiy II has welcomed Tsar Ivan Assen II after his victory over the Byzantines at Klokotnitsa (March 9, 1230 ), which was coincided with the date of the feast of St Forty Martyrs Sevastiyski.
The monastery consists of a church, residential and commercial buildings. The monastery church was built in 1867 and is one-apse building with dimensions of 20 x 9 meters, with a narthex and a dome on a high drum.
Merdanski monastery "St. Forty Martyrs" has been declared a cultural monument.
The monastery consists of a church, residential and commercial buildings. The monastery church was built in 1867 and is one-apse building with dimensions of 20 x 9 meters, with a narthex and a dome on a high drum.
Merdanski monastery "St. Forty Martyrs" has been declared a cultural monument.
