Arapovo Monastery

42°0′52″N 24°59′39″E / 42.01444°N 24.99417°E / 42.01444; 24.99417

The Arapovo Monastery of

Saint Nedelya (Bulgarian: Араповски манастир „Света Неделя“, Arapovski manastir „Sveta Nedelya“) is a Bulgarian Orthodox monastery lying some six kilometres east of the town of Asenovgrad in central southern Bulgaria. Founded in the mid-19th century, it belongs to the Plovdiv eparchy of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church and was named after the nearby village of Arapovo, today known as Zlatovrah.^[1]

Construction of the monastery began around 1856 and was initiated by the hieromonk Sophronius. The location was selected due to the presence of a holy spring nearby. The monastical school was founded in 1859, the same year the monastery's main church was completed. Architecturally, the Arapovo Monastery bears a strong resemblance to the Gorni Voden Monastery; the architect who headed the construction was master Stoyu from Yugovo. The main painter was Vasil Levski's associate Georgi Danchov, who was assisted by Aleksi Atanasov.^[1]

The monastery's main church, dedicated to Saint Nedelya, is a large three-

ktitor of the monastery. The tower has three storeys. The lower two were constructed entirely of stone and feature narrow windows intended for defensive purposes, while the top storey is a wooden bay-windowed

construction with four rooms designed for habitation.

Gallery

Exterior of the Arapovo Monastery
Angel Voyvoda's Tower
Main church
Holy spring chapel
View from the inner yard

References

^ ^a ^b ^c Станчева, Гергана. "Араповски манастир "Св. Неделя"" (in Bulgarian). Pravoslavie.bg. Archived from the original on 2009-06-01. Retrieved 2009-04-11.

[prav-1] Станчева, Гергана. "Араповски манастир "Св. Неделя"" (in Bulgarian). Pravoslavie.bg. Archived from the original on 2009-06-01. Retrieved 2009-04-11.

[1]

v t e Asenovgrad Municipality
Capital: Asenovgrad
Villages	Bachkovo Bor Boyantsi Cherven Dobrostan Dolnoslav Gornoslav Izbeglii Izvorovo Kozanovo Konush Kosovo Lenovo Lyaskovo Mostovo Muldava Narechenski Bani Novakovo Novi Izvor Oreshets Patriarch Evtimovo Sini Vrah Stoevo Topolovo Tri Mogili Uzunovo Vrata Zhalt Kamak Zlatovrah
Landmarks	Asen's Fortress with the Church of the Holy Mother of God Bachkovo Monastery Arapovo Monastery Church of St John the Baptist
Culture	Mavrud
Notable people	Blagovest Sendov