“St. John the Precursor”
Lopushanski Monastery is located in Chiprovtsi, in Bulgaria’s Stara Planina Mountains, 17 km from the town of Montana. Erected on the site of an earlier structure, from the time of the Second Bulgarian Kingdom, the four-year reconstruction began in 1850. In 1989, the Holy place was reconstructed and two wood-carved verandas were added. Both projects were financed by the Vidin Holy Bishopric.
The monastery is dedicated to St. John the Precursor. A monumental five-dome building, it has a circular arcade narthex and a pair of side chapels – “Saints Kosmas and Damian” and “Saint John the Baptist.” The facade and the gates are adorned with stone reliefs. The central iconostasis was created in 1863 by Stoycho Fandakov, from the Samokov wood-carving school. The focal icons – of Jesus and the Holy Virgin – were painted by Stanislav Dospevski in 1863, during the Bulgarian national revival. Stanislav’s brother, Nicola, created the rest.
Ivan Vazov, Bulgaria’s national poet, frequented Lopushanski.
Image: Taken 26 June 2008 (click to enlarge)