|
27 April 2007 12:00 News Flash
St. Alanasiy Alexandrine (lived during 296-373), who was
respected as the Great, by the early Christian Church, because of
his significant contribution in theology, was considered to be the
bearer of the monkhood from Egypt to the European continent. The
British historian Sir Julian Huxley, one of the greatest authorities
in the modern history science, explicitly pointed St. Atanasiy's
service for development of the European Christian civilization, in
his works 30 years ago. The Alexandrian Patriarch visits our
present Bulgarian lands in connection with the Ecumenical Council in
Serdica (343-344) and as we read in his life, he stayed near Beroe
(present Stara Zagora) on his way and has found a monastery. That
cause isn't accident - St. Atanasiy is one of the greatest partisans
for the purity of the Orthodox faith and mostly for its postulate
about the Holy Trinity in the fight for the current, during that
time heresy of Aryans (that heresy denies the heavenly equivalence
of Jesus Christ). That is to say the two provinces Moesia and
Thrace, which were populated by the Thracians and the Goths then,
became main arenas for the fight between the two basic trends in the
Christian principals then. The place, where the monastery is found, has been chosen not only
for the sake of its nearness with the strategic road Constantinople
- Serdica then. Besides, it is situated at the pedestal of an
important fortress, whose remains can be seen over the monastery
nowadays and the place of the monastery is also near a Thracian
Sanctuary. Obviously the sanctuary "was transformed" by the saint,
from a pagan into a Christian water Sanctuary. It was practice,
typical about that epoch of stage to the new Christian faith.
Obviously, founders of such cloisters, due to their gift, could find
and sanctify those places that are called healing power centres
nowadays and which are some of the greatest natural and historical
resources of Bullaria. Local legends, about the medicinal water of the monastery well,
connected with its establishment and patronage by the saint; the
centuries old continuance of the health pilgrimage, seen in
attributes and practice, and known from the late Antiquity (for
example, spending the night in the Church with metal medallions,
which are put on the sick place, etc,) also give reason, together
with the data of the saint's life and some original archaeological
evidence, to be supposed the establishment of the monastery in the
remote 344. The unique of that first and the oldest European monastery
(followed by "Candida Casa" in Scotland found by St. Martin) is
added by the hermitress in the cliffs above it. That is a miraculous
hole, inhabited by the saint and his followers on days of fast,
prayer and solitude, through which the pilgrims pass for health and
prosperity. Such hermitresses are usually part of the spiritual and
the architectural ensemble of the most significant monastery
cloisters such as the Rila monastery. During its 1660 year old
history the St. Atanasiy Monastery was destroyed and built many
times. There is indisputable archaeological material about its
existence in the Middle Ages, which was found by archaeological
drilling in the 70's of the last century and kept nowadays in the
historical museum in the town of Stara Zagora. Even at the beginning of the 80's a new large building of the
monastery had been built at the idea of Lyudmila Zhivkova. Its
impressive architecture puts it among the superior Bulgarian
monasteries. One of the new gains of the monastery is the Egyptian
icon of St. Atanasiy, which has been granted to the monastery by the
Alexandrian Patriarch Petros VII. The Second of May is the patron saint's day of the monastery.
Since 2004 the monastery has been studied by historians,
archaeologists, ethnologists. They study its ancient history in
connection of the studies about the beginning of the Christianity in
Europe and the great missionary and theological activities of St.
Atanasiy. The Monastery complex, combining in itself the ancient Christian
tradition with splendid natural beauty offers excellent conditions
for cultural and ecological Tourism. Courtesy Balkan Media
Academy Words from Properties in Bulgaria Editor:
 Properties in Bulgaria is proud to
offer a very special deal in the village of Zlatna Livada. Charming rural
house in the centre of the village in nice river valley, emerging European
tourist attraction (the oldest Christian Monastery is in the village
outskirts). This region of Bulgaria is known for its mellow climate. A
clean river passes nearby. The house needs renovation work. It consists of
two storey, each comprising two rooms. Mains water and electricity,
telephone land line connection possible, septic tank sewage, mobile
telephone good reception. Stone fence surrounds the garden of the house
which is some 1,200 m2. Large barn outside and outbuildings.
Situated on the main road of the village.
Price is 28,000 euros
only!
This fantastic house could be yours
today!
| |||||||
