Monastery of St. Muldavsky. Paraskeva
   Photo: Monastery of St. Muldavsky. Paraskeva

Muldavsky Monastery of Saint Paraskeva is situated in the Western Rhodopes, about 2, 5 km south-west of the village Muldava and 4 km to the southeast from the town of Asenovgrad. The monastery was founded in the XIV century, but soon was devastated by the advancing Ottoman troops. Like most of the monasteries in the area, it was built in the immediate vicinity of the ancient springs.

During the Ottoman slavery the monastery was repeatedly subjected to destruction. For example, it has become a victim of the Turkish religious fanaticism in 1666. The last time the monastery rebuilt in 1836 under the leadership of Abbot Antim. Then it was built the current cathedral church and residential buildings.

In the Renaissance Muldavskaya monastery became an important center of the book. It features a large library, which is stored in the collections of many rare ancient manuscripts. Subsequently, it was looted and destroyed. Until 1888 the monastery functioned school.

The monastery complex consists of a two-storey building with an upper storey semi-open .  Buildings and spacious courtyard on all sides it is surrounded by a high wall .  In the center of the courtyard stands the collegiate church with a high bell tower .  Orthodox church, built in 1836, is a large nave beskupolnuyu psevdobaziliku one apse and the porch, in the south-west side of the bell tower was attached to which .  Of particular interest is an open gallery arcade of five arches supported by seven pillars tetrahedral .  In 1840 the church was painted by artists tryavnenskimi - K .  Zahariev and his sons Peter and Georg .  The walls, arches and arched openings gallery since decorate murals with images of Saints Cyril and Methodius; inside the church painters captured Orhidskogo Clement, Nahum Preslavski, Euphemia and Theodosius of Tarnovo and others on the eastern wall - an impressive composition "Last Judgement", and on the north and south walls - painting "The Creation", "apocalypse", "Acts of the Apostles" .

In 1888 a 20-meters from the monastery complex of curative source was built a small building. In 1946, the church collapsed, survived only the west wall with entrance and arcade. In 1951 it was completely restored.

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