The cave church complex in Ivanovo is located in northeastern Bulgaria, 21 km from the town of Ruse, near the village of Ivanovo. It is located on the territory of Ruse Lom - Natural Park. The complex is a unique for Bulgaria archaeological phenomenon cave churches carved out at an altitude of 32 meters above the river flowing along the bottom of the canyon. This paved the way pointers, arranged car park at the foot of the cliffs. To each of the churches, chapels and cells laid climbing stairs.

The monastery in the early 13th century, founded the monk Joachim, who later became the first Bulgarian patriarch Tyrnova. Benefactor of the monastery were the kings of Ivan Asen II, Ivan Alexander and other members of the royal court. Their portraits are still kept in the monastery.

The heyday of the rock complex accounts for 10-14 century, at this time there is formed the center of the Bulgarian spiritual life. In the 13th century the inhabitants of the monastery for more than 20 years, settled in three hundred cells, and forty chapels and churches in natural caves on both banks of the river. All these areas were merged into one large monastery complex of St. Michael the Archangel.

Ivanovsky historic rock complex - the most popular in the region, tourists are attracted by the beauty and restraint architectural techniques, as well as well-preserved to this day in six frescoes of the monastery churches. These samples mural - proof of excellence of the famous painters of the Turnovo school. Most of the murals created in the 14th century, the most famous of them are "Washing of the Feet," "Peter's denial," "Kiss of Judas". Thanks to the well-preserved wall paintings Ivanovo cave monastery on the list of World Heritage cultural organization UNESCO.

In the 14th century cave monastery Ivanovo became the center of Hesychasm (special mystical for Orthodoxy). In the first centuries of Ottoman rule the monastery was still in force, but gradually the spiritual life here began to decline and rock complex was deserted. Status archaeological reserve of national significance monastery complex acquired in 1978. Now part of the caves are not suitable for visits, but the rest are original appearance.