In English: The Holy Trinity monastery, also known as the
Patriarch’s monastery, lies about 10km away from the ancient
town and ex-Bulgarian capital, Veliko Turnovo. The monastery has
been built high above the town in an extraordinarily beautiful
area, huddling at the foot of a vertical rocky massif.
The first sanctuary in the vicinity dates back to 1070. Later
on, in 1368 a hermit, Teodosii of Turnovo, moved to a small cave
formed in the rocky massif above the present-day monastery. As
other monks started arriving here to seek spiritual advice from or
just talk to Teodosii, the place was gradually transformed into a
true community of monks. Soon afterwards, the future Patriarch
Evtimii also joined the cloister and promptly became famous for his
abilities in the first literary school in Bulgaria, established by
the monks there. As Teodosii grew older, he gradually transferred
his everyday tasks of running the monastery to Evtimii. Thus, after
the sudden death of Teodossi in Tsarigrad (present-day Istanbul)
during an oecumenical council, Evtimii became naturally father
superior of the monastery.
The monastery was supported by the authorities in the face of
Ivan Alexander and Ivan Shishman who used to come to the cloister
to talk to Teodosii and often provided financial support and food
for the monks. At the end of the 14th century when the state was
invaded by Ottoman troops, the then-Patriarch Evtimii was entrusted
with gold by Ivan Shishman to buy out the capital if needed, while
the tzar himself led his troops to the borders. Unfortunately,
neither the Patriarch nor the tzar was able to save the country
from falling under Ottoman domination. While the 300 monks of the
monastery were slaughtered by the Ottomans, Patriarch Evtimii
together with other high-ranked officials of Turnovo were lined up
and forced to either convert to Islam or die. When the turn of
Evtimii to make his choice came, the Patriarch declined to convert
and was sentenced to death. The verdict was not executed though as
the hand of the executioner froze in the air and could not move.
This was taken by the Turks as a holy sign and the Patriarch was
sent in exile instead.
Shortly before the liberation from the Ottoman domination the
monastery was restored with the famous master, Kolyo Fitcheto,
having his contribution. The master rebuilt the church in 1848
while another famous artist of that time, Zahari Zograf, painted
its frescoes. Unfortunately, an earthquake ruined the church and
other buildings of the monastery in 1913. The design of the
reconstructed church, kept till present days, is different from
Kolyo Fitcheto’s one as it has domes, banned for Orthodox
churches during Ottoman times.
The monastery was a male one until 1946 when the first women
came here, initially living in the staples and cattle-sheds. The
current mother superior arrived in 1948 and is currently 84 years
old. Due to her and the other nuns’ efforts, the monastery
has grown in the past few decades. The oldest buildings that are
still functioning date back to 1948, while the church in its
present-day design is about 10 years old and is still being painted
inside.
http://bulgarianmonastery.com/patriarch_monastery.html
In Bulgarian: Manastirat “Sveta Troitsa”,
izvesten oshte i kato Patriarsheski manastir, e razpolozhen na
okolo 10 km. ot antichnata krepost Tsarevets i starata balgarska
stolitsa Veliko Tarnovo. Namira se v prekrasna mestnost, v
podnozhieto na nepristapni skali.
Parvata obitel v rayona datira ot 1070 g. Prez 1368 g.
otshelnikat Teodosiy Tarnovski se otteglya v malka peshtera v
skalnia masiv nad dneshnia manastir. Sled kato drugi monasi
zapochvat da priizhdat tarseyki duheven savet ili prosto razgovor s
Teodosiy, myastoto postepenno se prevrashta v istinska monasheska
obshtnost. Skoro sled tova, badeshtiyat Patriarh Evtimiy sashto se
prisaedinyava kam obshtnostta i barzo stava izvesten sas svoite
sposobnosti v parvoto knizhovno uchilishte, sazdadeno ot monasite
tam. S ostaryavaneto si Teodosiy postepenno prehvarlya na Evtimiy
deynostta si po upravlenieto na manastira. Taka savsem estestveno
Evtimiy stava igumen na “Sveta Troitsa” sled vnezapnata
smart na Teodosiy Tarnovski.
Po onova vreme obitelta se izdarzha ot vlastta v litseto na Ivan
Aleksandar i Ivan Shishman, koito sa poseshtavali manastira za
razgovori s Teodosiy i chesto sa okazvali finansova pomosht i sa
ostavyali hrana za monasite. V kraya na 14-ti v., kogato darzhavata
e zavladyana ot osmanskite voyski, badeshtiyat Patriarh Evtimiy
poluchava zlato ot Ivan Shishman, s koeto da otkupi stolitsata pri
nuzhda, dokato samiyat tsar voyuva na granitsite sreshtu
nashestvenitsite. Za sazhalenie, nikoy ot dvamata ne uspyava da
spasi stranata i stolitsata ot padaneto pod osmansko vladichestvo.
Evtimiy zaedno s drugi vidni zhiteli na Tarnovo sa prinudeni da
priemat Islyama ili da umrat, dokato pred pogleda im bivat izkoleni
300-te monasi ot manastira. Kogato idva momenta za izbora na
Patriarha, toy otkazva da si smeni vyarata i e osaden na smart. Vse
pak prisadata ne e izpalnena – spored predanieto rakata na
palacha zamrazva vav vazduha i ostava nepodvizhna. Tova se priema
ot turtsite kato sveshten znak i zatova Evtimiy e praten v
izgnanie.
Malko predi osvobozhdenieto ot osmansko igo manastira e
vazstanoven s pomoshtta na izvstnia maystor Kolyo Ficheto. Toy
izdiga tsarkvata, sled koeto drug izvesten maystor – Zahari
Zograf – ya izografisva. Za sazhalenie, zemetresenieto prez
1913 g. razrushava hrama i drugite sgradi. Dizayna na
rekonstruiranata sled tova i zapazena do dnes tsarkva e razlichen
ot tozi na Kolyo Ficheto, tay kato sadarzha kupoli, zabraneni za
pravoslavnite tsarkvi po vreme na robstvoto.
Manastirat e mazhki do 1946 g., kogato idvat parvite zheni
– v nachaloto te zhiveyat v selskostopanskite sgradi.
Nastoyashtata igumenka pristiga prez 1948 g. i po nastoyashtem e na
84-godishna vazrast. Blagodarenie na neynite i na drugite monahini
usilia, manastira protsaftyava prez poslednite desetiletia.
Nay-starite vse oshte funktsionirashti sgradi sa ot 1948 g., a
tsarkvata v segashnia si vid e na 10 godini i vse oshte se izpisva
otvatre.
http://bulgarianmonastery.com/bg/patriarch_monastery.html