Glozhene Monastery

Perched dramatically atop a sheer stone cliff beneath the rugged peak of Kamen Lisets (1,073 m) in the Central Balkan Mountains, Glozhene Monastery of St. George the Conqueror (Glozhenski manastir) is one of Bulgaria's most visually striking Orthodox sanctuaries. Located 12 km from the mountain town of Teteven and near the village of Glozhene, the monastery commands sweeping 360-degree views across the forested valleys below. Unlike most Bulgarian monasteries built in hidden river valleys during Ottoman times, Glozhene stands high on an exposed rocky promontory, resembling a medieval mountain fortress. Legends of Prince Glozh & Founding According to centuries-old tradition, the monastery was founded in the early 13th century (around 1223) by Prince Georgiy Glozh, a Kievan noble who sought refuge in Bulgaria fleeing the Mongol invasions. Tsar Ivan Asen II granted him lands in the area, where he founded the village of Glozhene. - The Miraculous Icon: Legend has it that the prince originally began constructing the monastery in the lower valley. However, a wooden icon of St. George brought from his homeland repeatedly vanished and reappeared on the high cliffs above. Taking this as a divine omen, the monks built the sanctuary on its current inaccessible perch. - The Ancient Tomb: During excavations following an earthquake in 1929, workers uncovered a stone-cut tomb beneath the floor of the old church containing an oak coffin with the skeleton of an unusually tall man wearing silver-gilded buttons—believed to be Prince Glozh himself. Enlightenment & Revolutionary Legacy Throughout the Ottoman period, the monastery functioned as a major educational and spiritual citadel for the Lovech and Teteven regions: - Monastic Schools: The monks established several monastic schools (kiliyni uchilishta) in Lovech and neighboring villages, fostering Bulgarian language and literacy. - Vasil Levski's Hideout: During the 19th-century independence struggle, Abbot Hadzhi Evtimiy—a close friend of national hero Vasil Levski—turned the monastery into a secret revolutionary base. A hidden escape tunnel carved beneath Levski's cell remains preserved to this day. - Exile of Vasil Drumev: Following Bulgarian liberation, writer and Orthodox Metropolitan Kliment of Tarnovo (Vasil Drumev) was exiled here in 1893 after delivering a sermon defending Orthodoxy. A small museum room in the residential wing commemorates his life. Architecture & Present Day Church - Reconstruction: After powerful earthquakes in 1904 and 1913 damaged the original medieval church, the current single-nave church was erected between 1929 and 1931 on a reinforced concrete platform. - Sacred Relics: The church houses a carved wooden iconostasis dating to the 17th century and a rare boxwood-carved icon of St. George, encased in an 18th-century silver frame. Useful Visitor Information - Location: Teteven Municipality, Lovech Province (12 km from Teteven, 25 km from Yablanitsa, and 100 km northeast of Sofia). - Accessibility: Accessible via a narrow asphalt mountain road branching off from Malak Izvor village, leading to a parking area right outside the monastery gates. - Key Highlights: Vasil Levski's secret underground escape tunnel, Metropolitan Kliment's museum, the miraculous icon of St. George, and the panoramic clifftop courtyard. - Trip Tip: Combine your visit to Glozhene Monastery with a tour of the historic town of Teteven, Saeva Dupka Cave near Yablanitsa, or the scenic Koznitsa Waterfall eco-trail.