During the time of the Second Bulgarian State (12-14c.), in Veliko Tarnovo and its surroundings appeared 14 Bulgarian monasteries, which grew into significant literary and spiritual centers. One of them is St. St. Peter and Pavel, also known under the name Petropavlovski. Situated 6 km to the northeast of the former Bulgarian capital and 3 km from the town of Lyaskovets, the monastery rises majestically against the soaring impenetrable rocks of the Arbanashko Plateau. From afar its silhouette reminds of a medieval castle, while its large terrace commands a breath-taking view - extending from the infinity of the Danube plain to the summit of the Elenski Mountains.

The Petropavlovski Monastery was probably built during the rule of Tzar Assen, yet history dearly cherishes the secret of its establishment and subsequent centuries-long record.

Legend has it that following the ill-fated year 1393, the leader of Arbanassi Pavoyan erected the monastery, bestowed it with fields, forests and meadows and fled to Wallachia. Since then the surrounding wood has been called Boyanska, named after the rich benefactor Boyan (whose name was altered by Pavoyan’s Greeks).

When our country fell under Turkish domination, the Petropavlovski Monastery went into Greek hands. This continued until the Renaissance, when the notable deacon Maxim Raikovich relocated his school on the premises of the monastery. Later on he was elevated to the rank of Abbot. Meanwhile he cruised the area to prepare the population for a rebellion.

In that period the monastery gained in popularity transgressing the bounds of the Ottoman Empire. The Russian Emperor Peter The Great presented him with a gold-plated Gospel and an ark.

The walls of the monastery played host to the organization of several revolutionary riots. The year 1700 saw the preparation of the insurrection of the widow Maria, spearheaded by her son Stoyan and Mircho Voivode. One of the conspirators was the subsequent abbot of the monastery Sofroniy.

In 1856 captain Dyado Nikola took 13 rebels under his command to the Gabrovo Mountain, while in 1862 the same place gathered some 70 rebels led by Hadji Stavri. The insurrection was quelled. The monks were locked up, while the abbot Hadji Teodosiy and his brother Hadji Yoasaf were exiled in Diarbekir.

In the years of the revolutionary upsurge, the Petropavlovski Monastery sheltered the apostles of the Veliko Tarnovo Revolutionary Region: Vasil Levski, Father Matey Preobrazhenski-Mitkaloto, Georgi Izmirliev, Ivan Panov Semerdjiev, Bacho Kiro Petrov.

While Ilarion Makariopolski was in charge of the Tarnovo Episcopacy, he founded the first Bulgarian Ecclesiatical Seminary in the monastery. It opened on 12 May 1874, and Nedyo Zhekov was appointed its first rector. The manager was the renowned bishop Kliment Branitski – the writer Vasil Drumev. The preparations preceding its opening had started a year earlier with the renovation of the monastery premises. The tiny cells were rearranged to function as classrooms. To this end Ilarion donated all his savings worth 15,000 levs. They did not go amiss and after a while the generous metropolitan bishop delivered a touching speech in which he said, “I am going through the happiest moments of my life since my eyes have witnessed the fulfillment of one of my innermost dreams… May God bless our toil.”

From our first ecclesiastical seminary graduated distinguished scholars like Prof. Vassil Zlatarski, Petar Nikov, Dimitar Tsuhlev, Yurdan Trifonov, Ivan Trifonov, Prof. Benyu Tsenov and others. It continued to function even after the Liberation – until 1885.

In the wake of the Russian-Turkish War a charitable committee arranged for the establishment of an orphanage for the distressed, managed by Dobri Voynikov. Later he died there during a typhoid epidemic. His grave lies on the left of the main monastery gate. During Stambolov’s regime the Veliko Tarnovo Metropolitan Bishop Kliment (Vasil Drumev) was put here in confinement for his indirect attacks to Prince Ferdinand in defense of our Orthodox faith.

From 1902 to 1912 the Petropavlovski monastery was used as an asylum. A year later a huge earthquake and the resulting fire destroyed the monastery church, the eastern wing and a few other buildings. Only the new buildings of the seminary, constructed by the master builder Ousta Manyo from Dryanovo, survived the ravages of the natural disaster. Even today they have largely preserved their original look.

Following a lengthy period of restoration, assisted by the residents of Lyaskovets and especially by the late Encho Staikov, the St. St. Peter and Pavel Monastery welcomes guests from all corners of the country and from overseas. At 31 meters above the ground towers the monastery belfry, while the clock beneath it, given by the patriotic ex-resident of Lyaskovets Maria Genova, now living in Switzerland, measures out the timelessness in the centuries-long life of the monastery.

Despite the twists of fate, today the Petropavlovski Monastery abounds in life more than ever before. After the years-long interruption, the tradition of folk festivities on the eve of the Day of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul – “A circle dance is winding by the monastery” – has been resumed. The past, the present and the future merge into one here every day, while the generosity of nature and the divine beauty make it a favourite place for recreation.

Tatyana Petrova