Vrachesh Monastery "St. 40 Martyrs"

Bulgaria / Sofijska oblast / Botevgrad /
 nunnery, cultural heritage / national heritage, Bulgarian Orthodox Church
The Monastery "St. 40 Martyrs" (In Bulgarian: Врачешки манастир „Свети 40 мъченици"; transliterated: "Sveti 40 Machenitsi") near village of Vrachesh (Botevgrad Municipality) is located amidst gorgeous scenery of the Balkan Mountain, 5 km west from the center of the village. The monastery was founded during the Second Bulgarian kingdom in XIII century, after the victory of Tsar Ivan Asen II over the Despot of Epirus Theodore Komnenos near Klokotnitsa Village on 9/03/1230. The date coincided to the religious holiday Forty Holy Martyrs. In honor of the victory and of the saints Tsar Ivan Asen II built several churches and monasteries, including Vrachesh Monastery.

www.bulgarian-monasteries.com/monastery/vracheshki_mona...
visit.guide-bulgaria.com/a/823/vrachesh_monastery_st._4...
www.hotelmap.bg/botevgrad-attraction-vrachesh-monastery...
Wikipedia article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vrachesh_Monastery
Nearby cities:
Coordinates:   42°53'13"N   23°41'55"E