Welcome to Plakovski Monastery!

Plakovo monastery “St. Prophet Elijah” was founded during the reign of Tsar Ivan Assen II (1218 – 1241). At its present location, the monastery exists since the XIIIth century and whereas it was previously to the south of the location. The monastery was destroyed in 1393 by the Ottomans. It was restored in 1450, and was repeatedly burned down and rebuilt.

In 1835, the famous Velchova Zavera (conspiracy) was organized in the monastery, one of the leaders of which was Father Sergius, a former abbot of the monastery. After the suppression of the plot against the Ottoman rule, Plakovski Monastery was again burned down. Today the monument of the conspiracy adorns the center of Veliko Tarnovo.

It is believed that the monastery church was built by the Renaissance master builder Kolyu Ficheto around 1845. In 1856 the Master built the second residential wing together with the magnificent 26-meter bell tower. The well-known icon-painter Zachary Zograph painted the only fresco in the church – “St. Elijah on a Chariot “, as well as the iconostasis of the temple.

Come and discover Plakovski monastery!

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