site.btaFive Oldest Bulgarian Monasteries to Be Restored with European Funds

December 26 (BTA) - Five of the oldest monasteries in
Bulgaria, including the Bachkovo, Troyan, Kremikovtsi,
Kilifarevo and Plakovo monasteries, which are declared cultural
value monuments, as well as three churches, are expected to be
restored with European funds with the aim of attracting more
visitors and tourists, said the Ministry of Regional Development
 and Public Works (MRDPW).

The Bachkovo Monastery, which is the second largest Bulgarian
monastery, is applying for EU funding with a project worth just
over 1.2 million leva from Operational Programme "Regions for
Growth" 2014-2020 and plans to renovate its campus, refine the
area surrounding it and establish a tourist centre.

A project concerning the Troyan Monastery is also under
consideration. There is a need for restoration, conservation and
 repair works on the west wing of the monastery complex and the
main church in it. The monastery was founded in the beginning of
 the 17th century by several Atonic hermit monks who brought
with them the miraculous icon known as the "Virgin with Three
Hands".

The list of monasteries in need of restoration includes the
active convent near Kilifarevo (founded between 1348 - 1350) and
 the Plakovo Monastery near Veliko Turnovo, founded during the
Second Bulgarian Kingdom (12-14th century).

At the end of November, a contract was signed to repair the
Kremikovtsi Monastery on a Sofia Municipality project, the MRDPW
 recalls. A little over 9.5 million leva will be invested in the
  monastery, which dates from the Second Bulgarian Kingdom and
has been declared a national cultural monument.

At the end of November, funding was also approved for the
conservation and restoration of the facade of the St.St. Cyril
and Methodius Cathedral in Bourgas. Two more Orthodox churches
are applying for renovation projects. These are the temples of
St. Dimitar and St. Pantaleimon in the Vidin region.

The Interreg Romania-Bulgaria 2014-2020 Programme is conducting
restorations of the churches of St. Petka and St. George in
Rousse. The renovation is part of the project "Christian
Heritage in the Rousse-Giurgiu Cultural Corridor" and is worth
over 3 million leva.

Under the INTERREG-IPA Bulgaria-Macedonia Programme 2014-2020,
over 440,000 leva were invested in the repair of the medieval
St. Archangel Michael Church in Rila.

Over 600,000 leva from the INTERREG-IPA Bulgaria-Serbia
Programme 2014-2020 has been invested in the restoration and
preservation of the ruins of the Church of the Holy Virgin in
the village of Osikovitsa, Pravets Municipality. The church is
dated to the 14th century. RI,RY/DT