Kokalyane Monastery, Orthodox monastery near Kokalyane, Bulgaria.
Kokalyane Monastery is an Orthodox monastery in Bulgaria featuring a simple one-nave church without a dome, flanked by residential buildings and chapels. The complex is enclosed by a protective two-meter-high wall that also contains a bell tower built in 2000 and farmyard areas.
The monastery was founded in the early 11th century during the reign of Tsar Samuil and played an important role in the region's Orthodox religious landscape. The current church structure was rebuilt in 1896 after earlier destruction or decay.
The monastery served as a spiritual center and housed important religious collections, including manuscripts attributed to prominent church scholars. These texts reflect how the place functioned as a hub of religious learning in medieval times.
The monastery is located in a rural area, roughly 4 kilometers from Kokalyane village and 6 kilometers northeast of Zheleznitsa. Visitors should wear sturdy shoes and plan ahead, as the site can be challenging to reach and contacting in advance is advisable.
The monastery housed the Urvich Collection, a group of manuscripts specifically dedicated to Archangels Michael and Gabriel. This discovery made the site an important witness to medieval religious literature in the region.
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