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V E R ITII L SI Œ S O F D O B R U D JA
SHRINES, TEMPLES AND MONASTERES
 HacTOflLUMflT nvreBOflMTeji e cbCTaBeH b paMKirre Ha npoeKT „ApxmeKTypHM
naMeTHMMM Ha flyxa” , peajiM3npaH ot CflpyweHiie c HecTonaHcxa uen „EBpoxopw30HTM” rp.
CmiMCTpa (M.riaBJiOBa, AAraHacoBa, B.MeMMw, M.MßaHOBa) b napTHbopcTBO c My3ea
„flo/ieH flyHaB” rp. K b/itpam , PyMtH m h M y3eii c ranepm rp. fly/iOBO, (j)HHaHCnpaH ot
EBponewcKMfl clk)3 npe3 riporpaMa <DAP- TpaHcrpaHiiHHO ctTpyflHMsecTBO, CbBMecTeH
cjDOHfl 3a MajiKM npoeKTM.
This guide-book is part of the project “Architectural Sites of Soul” realized by the NGO
“ Eurohorizonti” - S ilistra (M.Pavlova, A.Atanasova, V.Memish, M.Ivanova) in partnership
with the Museum “The Lower Danube” - Calaras (Romania), and the M useu m -G a llery-
Dulovo (Bulgaria) financed by the European Union PHARE Programme for C ross-Border
C ooperation and by the J o in t Fund fo r S m all P rojects.

B Ljenmpajina u fOofcua floöpydjtca, Koumo duec ca e epanuqume na

Ebmapun u PyM'buun umü juoöonumnu Kyiimoeu Mecma, ocpopjwenu s ckojiu u
neuţepu. Te ca nacjiedcmeo om pa3iiuHHu enoxu, cebp3anu ca c pasnuHnu
Kyjimypu u queujiusaquu, ho sa cbotcaneuue ca müjiko nosnamu u
nedocmam'bHHO npoynenu. M do dnec moea ca eduucmeeuume mpaKuucKu,
anmuHHii u cpeduoeeK oenu cm atjuouapnu pejiueuo3nu naMemnutţu
(ceemwiuuja, tţbpKeu u Manacmupu) no me3u seMu, Koumo ca cbxpanujiu
uan'biiHO opueuuajiHun uumepuop u eKcmepuop. ffopu como moea eu npeepbiqa
e ynuKaneu usmoHHUK Ha no3Hanue u Henoemopima mypucmmecKa ampaKijiiH.
C mo3u n'bmeeodumen U3eejfcdaue om anonuMnocm cmnnume Kynmoeu
naMemnuiţu u p asumpx cüme oôxeama na mypu3Ma usebit cbu/ecmeyeaiijume
mypucmuuecKu qenmpoee.
EnaeodapiiM na ecuuKu, murno 6nxa cbnpm acm nu KbM naiuama paöoma ”
u hu noMoenaxa da ocbiqecmeuM npoerma , da pa3pa6ommi u u3dadeM
nacmoHUjUH n ' b m e e o d u m e n .

Central and Southern Dobmdja, which today is shared between Bidgaria

and Romania, are a house fo r curious ritual sites located in rocks and caves.
They are héritage o f different epochs, connected with different cultures and
civilizations, but unfortunately little known and scarcely studied. And until
today they are the only Thracian , Ancient and Medieval stationary religions
sites (shrines , churches and monasteries) on these lands, which preserved their
genuine interior and exterior Just this alone turns them into a unique source o f
knowledge and makes them very attractive fo r tourists.
This guide-book is meant to rescue cave ritual sites from anonymity and to
fu rth er enlarge already existing tourist centers.
Our gratitude extends to everyone who contributed to our work, helped us
implement this project and work ont and publish this guide-book.
 CKAJ1HMTE KVJ1T0BMI1AMETHM14H CAVE RITUAL SITES OF DOBRUDJA
B flOBPyfl>KA SHRINES, TEMPLES,
CBETHJimUA, XPAMOBE, MAHACTMPM MONASTERES

r Am aHacoe G. A tanasov

Te3M jiioôonuTHM KynroBH naMemmin ca These peculiar ritual sites are primarily
cbcpeflOToneHM npeflMMHO Bbpxy concentrated along the dried rivers like
öperoßeTe Ha cyxopesMRTa KaHarbo/i Kanagyol (Dristra), Taban, Senebir, Kara-su
/flpMCTpa/, Ta6aH, CeHe6np, Kapa-cy u and Koulak, n o s t of them take their
Kyjiax, kohto oômkhobbho boart Hananoro beginning in the Balkans and flow into the
cu OT npeflöaiiKaHa m ce BTMHar b p. flyHaB. Danube River. These ancient rivers that
CnoMeHaTMTe flpeBHM peiw, npecbXHa/w dried in 18,h Century eut deep into the
OKO/io XVIII b. ca ce Bpæ/w flbaôOKO b Sarmatian limestone rocks in the Dobrudja
capMaTCKMTe BapoBMUM Ha paBHMHHaTa steppes, and created picturesque canyons,
Ao6pyfl>KaHCKa CTen, npn KoeTO ca fantastic figures, caves and rock sculptures.
o6pa3yBaaM >kmbormchm ksh bohi/i , These natural phenomena can be distinctly
npMHyflnMBM cpopMM, nemepM m ck3/ihm seen against the monotonous steppes; they
M3B3RHMR. ■ T63M npMpOflHM CţjeHOMeHM Ce stirred curiosity of Dobrudjan inhabitants
OTKpoRBaf OTseTaMBo Ha cftoHa Ha already in early days. Indeed, the early
e flH 0 0 6 p a 3 H a T a CTen m TOBa e people stood still with respect, excitement
npeflM3BMKBaJ10 RfOÖOnMTCTBOTO Ha and awe in front of the mysterious world of
oöMTaTeawre Ha floôpyqwa ape b AbaöOKa cave. They perceived it as something
ApeBHOCT. H3o6 lu,o flpeBHMTe ca 3acTaBanM internai, concealed and mysterious, as a
c pecneKT, BbCHeHMe m CTpaxonoHMTaHMe peculiar mystic border between the visible
npefl TaMHCTBeHi/iRT cbrt Ha nemepaTa. and invisible world. Hellenistic, Thracian
Bb3npneMajiM r xaTO Heipo BbTpeiiiHO, and Oriental mythologies see the cave as a
CKpMTO i/i noTaMHO, Karo eflHa CBœo6pa3Ha sacral shelter for deities and heroes, which
MMCTMHH3 rp3HML(a Me)Kfly Bl/IflMMMR M gave asylum for the infant Zeus. In the same
HeBMflMMMR CBRT. B e/lMHMCTMHHaTa, context we must interpret the story and the
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TpaKMîicKaTa ia i/i3T0HHHTe Mi/iTOJiorm/i Behavior of the Thracian god Zalmoxis.
neiflepaTa e caKpa/iHO yöew m ue Ha According to such authorities as Herodotus,
6o>KecTBa n repoi/i, flana nprnoT Ha c3 mhht Plato, Socrates and Strabo, he was born in a
3eBC-MJiafleHeLi. B to3h kohtbkct Tpaößa Thracian tribe of the Getians, who inhabited
fla M H T e p n p e ïn p a M e M C T o p im a v\ Dobrudja and Lower Danube area. In f c. BC
n o B e fle H n e io Ha TpaKMMCKHsa 6 o r he was enslaved and got educated among
3ajiMOKCHc. Cnopefl aBTopnTein KaTo the pupils of the famous Ancient Greek
XepoflOT, rinaroH, CoKpaT 1/1 CïpaôOH tom philosopher and mathematician Pythagoras.
npon3xo>Kflan ot Hapofla Ha TpaKMücKOTo Later he returned to his people (probably to
nneMe re™, komto oènTaBann flo ô p y jp a m Dobrudja), where owing to his knowledge
floflHOflyHaBCKMTe 3eMM. ripe3 VII b. np. xp. and magic qualities he was recognized by
Kara po6 nonaflHaa 1/1ce o6pa30Bari b xptra the fellow Getians as a divine man. What he
Ha M3BeCTHMfl flpeBHorptuKi/i (pi/uiococf) 1/1 learnt from Pythagoras, Egyptian priests and
MaTeiviaTMK nmarop. no-KbCHO ce BtpHari Oriental magicians he preached as a
ripn cBon Hapofl /BepoHTHo b flo6py,q>Ka/, divinized priest to the strictly selected
KbfleTo nopaflM 3H aHnm n Hapoflet/Hme My aristocratic group of the Thracians, who held
xanecTBa ipaKo-reTMTe 3anoHHann fla ro their assemblies in his underground house.
noHMTaT Kara öoroHOBeK. HayneHOTO ot It was the cave Kogayon, close to the
riMTarop, e m n e rc m e x/pepri h M3T0HHMTe homonymous river. It is difficult to
MaroBe, b KanecTBOTO cu Ha o6o>KecTBeH distinguish the truth from the legend, but
>Kpei4, 3aaM0KCMC nponoBHflBaji cpefl there is no doubt that the cult of Zalmoxis and
CTporo M36paH api/iCTOKpaTi/ineH x p tr TpaKi/i, rock caves, which played the role of temples,
Karo rwcbönpari b nofl3eMHOTO cu >Knanii|e. did exist among the Thracians-Getians in
ToBa Curia nemepaTa KoranoH, HaMMpania the Lower Danube area.
ce b 6^m3oct flo eflHomvieHHa pexa. Kbfle The early men believed that the caves
3aBbpujBa JiereHflaTa v\ oTKbfle 3anonBa were source of fertility and a house for
1/icTi/iHaTa e TpyflHo fla ce npepeHM, ho e clouds, winds and rains. In this sense, it was
6e3cnopHO, ne Kyjrrvr KbM 3ajiM0Kcnc m thought to be the bosom of earth, a sort of
CKa/iHMTe neiflepn, n 3nb/iHHBaifln po/ifrra Ha vagina, and at the same time a bleak house of
-2 -
cBoeoôpæHM xpaMoæ, cbippcTByBan cpep the dead (tomb), where oriental divinities of
TpaKO-reTMTe no flonHopyHaBCKwe 3eMn. fertility die and raise from death: this idea
netuspara ce Bb3npneMana b ppesHocrra w was encoded in cave paintings as eariy as in
Karo M3TOHHMK Ha nnopppcwe, BMecivmpe P aleolithic. According to Porphyries,
Ha obnaifi, Beipoæ h pt>KPPBe- B ïïg m Zoroaster created the cave as Mitra's temple
cMHcui ce cwwrana 3a jioho Ha æMma, looking like the Universe created by Mitra.
CBoeo6pa3Ha vagina, perepopHO mhcto v\ Invested with this sacredness, it was only
ameBpeMeHHO TtMeH 3aynoKoen pom, b natural for the cave to take special place
KOMTO yMMpaï H Bb3KpbCB3T M3T0HHMTe among the biblical symbols of the Old and
6o>KecTBa Ha nnopopopneio - wpen New Testament. It gave asylum and shelter, it
3ai«pipaHa ape b nerpepHwe ţm /m or offered a saving asylum or a tomb to the
enoxara Ha naneomra Cnopep ITopr^n/pw Jewish kings and prophets Jesus Navinus,
3opoacibp cbaqan neipepara Karo xpaM 3a Lot, David, prophet Elijah, Abraham, Jacob
noHMTaHe Ha Mmpa no nopoône Ha and Isaac. This tradition survived in the New
BceneHara, cb3papeHa or Mwrpa HaraBapeHa Testament, as according to the Gospels,
c rojiKOBa caKpanHocr no cbBceM ecrecreeH Jesus Christ himself was bom and buried in
Ha1«« neujßpara 3æiviana cnepnamo rvwcro b a cave. Thus, so naturally, the proto-
crapo3aBeiHara v\ H0B03æeTHara 6n6nevicKa Christians /Esseans/ and the first Christians
CMMBOJUKa Ta pæana npnror h ypnwe, tr made caves and catacombs centers of their
6wna cnaonenHo yôewnpe unu 3aynoKœH cuit they held their first assemblies and joint
PPM Ha roppiïCKwie pape h npopopn Mcyc prayers there, and there were their burials.
HaBHH, Jlor, flaBnn npopoK Mni«, Aßpaaivi, Therefore, there is no surprise that the first
t a h HcaK. Ta3M ipapm« ce npeHecna h b monks-hermits like St. Antony the Great, St.
HoBiffi 3aBer, 3aupo cnopep eBaHnenrona Paul the Tiverian, St. Euthymius the Great,
caMkw Mcyc XpHcroc e pcpßH w norpeôaH b St. Basil the Great, St. Jerome the Venerable,
neipepa Taxa no cbßceM ecrecTBeH h3hhh St. Paisiy the Great the main pillars of the
npepxpMCTMBHMTe /eceMTe/ h ntpBMTe Christian churoh, chose caves as a place to
xpMCTMnHM npeBtpHajiM neipepwe h live in, to pray and to be buried. So was laid
KaraKOMôme b peHibp na c m war. Tawi (win the begmning of the common tradition,
-3 -
 ntpBMTe mm cböpaHMH, o6mn mojiutbh, Taivi which was formed in 4th c. AD and which
6mjii/i m TexHMTB rpoöoße. 3aTOBa He e 3a spread over the Roman Empire and the
VMyflBaHe, ne nbpBirre MOHacM-oTiuejiHMqM whole Christian world, to continue in
Karo Cb. Ahtohmm Be/iMKM, Cb. IlaBe/i m o d e rn tim e .
Tmbbpmmckm, Cb. Ebtmmmm Benniw, Cb. Christianity and Christian civilization,
BacM^MM BenMKM, Cb. MepoHMM EnaweHHM, theory and practice were readily received by
Cb. riancMM Bbjimkm - ochobhm CTbJiöoBe Ha the inhabitants of Dobrudja and Lower
xpMCTMHHCKaîa LţtpKBa, M30pajiM nemepaTa Danube area as early as in 3rö c. A Christian
3a CBoe )KMJiMme, mojimtbbh m 3aynoKoeH legend says that already in t c. AD the land
Aom. Taxa npe3 IV b. cn. xp. Te c/iaraT was visited by St. Andrew, whose lot was to
HananoTo Ha eflHa Tpafli/ipHH, kohto me carry out a mission on the Black Sea coast
oßxßaHe PMMcxaTa MMnepMn m gerinn and in Scythia. Indeed, in 3"1 c. the
XpMCTl/IMHCKM CBflT, 3a fla npOflbJDKH flO HaM- percentage of Chiistians in Dobrudja was
hobo BpeMe. Xpmctmahctboto, xpicTUHHCKaTa growing, which is indirectly proved by
L(MBMnM3ai4MB, Teopi/w m npaxTMKa HaMepi/ijin dozens of martyrs of Durostorum, Axiopolis,
HaM-paflymeH npnervi cpefl oöHTaTeJwe Ha Tomis, etc., who suffered during large—scale
flo6pyflx<a n flojiHOHyHaBCKMTe 3eMM 0114e persécutions in the Empire in the early 4"1c.
npe3 III b. XpMCTMHHCKaTa JiereHflaia macii, Following the triumph of Christianity in the
ne orge npe31 b. cji. xp. ryx ce e noflBM3aBa second half of 4U and 5“ cc., they saw a solid
anocTOJi Cb. AHflpen ribpB03BaHHH, KOMyro ch u rch o rg a n iza tio n w ith E piscopal
no wpeöMM ce naflHano MMci/iOHepcxa mmcmb ré s id e n c e s in T o m is /C o n s ta n ta /,
no HepHOMopnera m Ckhtha. OnpefleneHO D u ro sto ru m /S ilis tr a /, T ransm ariska
npe3 III b. npogema Ha xpncTi/iHHMTe b ß utrakan/, and in VI c. in Tropaeum Trajani,
flo6pyfl)xa HapacTHan, k3kto KOCBeHO Axiopolis, Calatis, etc.
CBMfleTencTBaT fleceTKMTe MbneHi/ign ot These were the necessary conditions for
flypocTopyM, AxcMonojiMc, Tomm m flp., development of monastic institute, for the
nocTpaflanM npM MamaöHme npecneflBaHnn monks were the main pillar and potential
b 1/lMnepMBTa b HasanoTO Ha IV b. Cnefl staff of the Church. Early 5lfl c. brought
TpnyM(pa Ha xpictuahctboto npe3 BTopaTa greatest popularity to the so called Scythian
nonoBMHa Ha IV n V b. TyK 6nna M3rpafleHa monks, with their brightest représentative St.
CTpOMHa utpKOBHa opraHH3apnB c John Cassian. After he had left Scythia Minor
enucKoncKH npecTO/in b Tomm /KoHCTaHqa/, (Dobrudja), he was seen in Constantinople,
flypocTopyM /CnjiMCTpa/, TpaHCMapncKa then in Egypt, and then he was active in
/TyipaKaH/, a npe3 VI b b TponeyM TpariHM, Western Europe, where he became famous
AKCMonoJiMC, Ka/iaTMc n np. as the founder and leading ideologist of the
B T63M yCJlOBMH ce CjDOpMUpaJl M western m onasticism . The monks of
MOHaiilBCKM MHCTI/lTyT, 3aiflOTO MOHaCMTe Dobrudja were also mentioned in the works
6 v\m ocHOBHMB CTbJiô h KaflpoBM pe3epB Ha by Cosma Indicoplevst in 6th c. Cave
UbpKBaTa. ÎBtpfle ro/isiMa nonyjwpHOCT b monasteries and cloisters acquired the
HananoTO Ha V b. cu cnenenmiM T.Hap. greatest popularity under the influence of
Ckmtckh MOHacu, Me)Kfly komto penecţiHO Eastern countries (Egypt, Palestine, Syria)
M3nbKBa cjbwrypaTa Ha Cb. 1/loaH KacnaH. which were the first to develop monastic
Cjiefl KaTO HanycHar ManKa Ckmthb canons. This practice penetrated into the
/floépyflwa/ tom ce 030Ba/i b CTonni^aia Low Danube lands. In the late 6 c.,
KoHCTaHTMHonoji, nocne b Erunei, a cnefl describing the damage caused to North-
TOBa ce noflBM3aßa^ b 3anaflHa Eßpona, Eastern territories by the Slavs and the
Kbfleîo ce cnaBM KaTO eflMH ot Avars, the Byzantine writer Procopius
[TbpBOCTpoHTejiMTe h BOflem Mfleoiior Ha Caesarean, besides other things, also
3anaflH0T0 MOHamecTBO. 3a MOHacu b mentioned the destroyed cave cloisters.
flo6pyfl>Ka npe3 VI b . 3araTBa b However, the best records for cave
CbHMHeHMHTa CM M K03Ma |/lHflMKOn/ieBCT. monasteries in Dobrudja are dozens of
OnpefleneHo nofl BJiM8Hi/ie Ha M3T0Ka studied sites on the banks of the Suha River
/ErnneT, ria/iecTi/iHa, Cupna/, Kbfleîo ce and in the district of Dumbrăveni, which were
rpaflBT KaHOHMTe Ha MOHawecTBOTo, among the earliest cave cloisters in the
CKariHMTe MaHacTMpM m oÖMTe/iM ce paflBaflM Balkans and in Europe.
Ha Hau-rojimvia rony/ippHOCT. Te3M After a séries of Slavic-Avar invasions in
npaKTMKM HaBflM3aT M B flOHHOflyHaBCKme these lands in late 6m-early f cc. and
3eMM. B Kpas Ha VI b., onucBal/ikm création of Asparukh's Bulgaria in the late T
- 5-
nopawem/isiTa, HaHecem/i ot cnaBsiHM n c., almost ail Christian population either was
aBapu b ceBepoM3TOHHMTe 3eMM driven away, or massacred or forced to
BM3aHTMMCKMf1T flMCaTe/l TIpOKOnnM emigrate. Christianization of Bulgarians in
KecapuMCKM, Me>Kfly apyroTo cnoivieHaBa m 864 under the rule of knyaz St. Boris I
3a nopyraHM CKanm/i MOHawecKn oômenM. Mikhail, brought the second and the final
Hati-6e3cnopHi4fl m3tohhmk 3a CKa/iHOTO triumph to Christianity in the Lower Danube
MaHacïupcKo cïponTencTBO b floôpyqwa, area and in Dob/udja. According to
obane cm ociaBaT npoyneHme aeceTKM Theophanus the Successor, Bulgaria was
naM6THi/iLiM no bperoBeie Ha p. Cyxa m b flooded by bishops: “monks were called to
patîoHa Ha flyiviôpaBeHM, komto ce hbhb3t corne from mountains and caves and
cpefl Han-paHHMTe CKanHM o6menn Ha were sent there (to Bulgaria) by the
Ba/iKaHme m Eßpona. Emperor. " This text is rather expressive in
C /iefl cepMBTa cjiaBHHO- aBapcKM telling about development of the monastic
HamecTBMH b «pan Ha VI m HasanoTO Ha VII m institute and emergence of cave monasteries
cb3/iaBaHeT0 Ha Acnapyxoßa Btnrapnn b on Bulgarian territory. This practice alsofound
«pan Ha VII b . noHTM uhjioto xpmctmhhcko ideological support in the translated and
HacejieHMe e nporoHeHo, m3ômto m/ im disseminated by the early Bulgarian printers
eMMrpnpa. C no«ptCTBaHeTo Ha ötJirapme biography of St. Antony the Great, founder of
npe3 864 r. npn khh3 C b. Bopnc I Mnxan/i monasticism in Egypt, who spent his days in a
XpMCTl/lHHCTBOTO Tpi/iyMCjDl/ipa 3a BTOpM m>T M cave. The Bulgarian king Peter (927-969), a
33BMHarM B flO/lHOflyHaBCKMTe 36MH M fervent follower of the monasticism himself,
floôpyfl)Ka. Cnopefl npoflb/DKMTejin Ha led correspondence with Paul from Latra
TeocpaH Bb/irapiin ce M3ntJiHM/ia c ideologist of the Byzantine Kelliots (monks-
enMCKonu. „ß o iu jin MOHacn, komto 6mjim hermits who led their lives in complete
fip M 3B 3 H M O T TIJldHMHMTBMflê L L ie p M T Ë , Mséclusion). Nonetheless, the Bulgarian writer
6mjim M3npareHM ra/w / b Ehnrapua/ ot of 10th c. Presbyterian Cosma also describes
Mm e p a ro p a.” To3m tckct e flOCTaibHHO an enormous increase in the number of
KpacHopenMBO npeflCTaBH cpopMupaHeTo Ha monasteries and cave cloisters. The fact is
MOHainecKM MHCTMTyr i/i BtBe>KflaHeTO Ha also provedby the
CKcUiHMTe neinepHM oömejin b öwirapaarre life of the ideologist of the Bulgarian
3 e m i/i. Ta3M npaKTMKa Haivinpa m monasticism St. Ivan Rilski, who lived in a
HfleoiiormecKa noflKpena ot npeBepeHOTO cave and on a rock-column. Simultaneously,
n pa3npocTpaHeHO ot CTapoötJirapcKMTe in IO*1 c. he was joint in this practice by the
KHMWOBHMpM WMTMe Ha Cß. AHTOHMM monks Antonius, Damian and Manasius,
BejiMKM, ocHOBaTeiiH Ha MOHamecTBOTO b who left their names in the cave monasteries
ErnneT, npeirapafl flnrne cm b neujepa. Caivi situated in the north-eastern area (by
öwapcKMHT pap rierbp /927-969A roperp Krepcha, Targovishte) and D obrudja
noHMTaTen Ha MOHaniecTBOTO, 6mi b (Murfatlar and Tsar Äsen). Besides, it is just
KopecnoHfleHpMH c Mfleonora Ha MOHacnTe- in the Lower Danube area and particularly in
KejiMoTM BbB Bn3aHTnsr flaBen JlaTpMMCKM. Dobrudja where one can find the biggest
Bnponeivi m öbJirapcKMHT nucaieii ot X b. documented agglomération of the early
npe3BMTep Ko3Ma nume 3a HemviOBepHOTO medieval cave monasteries of IO1" c. on the
pa3pacTBaHe Ha M3HacTnpMT6 m CKanHMTe Balkans and in Europe. The most numerous
oömem . floi<a3Ba ro m m w e ro Ha are those which are situated along the banks
Mfleojiora Ha öwirapcKOTO MOHainecTBo Cb. of the ancient practically dry rivers like Kara-
HßaH Pmjickm, komto ce noflBM3aBa/i b Su (the tim e of M urfatlar-B asarabi),
neipepa m Ha CKa/ma KOJioHa. ycnopepHo c K anagyol-D ristra and Senebir. These
Hera npe3 X b. Te3M npaKTi/iKi/i ce cnoperaT colonies were abandoned forever during the
OT MOHaCMTe AHTOHMM, flaMHH M MaHaCMM, Pechenegs' invasion of 1036, when together
3anesaTaoM MMeHaTa cm b CKa/iHMTe with the last inhabitants of the internal
M3H3CTMPM B CeBep0M3T0HHMTe 3eMM /flO Dobrudja the monks were seeking protection
Kpenwa TbproBMipKo/ m b floöpyflwa in the Fore—Balkan région, on the Black Sea
/MypcjDaTJiap m LJjap AceH/. Bnponeivi tumo b and in the west on the banks of the Loms
flojiHopyHaBCKMTe 3eMM m no cnepnanHO b (Lom rivers). Cave monasteries of Dobrudja
f l o 6 p y f l > Ka e H a n - r o n f l M O T O were abandoned but never remained without
Ha Ba^KaHMTe m b Eßpona AOKyivieHTnpaHO followers. They gave the beginning to new
CbCpeflOTOHMe Ha paHHOCpepHOBeKOBHM colonies on the banks of the Provadiiska
CK3J1HM M3H3CTMPM OT X B. HaM- River and the Rusenski Lom River, where
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MHoroöpokiHM ca Te no flpeBH m e monastic traditions and construction of cave
nojiynpfiCbXHani/i pew Kapa-Cy /npw monasteries witnessed a real blossom in 12"1
M yjittiaTJiap-BacapaöM /, K a n a rb o n - 14m cc. The true beginning of the cave
flpncîpa n CeHeöup. Te3n kojiohuh 6v\m cloisters in Dobrudja, however, was laid in
HanycHa™ 3aBHHarn npn neneHeMora the 5" c and brought back to life in the late 91'
HamecTBne ot 1036 r„ Korara 3aeflHO c early 10lh cc.
nocjieflHme oömaTenn ot EvrpeLUHoerra Ha
flOÖpyflXKa, MOHaCHTe TbpCflT 33KpHjia B
npeflôa/iKaHa, HepHOMopweTO n Ha 3anafl
KbM öperoßeTe Ha JloMOBeTe, CxanHnTe
MOHaiiiecKM o6 ht6tim B 'f lo ö p y f lw a
3anycT5iBaT, ho ho ocTaBaT 6 e 3 n o -
TOMCTBeHM. Te flaBaT HasanoTO Ha hobh
kotiohhh no flpoBaflnHCKa peKa, okojio
B ap H a m PyceHCKH JIom , K bfleTo
MOHaiuecKMTe npaKTMKH m ckbjihoto
MaHacTHpcKO CTponTejicTBO benewaT
MCTMHCKi/i pa3L|BeT npe3 XII XIV B.
Mctuhckoto HananoTO Ha CKajiHMTe
neiuepHM o6nTe/in, oöane e cno>KeHO b
floöpyflwa npe3 V b. m Bt 3po,qeHo KbM Kpaa
Ha I IX—nananoTo Ha X b.

TPAKMMCKMflT CKAJ1EH KYJITOB THE THRACIAN RITUAL CAVE CENTER

UEHTbP nO CYXOPEHUETO TABAH, IN THE DRY RIVER TABAN AREA (SILISTRA
CM/1MCTPEHKO DISTRICT)

EflMHCTBeHMTë .qocera 6e3cnopHo So far, the only documented Thracian

ACKyMeHTMpaHM TpaKMMCKM CK3JT H M cave shrines in Dobrudja and north to the
neiiiepHM CBeTnnnu4a b floôpyflwa h Ha Balkans are those that are located on the
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cæep OT EanxaHa ca Btpxy ßecHHH 6pnr Ha right bank of the Taban River (a tributary of
p. TaôaH, npi/rroK Ha p. KaHarbo/i, Mmpy c. the Kanagyol River) between the villages:
lion PycaHOBO, c. B. JleBCxu, c. CipenxoBO h Pop Rusanovo, Vasil Levski, Strelkovo and
c KymoBi/ima, CmiMCTpeHCKO. To3m xyriTOB Kutlovitsa (Silistra District). This ritual
xoMruiexc BtuiKma Tpn roneMH cxariHn complex includes three big cave shrines
cBewinißa cbc cxa/iHn xpaMOBe, xynTOBi/i with cave temples, ritual niches, ritual
HULLIl/l, «yjlTOBM HMH, KyjTTOBH nJlOLßaflXH, holes and ritual platforms extending over 3
pa3nojio>KeHn Ha okojio 3 km . no cpeßHOTo km along the middle flow of the river. Just
p y c jio Ha pexaTa. CnepuanHO Haß above these shrines, on the high plateau
ceeTiiJiHiuaTa Bbpxy bhcokoto P3bhhhho between the rivers Taban and Danube, there
n/iaro Merxßy p. TaôaH h flyHaB ce HaMupa is one of the most impressive Thracian
eflMH OT HaM-BnenaT/iHBaißme TpaxHicxH necropolises in the Danube Dobrudja.
Mori/uiHM Hexpononu b KpanflyHaBcxa Between two shrines and north to them,
floôpyfl)Ka. Me>Kfly flBeie CBGTi/inmua h there are big Thracian shrines, with a thick
ceBepHO OT thx ca jiOKajin3npaHM roneMu cultural layer of over 4 m beneath them. The
Tpaxi/iHCKH ceßH ißa, a nofl caMMTe layer yields dozens of coins dated by the 4,h
CBeTi/inuma m a fleôen Ky/rrypeH njiacT Haß c. BC and a large number of broken
4 M, B KOHTO ce 0TKpi/lB3T fleCeTKH MOHeTM OT Thracian vessels, many animal bones,
IV B. np. Xp. - III B. CJ1. Xp. H OrpOMHO KOßH- coins and traces of fire. These material
HeCTBO HaTpOLUeHM TpaKMtiCKH CtflOBe, features seem to prove existence of rituals
MHOTO )KHBOTHHCKM KOCTH, MOHeTM H CJieflH held on rock platforms in front of the temple.
OT OTbH. Han-BepOHTHO TG31/1 OCe3aTeßHH If you look at the huge cave altars of the
c/ieflH ca c/ießCTBne KynTOBH pmyann, temples above the river, underground
n3BbpiiiBaHn Ha CKa/iHHTe njioißaßKH npeß galleries and inaccessible karst halls with
xpaMOBeTe. KoraTo Hafl3bpHeM BbB eut altar niches, you will surely remember
BHyiill/lTeßHHTe CK3ßHH OßTapH Ha an old Thracian myth about Zalmoxis,
xpaMOBeTe Haß pexaTa, noß3 eMHHTe whom the local Getians venerated as god,
raaepuH h HeßocrbnHHTe xapcTOBH 3ann c and who did miracles in the temple above
H3 CeHeHM OßTapHM HHLUH HeBOßHO CH the Kogayon River.
-9 -
cnoMHflwie 3a oh3 m flpeBeH tpsku Pickm mi/it
3a 3a;iM0Kcnc, KoroTo MecTHme re™
noHMTajin Kaîo 6or, n komto n3BtpiuBan
MMCTepuM b nemepHHB xpaM Haa pexaTa
KoratioH.

1. TpaKMMCKO cKanHO CBeTMJimne flo c. 1. Thracian Rock—Cut Shrine near

CipejiKOBO, CunncTpeHCKO Strelkovo (Silistra District)
CBeinjiMipeio e ocpopivieHO b ro/isMa The shrine (about 7 m by 10 m and
ecTecTBeHa neipepa, HapnsaHa ot MecTHora about 6 m high) is built in a big natural cave
HaceneHne „B a ^a rin a T a ”c pa3Mepn okojio c a lle d b y th e lo c a l in h a b it a n t s
7X10 m n BucoHUHa okojio 6 m . flo Hea ce “Badjaliyata” . You can reach it by following
flocmra no vraceneHa b CKanaTa CTptMHa first a steep rock-cut path and then a tunnel,
ntTexa n TyHeji, komto HHKora e 6mji which was formerly closed by a wooden
3aTBapnH c fltpBeHa BpaTa. KD>kho ot door. A large arched niche was neatly eut
neujepaTa crapaTerHO e n3ceseHa oöiunpHa south to the cave. Undoubtedly, it played the
apKnpaHa HMiua, kosto 6e3 ctMHeHne e role of a temple altar with a diameter of 3.5
n rp a /ia pojimra Ha xpaiviOB ojiTap c m oriented to the east. Two hundred meters
fluaMeTtp 3,5 m , opnewnpaH Ha m3tok. away to the south from the cave there is a
Ha okojio 200 m k»kho ot neinepaTa ce high rock. Its top is ideally flat. On this
HaMnpa BicoKa cKana, humto Bpbx e trapezoidal ground (3.5 by 3 m), there is.a
rifleajiHO noflpaBHeH. B tp x y Ta3n rabbet (0.18 m wide and 0.45 m deep) cut
TpanepoBMflHa nnoipaflKa c pa3ivepM very neatly and orientea from the north to
3,50X3,00 ivi MHoro CTapaTeriHO e BflbJiöaH the south.
>«jie6 LunpoK 0,18 m m flbJiôoK 0,45 m ,
opneHTnpaH ceBep-wr.

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 2TpaKMMCK0io CKanHO CBeMimye flo c. 2. Thracian Cave Shrine at the village
non PycaHOBO, CmindpeHCKo Pop Rusanovo (Silistra District)
CBenviMinero ce HaMupa Ha 4 km kmho The shrine is situated 4 km away to the
ot „5afl>Kafli/iflTa”. B oöwnpHa nemepa, south of “Badjaliyata” . In a large cave, which
HapeneHa ot iviecTHOTO HaceneHne the local inhabitants call “Kirindjika” , you
„KnpMHfl>KMKa’ce BMw/ia nonyKPbr/ia can see a sem i-circular arched altar (with
apKMpaHa mm /orrrap/, opneHTMpaHa Ha the diameter of 1.90 m) oriented to the east.
M3T0K, C flMaWeTbp 1,90 M. B K)rOH3TOHHaTa
In the south-«aştern part of the cave there is
sacr Ha caiwara nemepa craparenHO e a neatly built rectangular platform. It is lined
otJjopMeHa npaBOtrtJiHa nnomaflKa, with deep rabbets 4.15 m long and 3.05 m
onepraHa c auiöokh >wie6oBe, c flUDKMHa wide.
4,15 m i/i Lui/ipi/iHâ 3,05 m. npeflnonara ce, se
In the rock ridge over the cave there is an
TOBa e CBewiHmcTO Ha CKanHusr xpaM. interesting labyrinth, which includes a
B cKanHMB BeHeu Hafl nemepara v \mnarrow gallery about 6 m long and a vertical
JlKJÖOnHTCH naÖMpMHT, BKJlK)HBaiL( THCH3 mine 5.5 m high, which leads into a large
ranepnR c flbJDKMHa okojio 6,00 m m natural cave. In the eastern wall, there is a
BepTi/iKanHa waxra c Biconi/iHa 5,50 m, neatly eut arched niche, 0.4 by 0.5 m. Most
kobto OTBe>Kfla b oölumph? eciecTBeHa probably this is a small altar: it is the only
nemepa. B tpxy M3TOHHaTa Pi ciena place warmed by the sun.
CTapaienHo e M3ceseHa apKMpaHa mm The third shrine is situated north to
/0,40X0,50 m/ HaPi-BepoflTHo ManbK omap “Kirindjika” . A big arched niche is eut near a
eflMHCTBeHOTO MHCTO 0rpHB3H0 OT striking natural rock sculpture in the shape of
c/iBHweBaTa cBen/WHa a bridge.
CeeepHo ot KnpnHflwnKa ce HawiMpa
TpeTU CBÖTMTlMme. flo erbSKTHO npMpOflHO
CKaJIHO M3B3HHI/ie nofl cpopMa Ha moct e
M3ceseHa m naivi a apxnpaHa H u m a .

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 KOJIOHI/IflTA PAHH0BM3AHTMMCKM EARLY BYZANTINE CAVE MONASTERY'S
CKAJ1HM MAHACTMPM B PAMOHA HA COLONY IN THE AREA OF THE SUHA
PEKA CYXA RIVER

CnoivieHa ce, ne Ha to3m eian Ha It has been already said that at this
npoynBaHe TOBa ca eflHH ot Hai/i—paHHUTe moment of the research these are some of the
CKa/IHH MaHaCTMpu, flOKyMeHTMpaHH B earliest documented cave monasteries in the
flojiHOflyHaBCKMTe 3eivin, floôpyfl)Ka, Ha Lower Danube area, Dobrudja, the Balkans
Ba/iKaHMTe h Btobme b Eßpona. and in general in the whole Europe. They are
Pa3no30)KeHM ca no öperoßeie Ha p. Cyxa h situated on the banks of the Suha River and
ctceflHOTo cyxopenne /npw flyMöpaßeHn/, neighboring dry rivers area (next to
KaTo HaM-rojiflMOTo ctcpeflOTOHwe e okojio Dumbrăveni), the biggest concentration is
paHHOBM3aHTHMCKHTe KaCTeilH OT IV-VI B. flO found near early Byzantine castles of the 4“1
c. Ba/iMK /aHTMHHaïa AflMHa/, ÜHoryp 5" cc. near the Balik village (ancient Adina),
/aHTMHHMHT namviaTMc/ h To xi e Lll Onogur (the ancient Palmatis) and Golesh
/KbCHoaHTMHHHH Cb. Knpuji/. Tyx HameflHO (late ancient St. Cyril). Here clearly we
flOOMBaMe BnenaTJieHMe 3a ocHOBHme receive the real picture of basic monastic
MOHaiiiecKi/i npaKTMKH npes V-VI b . practice of the 5*1 6"1 cc. The center of the
UeHTbp'bT Ha MOHawecKiw >khbot me fla e monastic life was a big coenobitic (where
roneMHH KMHOBHaneH /o6me>KHTeJieH/ several dozen or hundreds of monks live
MaHacTMp Tnyp eB/iepu / xpmcthhhckm together) monastery Gyaur evleri (“Christian
Kbii(n/ Ha flecHHH ôpsTT cpeii^y xpenocna npn houses”) on the right bank opposite the Balik
Ba/iMK. Tyx npocjieflflBaivie bchhkh ochobhm fortress. Here we can see ail basic rooms,
noMeneHMB, opraHMHHO cBbp3aHM b eflHHeH harmonically weaved into a unitary monastic
opraHH3npaH MaHacn/ipcKH KOMn/iexc - complex central nave of the church
peHTpanHa ptpxßa /xaTOJiMKOH/, napaxmic, (katolikon), a chapel, a refectory, an abbot's
T p a n e 3 a p n n , H ry M e H a p H M p a h room, and a coenobitic monastic dormitory.
o(5me>KMTejiHo MOHam ecxo cna/iHO Not far from the monastery there are a few
noMemeHMe. Heflanen ot MaHacTnpa HMa hermit's cells and a church-tomb, where
-1 2 -
HflKOJIKO OTLUejlHMHeCKM KHJ1H1/I M L^bpKBâ— m o n k s w e re b u r ie d . T h e a lik e
rpoöHULia, Kbflera ca norpeößaHn MOHacme. organization and plan has the monastery
CxoflHa opraHH3auna m 6nn3bK nnaH nivia near Dum brăveni. Another coenobitic
MaHacTupa npn f l yM6paBeHn. but not so compactly b uilt monastery is
06me>KMTeneH, ho He TaKa KOMnaKTHO tound at the foot of the “Asar evleri'’
nocTpoeH e MaHacn/ipa b noflHoxrneTo Ha fo rtre ss. The ch urch , the cem etery
Kpenocna „Acap eBnepn” UbpimaTa, church and the coenobitic room are
rpoömuHaTa pbpKBa n o6me>KHTneTO iyK ca made here as separate rooms, located
OTflermo ocj)opMeHn noMemeHUH, not far from each other. Several cloisters
pa3nojio>KeHM neflanen eflHO ot flpyro. are situated in front of the "Asar evleri"
Cpeipy „Acap eBnepn" h hhkohko and a few kilom eters away to the south,
Ki/uioMCTpa Ha tor ,qo c. Xutobo wvia ckhtobc, near the village Hitovo. Each of them was
B KOMTO ca )Kl/lBe/lM no HHKOJIKO MOHaCM, to house several m onks, connected
BepOHTHO CBtp3aHM C rOJieMl/IT6 M3HaCTHpH perhaps w ith big m onasteries near
flo Bannir. TexHH flbipepHM cxi/iTOBe moxœ Balik. Probably their daughter cloisters
,qa ca h pa3nono)KeHnie ome no Ha cæep are also situated north to the cloister in
06menu npn EpecTHHga n Tonern, Brestnitsa and Golesh, which includes
BKJitOHBaipM no eflHa pbpKBa n flBe «nnnn. one church and two cells. Some liturgy
HflKOU /TMTyprHHHI/1 OCOÔeHOCTM - p a rticu la rs (re cta n g u la r apses, wide
npaBotrbJiHHTe ancien, wnpoKHTe Haocn naoses of the temples, baths for ritual
Ha xpaMOBeie, BaHMTB 3a pmya/iHO ablution) are supposée! to have been
M3MMBaHe npeflnonaraT bjihhhhh ot Cnpra influenced by Syria and Asia Minor. They
n M ana A3nn, flownn bopohtho c were brought in Dobrudja perhaps with
MOHamecKaTa BtriHa ot M3 T0 Ka KbM the monks' wave from the Orient in V-VI
floôpyflxra npe3 V-VI b . nposee, He c. Otherwise, we don't exclude the
H3KfltOHBaM Bb3M0>KH0CTTa nocneflOBaTe- possib ility that St. John Cassian him self
nt/iTe Ha caMHH cb. 1/loaH KacnaH fla wviaT had com m unication with the monastic
Bpb3Ka c MOHaiuecKaTa penyönnxa okotio republic with the center in Balik (Adina)
Cyxa pexa c qeHTbp Eannx /AflHHa/ near the Suha River.
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 3. CxaneH MaHacTup „rnyp eB/iepu” flo 3. Cave Monastery “Gyaur Evleri” at the
c. BajiMK, TepBencKo. village Balik, (Tervel District).
HaMupa ce Bbpxy .qecHMfl 6par Ha p. It is situated on the right bank of the Suha
Cyxa m ce riBflBa H an-roneivw flT River. Tbis s the'biggest early Byzantine
paHH0BM3aHTHMCKM CKOJieH MaH3CTHp Ol V - cave monastery in Bulgaria, dated by 51" 6*!
VI b. b Bbjirapwfl. Pa3nojio>KeH e Ha Tpn cc. It has firee levels and inciudes a church,
Hi/iBa h BKJiioHBa qbpxBa, napax/iMc, a chaoel. an abbot’s reom and large rock-cut
MryMeHapHHpa m rojwMO oömeawTejiHo coenobitic rooms. •
CKaiiHû noMemem/ie. The central church (katolikon) is eut
UeHTpa/inaïa qbpKBa KaTOJii/iKOH e neatly, with a square naos (length 3.10 m,
CTaoaTejiHo M3ceseHa c Haoc nofl (popiviaia height 1.90 m). On the eastern wall, there is a
Ha KBaflpar c mc>KMHa 3,10 m m BMcoHMHa three-part altar. You can follow a corridor to
1,90 m . Bbpxy n3T0SHaia CTeHa e o$opMeH reach a big cave room for m o n ks1
TpHfleneH omap. üo xopufloo ce flocmra pp assemblies, with a well cot in it. The church
rojiHMO oômoMOHaujecKû cxa/iHo has a square narthex, near whie i there is a
noiviemeHHe, b komto e BflbnôaH xcafleHeq chapel with rectangular apse. A refectory and
3a BOfla. LjbpKBaïa nwa KBaflpaieH npi/iTBop, an abbot’s room are situated to the north of
a flo Hero napax/iMC c npaBObrb/iHa ancnfla. the chapel. The monastery was functioning
CeBepHO OT napaxiiMca Tpane3api/ra m in 10" c., the date is| proved by the pottery
M r y M e H a p H H p a . M a H a c T M p b T e uncoveied in its toundation and several runic
npen3nori3BaH npe3 X b ., 3a xoeTO and Cyrillic inscriptions.
CBMfleîejicTBa xepaMMKaia b noflHoxrneTO m North to the monastery' there are aise two
HS1KOJ1KO pyHOnOflOÔHM M KMpMTICKM solitary hermit's cells and a church-tomb
HaflnMCM. “Sandaklar maara’Vwhere the monks were
CeBepHO OT MaHacTHpa Mivia oupe pBe buried. — - ^ j
yeflMHeHM onueriHi/iHecKn khjimh h pbpxBa-
rpoôHMqa „CaHflbKiiapb Mïïapa” 3a
norpeôBahe Ha MOHacMTe
 4. CxariHa oômeji JapanaHaTa” flo c. 4. Cave Monastery ‘Tarapanata”, Balik
EajiMK, TepBencxo. village (Tervel District).
HaMwpa ce Btpxy flecHna 6par Ha Cyxa It is situated on the Suha River's high
pexa i/i Ha üKOJio 300 m sanaßHO ot utpxBaTa right bank that is about 300 m to the west
rpoöHHua. Ha flßa eia>xa npe3 V-Vl B.ca from the church tomb. Four rooms were built
ocpopweHW ne™pn noiviemeHi/ifl. Ha ßonhnri onJwo floors during the 5"1 6“' cc. A cell and a
eia>K na ßße hmb3 ca oßopweHi/i khjihh h chapel with a niche of 2.60 by 2.65 in the
napaxilMC 2,60X2,65 m c Hrnua b i/i3T0HHaia eastern wall of the lower floor are built in two
CTeHa. flo ceBepHara CTena e Hscesena levels. A burial chamber is eut near the
rpoöHa xaiviepa. Tophhht eTa>x cbujo northern wall. The upper flocr also includes
BK/iioHBa flße noMeineHMfi xh/ ima h two rooms: a cell and a chapel. The chapel is
napaxnHC. napax/iucvr a npaBOtrbrHO a rectangular room of 2.50 by 1.95 m. There
noMeujeHMe c paaMepM 2 50X1,95 m. Btpxy is an arched altar niche made in the upper
i/i3T0HH3Ta cißHa e ocpopwena apxnpaHa part of the eastern wall, and there is a eut
ojïïapHa Huma, a xpaü ceßepHaTa CTeHa e bench and a burial chamber by the northern
M3ceneHa cxaiueaxa m rpoöHa xaMepa. Ot wall. A narrow path leading from the chapel
napaxnnca no thch3 nvrenxa flocwaivie ßo can bring you to a triangle cell, with the size
TpHtrbjiHa XMrinn c pa3Mepn 2,90X1,65 m. of 2.90 by 1.65 m. This monastery was still
Ta3n o6i/rren ctmo e npei/i3non3BaHa npe3 X used in the 10' Century thaf is confirmed by
b. , 3a xoera cBHfleiejicTBaT hhxomo
some Cyriilic inscriptions and ernsses with
xi/ipmicxi/i HaflnHca n xpbCTose c branched ends.
pa3KJi0HeHH xpauißa. jf
^
5. CxajieH MaHacmp „Acap eBJiepn" ßo
I r v :f i | 4*
5. Cave Monastery “Asar evlery”, Balik
c. EannK, TepBencxo. 1;
village (Tervel District).
Haivii/ipa ce b noßHOÄi/mTo Ha
It is situated at the foot of an early
paHH0BH3aHTHMCXa m paHHGcpeßHo- Byzantine and an early medieval ßulgarian
BexoBHa xpenocT n sxmoHBa ubpxBa, fortress and includes a church, a burial
norpeöaneH napaxnnc fl oßißexwejiHO •chape' and a common dermitery
cnajiHo noMemeHwe, ocpopivieHn npe3 V-VI constructed in the 5"1 6r cc. The church has a
b . UtpKBaia e c ronnM naoc 3,20/4,30 m . c big naos of 3.20 by 4.80 m with a rectangular
npaBObrb/iHa ancnaa Bbpxy M3T0HHaTa apse in the upper part of the eastern wall, and
CTeHa 1/1 oôLunpeH npmBop. Mms m KnafleHep a w'de narthex. There is also a water spring
3a BOfla, koüto flOCTura flo pexara. F0>kho,.ot thai flows into river. South to the church,
pbDKBaia e MaHacTupcKOTO- cnajino there is a monks' dormitory of 11.60 m
noMeipeHne c flbMMHa 11,60 m h ujwpwHa length and 4.00 m width. Several niches are
4.00 M. Ho CTeHMTB UMa HBKO/1KO HMLLIl/l, a B eut in the wall, and there is a cave toilet made
ceBepHMB Kpatî cxanHa TcaneiHa. CeBepHo in the northern part. North to the church there
OT pbpKBaTa e norpeba/iHiw napaxnnc c is a burial chapel of 4.40 m width and 7.30 m
flbMUHa 4,40 m i/i lunpnHa 7,30 m. Bbpxy length. An altar niche is made in the upper
n3T0HHaia CTeHa e ocpopMeHa omapHa part of the eastem wall, with some burial
HMLua, a b nofla ca BKonaHH hükocko rpoôHu chambers dug under it. A small passage and
K3Mepn. CeEepHC ot pbpKBaia no Ma/TbK a narrow path eut in the rock north to the
Kopi/iflop m H3ceneHa b cKanaia nbreHKa ce church can lead you to a few cells.
flocmra flo hsrkojiko mm/\.

ô.CKaneH ckmt „Bb/inaHOBa ciaa” so c. 6. Cave cell “Valchanova staya” ,

BpecTHupa, TepBe/icxo B restn itsa (Tervel D is tric t).
Han roraMa ecTecTBeHa ne^epa Bbpxy Above a big natural cave on the left bank
jiGBHH 6pnr Ha Cyxa pexa CTapaienHO e of the Suha River there is a neatly buift cave
n3ceneHa Tpi/iKOHxajina cKanHa pbpKBa c church with three conches and a narthex of
npMTBop ot V -V I b .. HaocbT e hohtm the 5' 6 cc. Naos is almost square its size
KBanpaTeH c pa3Mepn 350X3,40 m, a is of 3.50 by 3.40 m, while conches are
KOHXHTe ca nojiyxpbrnu c ninpuna okoto semicircular of 2.00 m width. South to the
2.00 m. KD)kho ot pbpxBaTa e Hiviano Manxa church there is a small cell of 2.00 by 1.55 m.
Kmm c pa3Mepn 2,00X1,55 m. Me>Kfly Between the cell and the church there is a
KMJIMHTa M L[bpKB3Ta 1/IM3 KOpMflOp, a H passage and there is a field for an icon eut
Bxofla e ii3ceneH0 npaBObrb/iHo none 3a above the entrance. the church had been
-16-
i/iKOHcL UbpKBara e npen3nori3BaHa npe3 X used until the 10* c., which is confirmée] by
b., 3a KoeTO CBMfleTe/iCTBaT pucyHKM |/| drawings and graffiti.
3HaL|M-rpacj3l4TVI.

7. CKaneH ckwt „XaiuţyiiMTe KbiflM” flp 7. Cave cell “Haidushkite kashti",

c. Tonetu, CunucipeHCKo. Golesh (Silistra District).
HaMHpa ce Bbpxy jieBMH 6par Ha Cyxa It is situated on the left bank of the Suha
pexa cpeujy paHH0BH3ahnviiicxa KpenocT yr River in front of an early Byzantine fortress of
IV-VI b. BwiiOHBa CKanHa ubp«Ba w flæ the 4th 6* 00. It includes a cave church and
KMjii/iM, pa3noiio)KeHM Ha flBe hhbb. Ha two cells piaced on two levels. On the bottom
flOJiHoro hubo e ubpKBara, korto e jiecHo level there is an easily accessible church of
flOCTbnHa c pa3Mepyi 390X2,20 m. ?bpxy 3.90 by 2.20 m. The top of the eastern wall
i/i3T0HHaTa creHa i/iMa wneöoee 3a has rabbets used for attachment of the altar
npHKfjenBaHero Ha onrapHa Maca Y\m m table. Cells on the second floor are difficult to
Ha Biopm era>K ca ipyflHo flocrwiHM, ho reach but well decorated and covered with
floöpe oc|DopvieHH m n3Ma3aHM c BapoB molar, Drawings and graffiti witness that the
pa3TB0p. PHCyHKH H 3HaflM rpacjDUTM cell 'a d oeen“ used until the 10* Century.
CBHpeienciBar 3a npen3noji3BaHe npe3 X b.

8. CKaneH MaHacrwp pp c. Xmtobo, 8. Cave Monastery near Hitovo (Dobrich

flOÖpMHKO District).
HaMHpa ce Ha s e m öpar Ha p. Cyxa h It is situated on the left bank of the Suha
BKTOOHBa Cft'L'vp-ta O T ltf UbpKBa c pa3MepM River and includes a big cave church of 3.20
3,20X6,10X2,80 b. h cbc CTapaiejino by 6.10 by 2.80 m with a neatly eut
n3ceneHa npæobrbJiHa axMfla flo pbpKBara rectangular apse. Near the church, there are
ca OCţlOpMeH;’ TpH Kl/IJIHM CBbp3anH three cells joint in a chain. The top of the wall
BepiWHo. Bbpxy creHara Ha KpaiïHara ki/t o in the last cell has a few eut niches, two burial
ca n3ceneHM hulum, a b nofla Ha cpeflHard - Chambers aie made in the floor of the middle
flæ norpeöanHH rpoÖHMKaMepn. cell.
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 9. CKaJIHMflT M3H3CTHP flO c. 9. Cave monastery at the village
flyMôpæeHn, OKp. KorcraHua Dumbrăveni, Constanta District (Romania).
Hepanes ot KOJioHunTa no p. Cyxa, npn A new cave monastery was discovered at
c. flyMöpaßeHn npepw oko/io 15 r. 6e otkput the village Dumbrăveni not far away from the
hob CKaneH MaHacTi/ip, n3ceneH Ha pBa colony in the dry rivers area (not far from the
X0pH30HT3. ropHMBT X0PH30HT BKJllOHBa Suha River) about 15 years ago. It had two
epHoancnpHa epHoxopaPHa ptpxBa c horizons: the upper one included a church
npi/iTBop rojiBM KOjiKOTo Haoca. Arrapaïa e with one apse and one nave, and a narthex as
o6mnpHa OKono 1,45X150 m , HaocbT big as naos. The apse is about 1.45 by 150
2,50X150 m , npMTBOptT 2,75X1 60 m . m, the naos 2.50 by 150 m, the narthex is
3anaflHO ot npHTBopa e orÿopivieH 2.75 by 160 m. West to the narthex there is a
norpeôaneH napa«nnc c nony«pbr/ia burial chapel with semi-circular west-
anci/ipa, opi/iemnpaHa Ha 3anap, kobto e oriented apse, which is a peculiar counter-
CBoeo6pa3Ha KOHTpaarrapa Ha ancwpara Ha apse to the church apse, which is east-
MbpKBaïa, opneHTnpaHa Ha m3Tok . oriented. The chapel is almost square, about
napawiHCbT e no™ KBappareH c pb/DKi/iHa 1.75 m long, with the diameter of the apse
OKOJio 1,75 m, a ancupara e c pnaMeibp about 100 m. North to it there are three burial
OKono 1,00 m CeBepHO ot ca ocjîopMeHn Chambers, which are followed by a long
tph rpoÔHH xaiviepn, cnep kcizto cnepBa narrow corridor with niches. All sions teil
flbnbr receh xopnpop c hhujh. no bcmhko trat the monte1 cells were situated on trie
J1HHM, He MOHaniecKHTB kwihh ca bvm Ha lower floor, which still keeps traces of rock-
flOJiHMB eTaxc, KbfleTO |nvia cnepn ot cut roomb.
M3CKHaH6 Ha rumeipeUi/m. 0 2m
\______________ i
lO-CxanHara oôwTen “Cb. AHppePi” b 10. St Andrew's Cave Monastery near
paitoHa Ha c. Moh Kopbmh, oxp. KoHcraHpa the village Ion Corvin (Constanta District)
XpMCTHHHCKOTo npepaHue macn, ne no A Christian legend says that St.
wpeôi/M Ha Cb. AHppeiî ribpB03BaHHn ce Andrew’s lot was to Christianize the Western
napHano pa xpncTvwHH3Mpa 3anapHoro Black Sea région, and Dobrudja,
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 4
“Cb. AHflpen”

HepHOMopne, pecneKTMBHO flobpyAwa.

Toßa CBefleHne e onopHa fe a Ha eflHa
nereHfla, cjiopMnpaHa okojio cpeAaTa Ha XX
b., cnopefl kobto b cpe,qaTa Ha I b cji. xp. b
iviajiKa nemepa b pawoHa Ha c. Moh Kopbmh e respectively. This information served as a
npeöHBaßan m nponoBHßBan Cb. AhApen. source for the legend emerged about middle
riemepaTa BCtiiiHOCT e eciecTBeHa cxanHa 2 (f c., according to which St. Andrew lived
Kyxi/iHa, kobto e flooöpaöoTBaHa c and preached in a small cave near the village
ocjDopMflHBTo Ha ancHAa h KOHTpaancnfla. B Ion Corvin in the middle I c. AD. The cave, in
T03H BMA ra HayMBBa paHH0BH3aHTHHCKHTe tact, is a natural rock cavity, which was
CK3J1HM LfbpKBMl_ll/l OT Kpafl Ha IV-VI B. B decorated with an apse and a counter-apse.
ilyMÔpaæHM m pawoHa Ha rp. KaßapHa b m . Thus it reminds ot the early Byzantine cave
Rnnara churches of the late 4"1 6"1cc. in Dumbrăveni
and Yailata (Cavama District).

K0J10HMRTA PAHHOCPEflHO- A COLONY OF EARLY MEDIEVAL CAVE

BEKOBHM CKAJ1HM MAHACTMPM MONASTERIES ALONG THE KANAGYOL
nO P. KAHArbOJl /flPM CTPA/ RIVER (DRISTRA)

Toßa e HaM-rojiHMaTa AOKyMeHTMpaHa This is the biggest documented colony of

KonoHi/iH cxariHM MaHacTMpM OT enoxara Ha cave monasteries dated by the time of the
übpBOTO 6tnrapcKo papcmo, a m m3o6 llio ot First Bulgarian Kingdom, and generally in
X b. b rpaHMMMTe Ha cpeAHOBexoBHa the medieval Bulgaria and the Balkans of 1 (f
BtjirapMH m Ha Ba/ixaHMTe. npocmpa ce Ha c. It extends over 50 km along the middle
pa3CT0BHMe HaA 50 km no cpeAHOTO pyc/io flow of the dry Kanagyol (the medieval
Ha c y x o p e s M e T O K a H a r b o / i Dristra River), which served as the most
/cpeAHOBeKOBHaia pexa flpncipa/, no kobto important way into the Bulgarian state in Si"
npe3 IX-X b. npeMMHaßa Han-Ba>KHHfl nvr b 1 (f cc., and which connected the capitals
ötnrapcKara AbpxoBa, CBtp3Ba/i Pliska and Preslav with the bishop's and
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 CTO/iuLţHTe rijiM C Ka m r ip e cn 3 B c patriarch's résidence in Drister (modern
enicKoncKaTa 1/1 narpi/iapwecKaTa /M e ^ y Silistra), betweon 927-969. The colony
9 2 7 - 9 7 1 / pe3MfleHMHfl b f lp b d b p in c lu d e d a b o u t 50 cave c lo is te r s
/CMJlMCTpa/. KOJlOHUm BKJlKMBa OKOJIO 50 (m onasteries, churches, laurae, cells,
.CKanHM oöwTerm /wiaHacTupn, oaBpi/i, hermit's caves and cave colonies), mainly
CKMTOBe, UtpKBM, KHJ1I/IH, OTLUenHl/lHGCKI/l grouped around the early m edieval
neujepu m CKanHM kojiohm/, ochobho fortresses Skala, Tsar Äsen, Alfatar and
rpynupaHM b no-6jiM3Kme m .qaneHHH Ruino (which is found on the neighboring dry
OKOJ1HOCTM Ha paHHOCpeflHOBeKOBHHTe river Senebir). The centers of monastic life
KpenocTM CKSJia, L)ap AceH, AncjDaiap n were the coenobitic cave monasteries at
PyPiHO / ta e Ha cbceflHora cyxopewe Verbino and Alfatar, styl ites (hermits who
CeHeönp/. UeHTpoBe Ha MOHawecKnn lived on rock columns) at the village Vasil
>KHBOT Ca KHHOBHaJlHMTB /o6LHOKMTejlHHi/ Levski and Kelliot's laura at the foot of the
CKâjiHM MaHacTiipn flo BbpôMHo h A/icpaTap, fortress Tsar Äsen. Right in the Tsar Äsen was
CTb/iöHHpme flo c. Bacuri JIëbckh m naBpaTa found an Old Bulgarian inscription in
OT K6J1H0TM b no,qHo>KMeTo Ha KpenocTTa Ljap Cyrillic-Glagolitic alphabet, dated by 10lh c„
AceH. TbKMo b Ljap AceH e oTKpm wrilen by a monk called Manasius, who was
CTapoöbjirapcKM KupwiCKO-rnaronnHecKM one of the founders of monasticism in this
Haflnuc OT HananoTo Ha X b., HanucaH ot area. Nevertheless, there were numerous
M aHaCHM h h o k , kohto e cpefl monastic practices that were popular in 10"
n b p B o cT o m e jiH T e Ha MOHamecKaTa c .
opraHM3aunB b to3h Kpaii BnponeM no Life in the cave monasteries went on from
KaHarbon wvia noflanw 3a mho3mhctboto the late 10" c. to the middle of 11" c., when
MOHaiiiecKi/i npaKTMKM, noji3Bamn ce these lands were adjoined to Byzantium. It
nonynnpHocT npe3 X b . seems that they were functioning until the big
>KnBOTa b CKajiHme MaHacTMpi/i e invasion of the Pechenegs in 1036, when the
npoflbiDKMJi ceea Kpan Ha X flo okojio monks had to migrate together with the rest of
cpeflaia Ha XI b., «orara Te3M 3eMn BJiM3aT b the population.
rpaHMMHTe Ha Bu3aHTnm l/l3me>Kfla ca
-2 0 - •
oömaBaHM flo roneMme HaiuecTBMfl Ha
neneHerHTe ot 1036, Korara 3aeflHO c
HacejieHHeTo eMurpupaT n MOHacme.

11. CK3J1HM oömejiM nofl paHHO- 11. Cave Monasteries near the Early
Medieval Fortress at the Village Skala
cpeflHOBeKOBHaia KpenocT flo c. Crama,
(Silistra District).
CmiMcrrpeHCKO
B cKa/iHMHT BeHeu nofl Kpenocrra CKana The rock near the fortress Skala on the
Ha jqecHnsq öpar Ha KaHarbon ca ocpopMeHn right bank of the Kanagyol River has 8 cave
8 CK3J1HM MOHaiiiecKi/i oômejiM. Ha HaiTi- monastic cloisters. The lowest and therefore
AOJ1HO H1/1BO V\ CbOTBeTHO HaM-flCCTbnHa e the most accessible level there had a cave
6mia CKajiHau pbpKBa, ho ot Hea e church, but the only thing still preserved
3ana3BHa cawo apKHpaHaTa ojiTapHa Huma c from it is the arched altar niche, 0.72 m wide
ini/ipi/!na 0,72 m m BMCOHHHa 0,58 m . Hafl Hea and 0.58 m high. Above it, at the
Ha HeflOCTbnHa Bi/icoHMHa ca ocpopivieHn 4 inaccessible height, tnere are four ceils, one
KHJ1MM, CflHaTa OT K01/1T0 ß OÖÜJMpHO of which is a large elliptic room with a bench
e/inncoBMflHo noMeuieHHe e tc CKaMetiKa of 4.90 by 3.80 m; it seems that the monks
4,90X3,80 m , no;i3BaHO 3a 3 MMßH orpeB na used to warm themselves there at Winter
MOHacHTe. CeßepHO ot Kpenocna ce time North to the fortress there is a crypt
HaMi/ipa KpwnTa c Tpw rpoöHM Kaiviepn, b with three burial Chambers, where the
kobto ca norpeößaHM MOHacM. Ilo CTßHMTe monks were buried. The walls of this room
Ha noMemeHi/iaTa ca Bpa3aHH fleceTKM keep dozens of pictures and graffiti a nave
pMCyHKM H 3HapM TpaCpITTH KOpaÔ C KpbCT with a cross above the stern, figures of
Ha/i KbpMaTa, cpMrypM Ha MOHacM, cbgtlim h monks, saints and many crosses and runic
MHOTO KpbCTOBe M pyHOnOflOÖHM 3HapH. signs.

12.CKaneH MaHacTnp „Xafifly tu Kirre 12. Cave Monastery “Haidushkite kashti”

Kbinn” flo c. BbpöMHO, CujiMCTpeHCKO at the village Varbino (Silistra District)
Haiviiipa ce Bbpxy neßnn 6pnr Ha It is situated on the left bank of the
- 21
-
KaHarbon, iowho ot nvra flynoBo-TepBen. Kanagyol River south to the road leading
BKJitOHBa utpKBa, Kpnnïa, Tpane3apnn, from Dulovo to Tervel. It includes a church, a
Knnnn n nowioLUHn noMeipem/ia, CBtp3aHH b crypt, a refectory, cells and supporting
eflMHeH MaHacTnpcKn KMHOBnaneH rooms, connected in one coenobitic
KOMnneKc. LjbpKBaTa e b lOKHaia nacT n e monastery. The church is in the Southern part
Haw-odujupHOTo nowieineHne c flbOKUHa and is the biggest room: 4.90 m long, 2.50 m
4,90 m, wnpnHa 2,50 m m BMCOHMHa 2,65 m. wide and 2.65 m high. An arch altar niche is
Bbpxy M3ioHHaïa CTeHa e M3ceHeHa eut in the upper part of the eastern wall.
apKwpaHa orrrapHa Huma, flo pbpKBaia nMa Close to the church there is the second
BTopo oôujupHO noMemeHi/ie c numa Ha largest room with a niche iri the northëm
ceBepHaia CTeHa, Bepomno noii3BaHO 3a wall, he room was probably used as a
Tpane3apnn. Hafl Hero Ha ropHO hmbo refectory. Above it, on the upper floor, there
CTapaTeriHO ca M3ce%Hn ome neTHpu are tour more neatly eut cells, with a large
Ki/uiMH, a nofl THX oduji/ipno noMeipeHne ebe household room under them. The upper
CTonaHCKO npeflHa3HaHeHi/ie. Bbpxy parts of wall in ce- s are covered with carved
CTehirre Ha KMjinme ca Bpn3aHH kmphjickh Cyrillic inscriptions, rune-like signs and
Haflnuc , pyHonofloôHM 3Hapn h hhkojiko seveial crosses with branched ends.
Kpbcia c pa3KJioHeHM xpampa ' here is a monastic crypt siţuated in the
Ha 20 u kmho ot ubpKBaïa b cbipnn same rock at fhe distance of 20 m south to the
cxaneH BeHep ce HaMi/ipa wiaHacmpcKaTa. church.
KpMma. — ” *=■— M

13. CxaneH MaHacTup ,,Bbp6nHCKHTe 13. Cave m onastery “V arbinskite

nemepu” flo c. BbpôMHO, CunncTpeHCKo peshteri" at the village Varbino (Silistra
Pa3nonox<eH e Bbpxy pßcmn 6pnr Ha District)
KaHarbon Ha oxono 4 km ceBepHO ot It is situated on the right bank of the
MaHacTHpa „XaMflywKMTe K b ip n ” . Kanagyol, about 4 km away south to the
MaHacTHpbT BKniOHBa cxanHa pbpKBa, monastery “Haidushkite kyshti” . The
KprinTa, HryweHapHnua n ome tph kmohm b monastery included a cave church, a crypt, an
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ceßepHa nocoKa. UbpKBara e Han-ronflMOTO abbot's room and three more cells in lhe
n HaPi-necHO floerbnHo noMemeHne b northern direction. The church is the biggest
KOMnjieKca c flb/i>KMHa 5,80 m , iiiupuna 2 00
and easiest accessible room jn this complex,
m n BMCOHMHa 2,05 m. 1/lMa tJjopMaïa Ha 5.80 m long, 2.00 m wide and 2.05 m high. It
n3flt/i)KeHa npaBObrtJiHa eflHOKopaÔHa had the form ot a long rectangular one-nave
CBOflecTa 6a3HJiMKa c nonyKpbma ancMfla vauited basilics with a semi-circular apse in
Bbpxy M3T0HH3Ta CTeHa. Hafl Hea Ha btoph the upper part of the eastern wall. Above it, on
eia>K e orpopivieHa KpmaTa, b kohto ca the second floor, there is a crypt with three
BflbJlÔaHH TpH rpOÔHH xaiviepn CeBepHp OT burial chambers eut in it. North to the crypt,
KpnnTaia no KawieHHS CTbJiôa ce aocthi ü ao there is a stone staircase by which you can
MryMeHapHiipaTa. Ilo 'creHMre Ha utpiæaTa m reach ţhe abbpt's room. Walls in the church
KopMflooa na BpasaHi/i rpacf)MTM-o6pa3 Ha and in the corridor are covered wltn carvings of
CBeTeq h KpbcroBe c pa3KnoHeHn Kpanina graffiti of saints and crosses with branched
Ha okojio 20 m ceBspHO ot exofla KbM ends.
p tp K B aia b ecïecTBeHH neiAepw ca At about 20 m north to the church
M3ceneHH ipn MOHamecKM kmm, b kohto entrance, in a natural cave, there are three
ca ocfiopivieHM hhiijm 3a mkohh m KaHflHJia. monastic cslls with niches for icons and
Ome no Ha ccBep, Bbpxy neetia 6pnr na icon-lamps. Further to the north, on the left
cyxopeHHeTO ca ocpopMeHM abb abohkm bank of tne dry river, there are two pairs of
KMJiMM c rpoôoBe. l/l3rne>KAa ca oômaBaHM cells with graves. It seems that the place was
OT OTLUGJIHMLIM, CBbp33HH C MaH3CTHpa. inhafpited by the hermits connected with the
monastery.
14. CKan hh MOHainecKH o6nTenn b 14. Cave monasteries at “Kokardja”,
M.” KoKapA>Ka” ao c. L|ap AceH, village Tsar Asen (Silistra District)
CMAMCTpeHCKO. On two banks of the Kanagyol River, at
Bbpxy AßaTa 6para Ha p. KaHarbon b the foot of the early medieval Bulgarian
noAHo>KneTo Ha paHHocpeAHOBeKOBHaia fortress of 9“1 1 f cc., there is a monastery,
öbnrapcxa KpenocT ot IX- XI b. e ocpopivieHa which includes 3 churches and 8 cells. The
OÔHTen, BKJlHTHBama 3 LţbpKBM M 8 KHJ1HM. cave rooms are scattered at the distance of
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C Kanhine noMeiiieHMs ca pa3nptcHa™ Ha about 2 -3 km away from each other. It
CKpno 2 -3 km eflho OT flpyro. kl3me>Kfla TyK seerrs that they were inhabited by the
ca oôMTaBajiM kr/ imotm, komto ca ce K e llio ts , w ho g a th e re d to g e th e r fo r
ct6npann 3aeflHO Ha o6mn nmyprm/i caMo common liturgy and holîdays. Center of
Ha npa3Hnqn. LjeHTbp Ha pennrno3HMfl religious life were cave churches. There is
WMBOT me aa ca 6hhh cKanHi/rre ubpkbh. only one of them that is well preserved, it is
floöpe e 3ana3eHa caMO eflHara, ocftopMeHa built in the rock at the natural fountain
b cKaneH BeHep nofl neiUMaia „KoKapflxta". “Kokardja” . It is oval in shape, 2.95 m long
Mmb OBa/iHa cpopMa c flbn>KMHa 2,95 m m and 2.00 m high. In the middle of the
BMcoHMHa 2 00 m . B cpeflaTa Ha M3T0HH3Ta eastern wall there is a s e m i-c irc u la r
CTeHa e ocpopMeHa nonyxperna apKHpaHa arched altar niche.
omapHa Huma. About 100 m north to the church, there
Ha oKOJio 1G0 m ceBepHO ot are two cave cells one above the other. The
UtpKBaTa ca M3ceneHn flBe CKariHi/i kmhhh, one below ,s 4.30 by 4.20 m, the one above
pa3 no/io>KeHn epHa Hap flpyra. flo/iHara e c is 2.80 by 2.40 m.
pa3Mepn 4,30X420 m ., a rapHaia e c
1
pa3Mepn 2,80X2.40 m .

15. CKaneH ckmt „rapremKaia ubpKBa” b 15. Cave cloister “Gargeshkata tserkva”
m. „Cyxa HeiuMa” po rp. A ndw ap. at “Suha cheshma” near Alfatar.
B tpxy flecHHH 6pnr Ha p. KaHarbon On the right bank of the Kanagyol River
MHoro CTapaïenHO e H3ceneHa ronuMa there is a neatly eut large cave vaulted
CKanHa ijbpKBa c rţropMa Ha eflHOKopaöHa basilica, with one nave and one apse, 6.45
eflHoancMflHa cBOflecTa 6a3i/innKa c by 2.15 by 2.70 m. Western half of the naos
flijw iH a 6,45x2,15x2 70 m.. SanaflHara is enlarged to make a narthex. The apse is
nonoBMHa na Haoca e ymwpeHa nop 2.90 m wide, but the altar table is not
(JrapMara Ha npmeop. Ancvipaia e mnpoxa finished. South to the church is seen
2,90 m, ho onTapHaîa Maca He e floBtpweHa. another large room at the iniţial stage of
tO>KHo ot ptpKBaTa e 3anoHHaTO ca rvin g, but also u n fin ish e d . At the
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BfibJiöaßaHeTO Ha flpyro tojibmo noMeiue- distance of 6 m north to the church and 7 m
Hiie, ocTaHa/io cbiuo HeflOBbpweHO. Ha 6 m above the ground there is an inaccessible
ceßepHo OT pbpKBaTa u Ha 7 m Hau TepeHa e cell of 3.40 by 2.90 by 1.60 m. A niche for
M3ceHeHa HeflocTtnHa MOHamecKa kmjimji c an icon and an icon-lam p is eut in the
pa3Mepn 3,40X2,90X1,60. B M3TOHHaTa eastern wall. Left to the entrance, a hearth
deHa e ocpopivieHa Hmua 3a nocTaBBHe Ha is eut in the floor.
MK0H3 i/i KaHflHJio. Bjibbo ot Bxofla b nofla Ha
KMjiima e BßbJiöaHo omwme.

16. CKaneH CKMT „flnnaHaia neiuepa” b 16. Cave Cloister “Dyalanata Peshtera”
m . „Cyxa sewMa” flo rp. AncjtaTap. at “” S u h a C h e s h m a ” , A lfa ta r .
Har/inpa ce na neßna 6pnr Ha KaHarbon It is situated on the left bank of the
Ha oKono 800 m ceBepno ot „rapretuKaTa Kanagyol River, about 800 m north to the
qbpKBa”. B CKaneH BeHeq ca o0 opivieHn “Gargeshkata Tserkva” . The rock houses a
UbßKBa H Kl/Wl/Ifl. UbpKBaTa BepoBTHo e church and a cell. The church seems to
mvia/ia npaBObrbTieH nnan, ho cera hâve had a recta ng ular shape, but
3anaßHaTa fi nonoBHHa e cpyreHa. Hanb/ino unfortunately its western part is destroyed.
cbxpaHeHa e n3T0HH3Ta nonoBHHa c Its eastern part has been preserved
flbjiöOKa TpanepoBHflHä ojiTapna mm entirely, with a deep trapezoidal altar niche
ujnpoxa 1,20 m, fibJiöOKa 1,40 m h Bhcoxa 1,2G m wide, 1.40 m deep and 1.65 m high.
1,65 m. flo pbpxBaTa b ecTecTBeHa neiuepa eNear the church !n a natural cave, there is a
ocjDopMeHa KMjiMB c_BflbJiöaHO b nofla cell with a hearth eut in the floor and two
OTHHLLie M flBe apKOBMflHM HUIUM Bbpxy arched niches in the upper part of the
n3T0HH3Ta h ceßepHaTa crem/i. B UbpKBaTa u eastern and northern Walls. The church
K n /iu B T a ca cb xp a H e H M Hau 6 0 and the cell preserved over 60 early
paHHOCpeflHOBeKOBHM pncyHKH H 3H3L1M- medieval pictures and graffiti crosses,
rpacjDMTM xpbCTOBe, pyHonoflOÖHM 3Hann, runic signs, dépistions of saints, monks,
n3oépa>KeHMB Ha CBeTpn, MOHacn, kohhmuh, horsemen, as well as a damaged Cyrillic

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 r/** î * 4J ;
AJlÜ)aiap M
3^ 4- r * * y**

K3KT0 m eflUH noBpeAeH kmpmjickm Haflnuc. in scription.

/ \
17. CK£meH MaHac Mp b m. „fleHHOB ntm 17. Cave monastery at “Penchov Pat”,
flo rp. A /nJm ap / “> / 3 Alfatar
Ï03M rOJlflM MaHaCTl/ip BKJlKHBaJ] T h is b ig m o n a s te ry in c lu d e d a
p tp K B a , ro/isa mo o öm o M O H a w e cK o church, a big common room (refectory?),
noMeu^eHne /Tpane3apna?/, i/iryivieHapHi/ina abbot's room near it and 9 chained cells.
flo Hea i/i 9 Bepi/i>KHO CBtp3aHM kmjimm. Ha There was a church at the lowest and m ost
Haw-floriHOTO hmbo n Han-necHo flocTtnHâ a c c e s s ib le le v e l, b u t it is a lm o s t
e ôMJia ptpKBaTa, ho e nojiypaapyweHa. Ot destroyed. W hat remained of it is a neatly
He« e 3ana3eHa .qoöDe M3ceHeHara eut arched a tar niche. Above the church
apKMpaHa ojnapHa Huma. Hafl ptpKBaia e there was an abbot's room a sm all w e ll-
ôMJia MryMeHapHMuaia - Aoôpe ocfropMeHo b u ilt rectangular room ot 3 by 2 m, w ith a
MajiKo npaBOtrbJiHO noMemenwe c pa3Mepn rectangular w indow looking over the
3X2 m , c npaBOtrboeH npo30pep, m e /p n river. The cells were made in natural
KtM peKaTa. KnrinMTe ca floo(ţ»opMeHn caves w ith niches for ico n -la m p s and
ecTecTBBHM nemepM, b hhkom ot komto mvia ic o n s in som e ot th e m . T h is b ig
HMUJM 3a KaHflM/ia M MKOHM. T03M TO/WM coenobitic m onastery was one of the
KMHOBMâneH /o6me>KMTe/ieH/ MaHacmp e m onastic centers in K a n a g yo l-D riste r
6nn eflMH 0T LieHTpOBBTB Ha MOHaiiieCKMH région in 10,h c.
>kmbot no KaHarbOJi-flpMCTpa npe3 X b . V im ’i 'ţ

18. CK3J1HM OÖMTeJIM Ha OTLU6JIHMI4M- 18. Cave Monasteries for H erm its-
CTbJinHMpn b m . “Epam/ia” ao c . BacMJi St y l i t e s at “B r a t i l a ” ( v i l l a g e Vas i l
JleBCKM Levski)
Bbpxy AecHMH 6pnr Ha KaHarbOJi Me>KAy On top of the right bank of the
rp. Ancpaiap m c. Bacuri JI bbckm v\m ABe Kanagyol between Alfatar and the village
BCTeCTBBHM CbCeAHM CK3J1H1/1 KOJIOHM, Bbpxy V a s il L evski there are tw o n a tu ra l
komto npe3 X b . ca ce noABM3aBann neighboring rock colum ns, on top o

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OTLuejiHHqn. B noflHoxweTO Ha no- which hermits-Stylites lived in 10th c. At
ro/inwiaTa KonoHa b ronnwa eciecTBeHa the foot of the biggest column in a big
neiflepa e octopMena oöiüMpHa CKa/iHa natural cave is eut a large cave church,
HbpKBa c flt/DKHHa 9,10 m , Lunpi/iHa 5,00' m h 9.10 m long, 5.00 m wide and 2.70 m high.
BHCOHMHa 2,70 m. B M3T0HHaT3 n CTeHa An arch-shaped altar apse of 1.20 m
CTapaTejiHO e n3ceneHa apKOBHflHa omapHa width and an altar table are neatly eut in
ancMfla c wnpHHa 1,20 m n omapHa Maca. ,ts eastern wall. In the upper part of the
Btpxy io>KHaTa CTeHa flo Bxofla e n3HepiaH Southern wall by the entrance there is a
CTapaieriHo flByMaHTOB xopaô c bmcok hoc n neatly carved two-master vessel with a
xptcT Hafl KbpMaïa. Bepomto e aneropnn high bow and .a cross above the stern. It
Ha qtpxBaTa, HanpaBJWBaHa ot ; boa seems to be an allegory of the church led
KopMHMfl XpucToc. 1 __ by ils steerşman Christ.
riofl BTopaTa cxa/iHa KonoHa n.Ma Near the second column, there is a
ecTecTBOHa nemepa cuc cjram or natural cave with traces of manual work and a
flontJiHmenHa oôpaboTKa n kpuct Hafl cross above the entrarice.

19. CxaneH ckmt b m. ,,An3Mo” flo c. 19. Cave cloister at “Ayazmo” (Ruino,
PyiîHo, flynoBCKO Dulovo)
HaMHpa ce Btpxy neBiisa cxanncT 6pnr It is situated on the left rocky bank of the
Ha cyxopeHHeïo „ Ce he6 n p" cpeipy dried river Senebir in front of the medieval
paHHOcpeflHOBeKOBHa xpenocT ot X-XI b. m fortress of 10lfl 11"1 cc. and not far from an
Heflajien ot MiociojiiviaHCKo annaHCKO Alian Moslem (Shiite) shrine dedicated to
CBeTnnnifle, nocBeTeHO Ha fleMnp 6a6a. Demir-baba.
MaHacrviptT BKJiioHBa ptpKBa, 3 kmohh, in e monastery included a church, 3
nryivieHapHMLia h xpunTâ UtpKBaTa e cells. an abbot's room and a crypt. The
npaBOtrwiHo noMeiiieHMe c pa3Mepn church is a rectangular room of 3.80 by
3,80X2,00 m . Btpxy M3T0HH3Ta CTeHa 2.00 m. In the upper part of the eastern wall
CTapaTe/iHo e u.3ceneHa oriTapHa Huma c there is a neatly eut altar niche 0.55 m wide
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ujupuHa 0,55 M m BMCOHMHa 0,85 m . K3>kho m . and 0 85 m high. South to this room and
HenocpeflCTBeHo CBtpsaHa c Hen e «wn/imia joint with it is the abbot's cell; west to it
Ha i/iryivieHa, a 3ana/jHO ot Hen uwa oige rpu there are three more cells. At a distance of
Kmm. Ha okojio 30 m k»kho ot utpKBaTa, b about 30 m south to the church, built in the
CbcefleH CKaneH Reneg e ocjiopMeHa neighboring rock ridge is a crypt. It is a
Kpumaia. flpeflCiaBTinBa Tpubrbnao triangulär room of 6.80 by 3.60 m. A burial
nOMeigeHue c pa3Mepn 6,80x3,60 m. B chamber closed by a lïd is neatly eut in the
ceBepoi/i3TOHHun bum ciapaienHO e north—eastern corner, with a small room
M3ceHeHa rpobHa Kaiuepa, 3aTBapaHa c above it, where the monks' relies were
Kanax, a Haa nea - wanKo noMeigeHue 3a preserved.
cbxpaHRBaHe Monture Ha MOHacme.

CKaoHaia MOHamecxa oömeo flo Cave eloister at Murfatlar

Myp0aTJiap /Bacapaön/, OKptr KoHCTaHga. /B asarabi/, Constanta.

Toßa e Haü-roneMUBT flOKyivieHTupaH This is the most documented early

paHHoepeflHOBeKOBeH cxaneH MaHacTup b medieval cave monastery in Dobrudja and
flo6pyfl>Ka n Ha EanKanwe, komto c on the Balkans, which with its numerous
MHoroöpoüHMTe cu Ky/iTOBH noiviemeHMfl, ritual rooms, hundreds of pictures, signs,
CTOTugu pucyHKu, 3Hagu, cTapoötnrapcKu early Bulgarian C yrillic, Glagolitic, Greek
KupmiCKi/i, rjiarojiMHecKM, rpbgiw, u and Runic inscriptions is the main source
pyHunecKU HaflnucH ce BBBBa ocHOBeH for history, culture and art of Dobrudja. It
M3Bop 3a HCTopuma, KymypaTa n was built in the early 10th c. in connection
i/i3«ycTB0T0 Ha flo6pyfl)Ka. OcJoopMeH e KbM
w ith c o n s tr u c tio n of th e b ig g e s t
HananoTO Ha X b . BbB Bpb3Ka cbc Dobrudjan rock wall, and included 6
CTpoHTencTBOTO Ha rooeMMB flo6pyfl>KaHCKM churches and chapels, 4 cells, crypts and
KaMeHeH Ban u BKniOHBa 6 gbpKBM u several galleries. This monastery is not

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napaKJiacM, 4 kmjwi/i,
Kpnmm m hhkojiko such in the füllest sense of the word,
rajiepnn. Toßa oôase He e MaHacTup b because there are no rooms for the monks'
TpaflHL|MOHHMa CMMCbJl Ha TOBa nOHHTMe, a sse m b lie s, ty p ic a l of a co e n o b itic
3aiuoTO riHncBaT oôiuoMOHawecKMTe m onastery: refectory, chained c e lls ,
noMeineHMfi Ha oô/Ke/KUTe/iHnn waHacTnp, common church, common tomb, etc. If
Tpane3apnfl, Bepnxmo CBtp3aHH mnm, seems that the place was inhabited by 4 -5
06111a ptpKBa, 06111a rpoôHHpa h np. no m onks-K elliots, united in a sm all laura,
BCMHKO M3me>Kfla, se TyK oômaBajiH 4-5 as each had one's one church (alm ost ail
M0H3CM Ke/iHOTH, oôefli/iHfiHM b Marna jiaBpa, of them very sm all) and a cell and led
KaTO BCeKM HMa CDÔCTBâHa LfbpKBULia /nOHTM a u to n o m o u s life . D u rin g im p o rta n t
BC1/IHK1/I ca MHHHaTKjpHM/, KHJ1HH 1/1 BOflM holidays they gathered in a big cave
aBTOHOMBH xcwbot. Cawio npw roneMM tem ple B—4, w hich holds traces of
npa3Himn ce cbönpa/iM b roner/iiin cxaneH painting. The aichitecture of the church, a
xpaM B-4, b komto rnvia cjieflu ot >KMBonnc. B p e c u l i a r r e d - f i g u r e d p a i n t i n g and
apxuTeKiypara Ha ptpKBi/iTe, cnepi/icpHHHaTa Organization bears traces of the monastic
HepBCHOcpi/irypHa >KMBonnc h opraHHsaqnma center of 9lh 10th cc. in Cappadocia, Asia
flOJiaBHMG BJlMflHMH OT MailOa3MMCKMfl Minor. Numerous inscriptions and graffiti
MOHaïuecKii peHTbp ot IX—X b. b KanaflOKiiH. were left by the old Bulgarian monks
MH03HHCTB0T0 HaflnMCM m rpadoMTM ca there, but several Gieek and runic texts
ocTaBeHM ot CTapoôtJirapcKH MOHaci/i, ho suggest presence of the monks from other
HSTKOM rptUKM H pyHHHeCKl/l TeKCTOBe p l a c e s there. The m o n a s t e r y was
npeflnojiaraT npnctcTBi/ie Ha xanyrepu ot destroyed in the late 10,h or early 11'h c.
Apyrn HapoflHOCTH. MaHacTi/ipbT e during the invasion of the Varangians or
n30CT3BeH b xpsm Ha X MilH Haia/IOTO Ha XI Pechenegs.
B.npn HaiiiecTBMH Ha Bapnm mv\ neneHern.

20. CKaJiHa utpKBa B-1 b MyprjDarnap. 20. Cave church B-1 in Murfatlar.
BfibjiôaHa e Ha bmcohhh3 b iviexaTa lt is eut on top of a soft rock (tebeshir).
exana /Teôewnp/. HMa M3flbii>KeHa lt has a long basilica—lïke form with naos,
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 one apse and a large narthex. The narthex
6a3M/îMKajiHa cţiopMa c Haoc, eflHa ancufla m
is 2.20 by 1.60 by 2.10 m, the naos is 2.10
OÔUJUpeH npMTBOp. npMTBOptT e C pa3Mepi4
2,20X1,60X2,10 m , HaoctT e c pa3Mepn by 1.88 by 2.05 m; the apse is semi­
2,10X 1,88X 2,05 m , a ancMflaia e circular, with the diameter of 1.80 m.
There is a monolithic altar table and two
nojiyKptrna c Anawertp 1,80 m . Ha Bbpxa Ci
b irjim e Ha ancupaia mohohhtho ca more pedestals (probably a proteizis and
M3ceseHn ojiTapHa Maca m ome flBa diakonikon) eut in the upper corner of the
nodaMeHTa, h 3 bhpho npoieCî3MC v\ apse. Pedestals and benches are eut in the
AwaKOHMKOH. B npHTBopa h Haoca ctiAO canarthex and naos. In the upper parts of the
M3CeHBHM nOCTaMeHTM H CK3MeClKH 3a walls of the naos and the narthex there are
CBAane. Btpxy cTeHme Ha Haoca v\ carvings of dozens of graffiti: crosses in
npMTBopa ca bph33hm a e c e m «pbcioBe-different combinations, animais, four
rpaCjDMTM B HaÜ-pa3nHHHH KOMÖHH314HH, runic and one old-Bulgarian inscription
(ţwrypM Ha whbothh, seinpn pyHHHecKM w in Cyrillic, which reads: “We must".
eAMH cïapoôtJirapcKH kmphjickh H3Annc,
koüto ce neTe „flnhxHMcMe”

21. CxaiiHa LjbpKBa B-2 b MypcfeaTnap. 21. Cave church B-2 in Murfatlar
HaMwpa ce Ha noBtpxHocna Ha cxa/iHun It is situated on a rock massive and
M3CHB H Ce CbCTOH OT HaOC, npMTBOp M consists of a naos, narthex and a semi­
nonyxptrbn omap c m3cmbho n3ceseHa circular altar with an altar table eut in
onrapHa Maca. Toßa bcbiuhoct e ManbK massive. This is, in fact, a small chapel
napaioiHC c pa3Mepn Ha Haoca 1,10X2,20 m, with the size of the naos 1.10 by 2.20 m,
Ha npMTBopa 1,12X1,35 m, a AHawierbpa Ha and the narthex 1.12 by 1.35 m; the
ancMAaTa e 1,90 m.. Bbpxy CTeHwe ca diameter of the apse is 1.90 m. There are
BPH33HM AeCeTKM pMCyHKH M 3H314M- dozens of carvings and graffiti-signs in
rpacpMTM, xaTo npeoönaAaßaT Te3H c the upper part of the walls, most of them of
XpHCTMHHCKO CbAbpNOHMB KpbCTOBe, Christian contents crosses, boots
öoTyiuM / chmboji Ha noKJioHHHUHTe/, pnôn (symbols of worshippers), fish (symbol of
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/C mMBOJI Ha XpMCTOC/, KptCTOBe C OLLIl/ipeHl/l Christ) and crosses with branched
Kpamiia. OcBeH thx ca pucyBaHi/i kohhml^m, a ends. Besides these, there are horsemen,
Btpxy 0 parweHT ot CTeHaTa e Bp«3aH and above in the wall there is a Cyrillic
CTapoötjirapcKH Knpnncw Haflmc, komtd- ce inscription eut in Old Bulgarian, which
pa3Hma „Hne CMe nncann”. reads: “We wrote this” .

22. Cxa/iHa ubpiœa B-3 b Mypcpauiap. 22. Cave church B-3 in Murfatlar.
Pa3nojio>KeHa e nofl B-2 u npeflCTaBjin- Lying under B-2, it represents a burial
Ba norpeôaneH napaKJiwc c tc cBOfleci narthex with vaulted rectangular naos
npaBObrwieH Haoc (2,50X2,20X2,10 m ) m (2 50X2.20X210 m) and a sem i-circular
nojiyKpbma ancn,qa c MOHO/inTHa orrrapna apse with a monolithic altar table. Close to
Maca. flo LfbpKBaia ce HaMnpa napax/inc c the church there :s a narthex with two burial
flBe rpoÖHH KawepM. no CTeHMre ca HaHeceHn Chambers. The wall is covered with over 50
Hafl 50 KpbCTa-rpacţMrw,, CBacTmw, mviuu, graffiti: crosses, swastika, birds, a nave with
Kopaô c KbpMsna (chmboxi Ha LţbpKBara, a steersman (symbolizing the church led by
HanpaBAHBaHa ot X pmctoc) m np. Christ) and other.

23. Ci<ajiHa ubpiœa B-4 b Mypcfjarnap. I 23. Cave church B -4 in Murfatlar.

Toßa e HaM-rojieMHB „ctöopeH” xpaM b This is the biggest “cathédral" in this
cxariHaTa o6men c pa3Mepu Ha 3acB0fleHnn cave monastery, with the size of the vaulted
Haoca 7,00X3,50 m. npwTBopvr e MajitK cuc naos of 7.00 by 3.50 m. The narthex is small,
cBOfleci TaBaH, a ojnapHaia nperpafla Mex<fly with vaulted ceiling, and the altar wall
Haoca m ancHflaia e ocfiopivieHa c Hempn between the naos and the apse is designed
K/iohoni/iTHM KOJiOHH. Ancnflaîa e nojiyKptma with four monolithic columns. The apse is
m 3acB0fleHa c Tpn mohohmthm nociaMeHTa, se m i-circu la r and vaulted, with three
kohto nrparrr po/mâ Ha o/map, npoTeti3nc n monolithic pedestals, which play the role of
fli/iaKOHiiKOH. Hafl ojrrapHara nperpafla i/iMa altar, proteizis and diakonikon. Above the
eflHouBeTHa apxmeKTOHi/iHHa »wBonnc c altar there is a monochrome architectural
nepBeHa oxpa. painting in red ochre. This church has
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 Tobû e LjtpKBaTa c Haîi-iviHoro pncyHKn n numerous pictures and graffiti signs,
3Hapn rpacjDMTM, Karo npeoôiiaflaBaT Te3n c mostly Christian: dozens of crosses,
XpUCTUflHCKO CbflbpXQHMe fleCeTKM labyrinths, dragons, pigeons, saints, Christ
KptCTOBG, flaÔMpHHTM, flpaKOHM, rbJlbÔ, and child-Christ.
CBemu, Boropoflupa c MjiafleHepa-XpucToc. One can read there, as well, five runic,
Pa3NmaT ce v\5 pyrn/inecKn, two
flBa Greek,
rpbqKH, one Glagolitic and nine Old
eflMH marojiMHecKH u fleBeT ciapo6b/irapcKi/i Bulgarian inscriptions, like the best known
Haflnuca, Kare HaM-n3BecTHnn e ktmtopcku m inscription by the founder: ‘Toupai built
macn: "Toynaü HanpaBH uhpKBara Ha the church of “St. George” (eut)
„C B .re o p m ”... /l/l 3 ce n e / KaMhKbT... A rock... And Tongan from Polutesk
ToHraH \A3 rio /iy re c K /flfw c K a ?/... (Pliska?) ...both”. Also curious are the
JlroôonnTCTBO npeflH3BMKBai n inscriptions containing the names of the
A B a M a ra "

Hajanncme c i/iMeHaia Ha MOHacme flaiwiH, monks Damian, lan and Simo.

1/laH h Cmmo.

24. CKa/iHa m \m c Kpi/irrra C-1 24. Cave œ il with crypt C-1

Hawiwpa ce b HenocpepcTBeHa 6jih3oct It is situated close to the church B 3 and
pp pbpKBa B 3 h BKjiWHBa m n m n rpoßHnpa includes a cell and a tomb. It is an ellipse,
klMa enencoBMflHa (ÿopivia c pa3Mepn with the size of 3,55X2,40X1,60 m. There is
3,55X2,40X1,60 m .B 3anaflHaia nacT e a plinth in its western part, and a door to the
ochopMeH nocTawieHT, a b ceBepHaia uMa crypt in the northern part; the crypt is a small
BpaTa KbM Kpnmaïa MajiKo npaBObruiHO rectangular room of 1.55X120 m, with a
noMeipeHHe 1,55X120 m, b nofla Ha Koeîo e rectangular burial chamber eut in the floor of
M3ceHeHa npaBObrbriHa rpoôHa KaMepa c 1.25X0.52X0.30 m. In the upper part of the
pa3iviepn 1,25X0,52X0,30 m. Bbpxy CTentiTe cell's wall there are about 50 carvings and
Ha Ki/uiMflTa ca Bpn3aHH okojio 50 pHcyHKM n graffiti, mostly crosses with equal bars,
3Hapn rpacbHTH. npeoônaflaBaï KpbCTOBeTe- Greek, Maltese and even Golgothic. Below
paBHopaMeHHM, rpbpKi/i, ManTHiïCKH n flopn the crosses, seven dragons are depicted,
ronroTCKH. riofl KpbCTOBeie ca n3pi/icyBaHn 7 and below the dragons there are four wolves.
flpaxoHa, a no,q flpaxoHHTe 4 Bb/ixa.
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 l/l3c/ieflBaHMH no TeiviaTa:
r. ATaHaCOB. CpeflHOBeXOBHM CKa/lHM pbpKBM BCminCTpeHCKM OKptr. l/l3BeCTMa Ha HapOflHMH
My3ew BapHa /1/IHMB/, 20,1984, c. 91 -98.
T. ÄTaHacoB. CKa/iHi/i MaHacTHpw b xpahflyHaBCxa flo6py,q>xa. BeKOBe, 4,1986, c. 9-11
r. AiaHacoB. Haxorixo CKariHi/i MaHacTHpa b Kkna floépyflwa. UHMB, 25,1989, c. 53-56
T. AiaHacoB. PaHHOBimHTMwcxi/i CKajiHH pbpKBH i/i MaH3CTnpn b K)>XHa flo6pyfl>xa. ApxeOJIOrMH,
3,1991,0.33-45
r. ATaHaCOB.XpMCTHHHCKM naMeTHI/ipM OTpaHHOCpBflHOBBKOBHaTa KpenOCT flO C. PyMHO,
fly/iOBCKO. floôpyflwa, 8,1991, c. 28-29, raön. I
r. ATaHaCOB. PHHOCpeflHOBeXOBHW CK3J1HM MaHaCTl/ipi/l no epeflHOTO pyCJlO Ha cyxopeHMeTo
KaHarbon (flpviCTpa) b flo6pyfl>xa. l/IHMB, 29,1993, c. 122-143,
T. AraHacoB c Kon. l/lcropna Ha Ancfraiap. BapHa, 1994, c. 36-38.
T. AiaHacoB. 3a xpoHOJiornriTa h MOHaiuecxaîa opraHH3auns b cxanHwe o6nTe/in npe3 ntpBOTO
ßwapcxo papcTBO. B: CßeToropcxa oßmen 3orpacp, II. C., 1999, c. 286-290,
I. Barnea, St.Ştefănescu. Din istoria Dobrodgei. 3. Bucureşti, 1971, p. 2K-233.
I. Barnea. Christian Art in Romania, 2. Bucureast, 1981, p. 46-90.
C. Chiriac. Un monument inedit: complexul rupestru de la Dumbrăveni (jud. Constanta). -
Pontica, XXI-XXII, 1988-1989, p. 149-168
G. Atanassov. Influences ethno-culturelles dans l'ermitage rupestres prés de Murfatlar a
Dobrudja. Byzantinoslavica, LVII, 1996, p. 112-124

,,To3m nvreBOfli/iTe/i e u3roTBeH c cjuiHaHCOBaTa noivioiu Ha EBponeMCxara oôluhoct.

l/l3Jio>KeHMTe b Hero Bt3rnefli/i ca Ha HaysHtw ptKOBOfli/uen Ha npoexia flou, fl-p leopni
ÄTaHacoB u ctTpyflHuume fl-p MapwaH Hary, Eenno MapuHOB h no HiixaxtB Hani/iH He
aHra>xnpaT ocjonuna/iHaia no3nuuR Ha EBponewcxaTa oôiuhoct." A btop Ha TexcTa e flop,
fl-p Teopm AïauacoB, cfiOTociiTe ca fleoo Ha HßaH TaöepoB, flaH JlynoLi h flobpn
1/tpflaHOB, a nnaHOBeie h xapime ca n3roTBeHn ot feoprn AiaHacoB h Ctohh 3naTeB.

“This document is produced with the financial support from the European Union. The
ideas and opinions expressed here belong to the scientific leader of the project Associate
Professor, Doctor of History Georgi Atanasov and his colleagues doctor Marian Neagu and
Belcho Marinov, and in no way they express official position of the European Union." The
author is Associate Professor, Doctor of History Georgi Atanasov, photos by Ivan Gaberov,
Dan Lupoi and Dobri Jordanov, plans and maps were produced by Georgi Atanasov and
S to ja n Z late v.
npoexTtT ce CLCtu/iHaHcupa ot EBponePicKMR Cbi03 npe3 flporpaivia
(DAP-TpaHcrpaHMHHO ctTpyflHHsecTBO, CbBMecTeH cboHfl 3a ivianxi/i
npoeKTM E tnrapi/ifl - PyivrbHi/iR.
This project is financed by the European Union PHARE Programm e for
C ross-B order Coopération and by the Joint Fund for Sm all Projects
B ulgaria-R om ania.
CH U “ EßpoxopHSOHTH” - CmiHCTpa
M^aTejicTBo “PHTT”
ISBN 954-759-088-X
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