Description of the attraction
The Lozen Monastery of the Holy Savior is located 900 meters above sea level on the northern slope of Mount Polovrak, 5 km from the village of Dolni Lozen. The first monastery on this site was built in the 13th century. In the XIV century, when the fortresses of Urvich, Serdets fell, and then the entire Sofia region fell into the power of the invaders as a result of the Ottoman invasion, the monastery was plundered, burned and soon fell into disrepair. It was only revived in the 17th century. In 1737, the monastery became the center of the uprising, because of which it was again destroyed by the Turks.
In 1821, local residents built a new complex on the foundations of a destroyed Christian monastery. The erected one-nave church of the Holy Ascension of the Lord with one apse was 14 meters long and 7 meters wide. The building was rebuilt several times, as evidenced by the inscription above the main entrance to the temple. Three large domes crowning the low towers on the roof of the church, which have survived to this day, were quite an unusual solution for the Bulgarian temple architecture in those days.
In 1869, the Samokov painter N. Obrazopisov, together with H. Zografsky and D. Dupnichanin, re-painted the church and domes. The frescoes, which have survived to this day in fairly good condition, attract with their colorfulness and color saturation. The number of various saints and historical figures depicted on the walls and vaults of the temple is so great that it is not found anywhere else in the Sofia region.
Currently, visitors to this cultural and historical attraction can see old frescoes and restored icons from 1850-1890.
The interesting architecture and interior decoration of the temple make it a valuable monument of Bulgarian culture and art. From the top on which the monastery stands, there is a beautiful view of the Sofia Hollow - the valley in which the cities of Sofia, Kostinbrod are located, as well as a number of villages.
