Boboshevo
Encyclopedia
Boboshevo is a town in Western Bulgaria
. It is located in Kyustendil Province
and is close to the towns of Kocherinovo
and Rila
.
The town of Boboshevo is situated around 75 km (46.6 mi) to the south of Sofia
and 65 km (40.4 mi) from Bulgaria's prime skiing destination, Bansko
. Approximately 4 km away from Boboshevo is the main road that connects Sofia with the Greek
border.
Boboshevo lies in the lowest part of the southwestern ridge of the Rila Mountains, in the fertile valley of the Struma River
(where it meets with the German River). Thanks to its favourable location and mild climate, the area of Boboshevo has been populated since antiquity.
The Boboshevo region is known also as the 'Bulgarian Jerusalem' along with the region of Ohrid
due to its role of a cultural centre during the 15th to the 17th century. The region is rich in churches and monasteries, most of which date back to that period.
The most famous of these is the St Dimitar Monastery, which lies in the lower eastern part of the Ruen Mountain. It is an extremely precious representative of medieval architecture, possessing the highest value — a monument of national importance — according to the Bulgarian criteria of listing. The church (as it now stands) was constructed during the last quarter of the 15th century. It has one nave
, one round apse
, and is covered by a semi-spheric vault
. The wall paintings cover both the walls and the ceiling entirely, as well as the western façade. They are dated to 1488 and are extremely valuable, which goes beyond national cultural boundaries and provokes the interest of many Balkan
researchers, tourists and pilgrims.
St Dimitar is one of the oldest monasteries in Bulgaria having existed since the First Bulgarian Empire
, around the 10th century. After being destroyed during the Ottoman invasion in Bulgaria
in the late 14th century, it was reconstructed in 1488.
The monastery is not only significant because of its age. It is treasured also because one of Bulgaria's greatest heroes and the country's patron saint, St Ivan Rilski, got his start there. St. Dimitar hosted St Ivan Rilski during his early years of monkhood, before he moved to live as a hermit
in a nearby cave and then founded the famous Rila monastery.
In 2002-2003, another monastery was built in the region. It is located in the neighbourhood of the village Skrino
and is named after St Ivan Rilski for his being born in the same village. A steep path starts from the monastery and leads up in the mountains to the cave where St Ivan Rilski used to live.
Located nearby in the neighbourhood of the Slatino village, an Eneolithic settlement with valuable objects of the early 5th millennium BC was uncovered during excavations. In addition to more than 500 ceramic objects, qualified as true masterpieces of fine art, there is a unique finding of an oven model with a lunar calendar painted on its bottom. The calendar is the oldest of its kind found anywhere in Europe.
Today, Boboshevo is a quiet little town with picturesque houses, a few coffee shops and bars.
Bulgaria
Bulgaria , officially the Republic of Bulgaria , is a parliamentary democracy within a unitary constitutional republic in Southeast Europe. The country borders Romania to the north, Serbia and Macedonia to the west, Greece and Turkey to the south, as well as the Black Sea to the east...
. It is located in Kyustendil Province
Kyustendil Province
-Religion:Religious adherence in the province according to 2001 census:-Language:Mother tongues in the province according to 2001 census:* 153,242 Bulgarian * 7,929 Roma * 1363 others and unspecified -Ethnic groups:...
and is close to the towns of Kocherinovo
Kocherinovo
Kocherinovo is a town in southwestern Bulgaria, part of Kyustendil Province. It is the administrative centre of Kocherinovo municipality, which lies in the southern part of Kyustendil Province....
and Rila
Rila (town)
Rila is a town in southwestern Bulgaria, in Rila Municipality, part of Kyustendil Province. It is the administrative centre of Rila municipality, which lies in the southeastern part of Kyustendil Province....
.
The town of Boboshevo is situated around 75 km (46.6 mi) to the south of Sofia
Sofia
Sofia is the capital and largest city of Bulgaria and the 12th largest city in the European Union with a population of 1.27 million people. It is located in western Bulgaria, at the foot of Mount Vitosha and approximately at the centre of the Balkan Peninsula.Prehistoric settlements were excavated...
and 65 km (40.4 mi) from Bulgaria's prime skiing destination, Bansko
Bansko
Bansko is a town and a popular ski resort in southwestern Bulgaria, located at the foot of the Pirin Mountains at an elevation of 925 m above sea level....
. Approximately 4 km away from Boboshevo is the main road that connects Sofia with the Greek
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
border.
Boboshevo lies in the lowest part of the southwestern ridge of the Rila Mountains, in the fertile valley of the Struma River
Struma River
The Struma or Strymónas is a river in Bulgaria and Greece. Its ancient name was Strymōn . Its catchment area is 10,800 km²...
(where it meets with the German River). Thanks to its favourable location and mild climate, the area of Boboshevo has been populated since antiquity.
The Boboshevo region is known also as the 'Bulgarian Jerusalem' along with the region of Ohrid
Ohrid
Ohrid is a city on the eastern shore of Lake Ohrid in the Republic of Macedonia. It has about 42,000 inhabitants, making it the seventh largest city in the country. The city is the seat of Ohrid Municipality. Ohrid is notable for having once had 365 churches, one for each day of the year and has...
due to its role of a cultural centre during the 15th to the 17th century. The region is rich in churches and monasteries, most of which date back to that period.
The most famous of these is the St Dimitar Monastery, which lies in the lower eastern part of the Ruen Mountain. It is an extremely precious representative of medieval architecture, possessing the highest value — a monument of national importance — according to the Bulgarian criteria of listing. The church (as it now stands) was constructed during the last quarter of the 15th century. It has one nave
Nave
In Romanesque and Gothic Christian abbey, cathedral basilica and church architecture, the nave is the central approach to the high altar, the main body of the church. "Nave" was probably suggested by the keel shape of its vaulting...
, one round apse
Apse
In architecture, the apse is a semicircular recess covered with a hemispherical vault or semi-dome...
, and is covered by a semi-spheric vault
Vault (architecture)
A Vault is an architectural term for an arched form used to provide a space with a ceiling or roof. The parts of a vault exert lateral thrust that require a counter resistance. When vaults are built underground, the ground gives all the resistance required...
. The wall paintings cover both the walls and the ceiling entirely, as well as the western façade. They are dated to 1488 and are extremely valuable, which goes beyond national cultural boundaries and provokes the interest of many Balkan
Balkans
The Balkans is a geopolitical and cultural region of southeastern Europe...
researchers, tourists and pilgrims.
St Dimitar is one of the oldest monasteries in Bulgaria having existed since the First Bulgarian Empire
First Bulgarian Empire
The First Bulgarian Empire was a medieval Bulgarian state founded in the north-eastern Balkans in c. 680 by the Bulgars, uniting with seven South Slavic tribes...
, around the 10th century. After being destroyed during the Ottoman invasion in Bulgaria
Bulgarian-Ottoman Wars
The Bulgarian-Ottoman wars were fought between the disintegrating Bulgarian Empire and the new emerging Turkic power, the Ottoman Turks in the second half the 14th century and the beginning of the 15th century. The war ended with the collapse of the once powerful Bulgarian Empire in 1422. The...
in the late 14th century, it was reconstructed in 1488.
The monastery is not only significant because of its age. It is treasured also because one of Bulgaria's greatest heroes and the country's patron saint, St Ivan Rilski, got his start there. St. Dimitar hosted St Ivan Rilski during his early years of monkhood, before he moved to live as a hermit
Hermit
A hermit is a person who lives, to some degree, in seclusion from society.In Christianity, the term was originally applied to a Christian who lives the eremitic life out of a religious conviction, namely the Desert Theology of the Old Testament .In the...
in a nearby cave and then founded the famous Rila monastery.
In 2002-2003, another monastery was built in the region. It is located in the neighbourhood of the village Skrino
Skrino
Skrino is a village in the municipality of Boboshevo, Kyustendil Province, western Bulgaria.- History :Skrino is known under the same name since the 9th century. It was the birth place of Saint John of Rila, the patron of the Bulgarian people. The Ruen Monastery is situated nearby.- Honour :Skrino...
and is named after St Ivan Rilski for his being born in the same village. A steep path starts from the monastery and leads up in the mountains to the cave where St Ivan Rilski used to live.
Located nearby in the neighbourhood of the Slatino village, an Eneolithic settlement with valuable objects of the early 5th millennium BC was uncovered during excavations. In addition to more than 500 ceramic objects, qualified as true masterpieces of fine art, there is a unique finding of an oven model with a lunar calendar painted on its bottom. The calendar is the oldest of its kind found anywhere in Europe.
Today, Boboshevo is a quiet little town with picturesque houses, a few coffee shops and bars.
Landmarks
- Church of St TheodoreChurch of St Theodore, BoboshevoThe Church of Saint Theodore is a Medieval Bulgarian church near the town of Boboshevo, Kyustendil Province.- Location, history, architectural and artistic features :...
- Church of St DemetriusChurch of St Demetrius, BoboshevoThe Church of St Demetrius is a Bulgarian church dating from the Late Middle Ages near the town of Boboshevo, Kyustendil Province.- Location, history, architectural and artistic features :...
- Church of St ElijahChurch of St Elijah, BoboshevoThe Church of St Elijah is a late Medieval Bulgarian church in the town of Boboshevo, Kyustendil Province.- Location, history, architectural and artistic features :...
- Church of St AthanasiusChurch of St Athanasius, BoboshevoThe Church of St Athanasius is a late Medieval Bulgarian church in the town of Boboshevo, Kyustendil Province.- Location, history, architectural and artistic values :...
- Church of the Holy Mother of GodChurch of the Holy Mother of God, BoboshevoThe Church of the Holy Mother of God a Bulgarian National Revival church in the town of Boboshevo, Kyustendil Province.- Location, history, architectural and artistic features :...
- Ruen MonasteryRuen MonasteryThe Ruen Monastery St John of Rila is a Bulgarian Orthodox monastery part of the Dupnitsa vicarage of the Sofia eparchy of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church...