Krastowa Gora

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
View of the Way of the Cross

Krastowa Gora ( Bulgarian Кръстова гора , means something like 'Kreuzberg') is a holy place for the Orthodox faith on Mount Krastow Wrach ( Bulgarian Кръстов връх 1413 m) in Bulgaria . The Kreuzberg is also called 'Kreuzwald' because the mountain is overgrown by an old beech forest.

Geographical location

Krastowa Gora is located about 45 kilometers south of Asenovgrad , 6 kilometers east of the town of Borowo in the Rhodope Mountains . A first monastery was built on this site in 1002 AD. However, this Sweta Troiza (Holy Trinity) monastery was later robbed and burned down.

View from the western part of the Krastow Wrach

history

Entrance to the Trinity Monastery

Krastowa Gora has its historical origins as early as the 15th century. According to tradition, part of the Holy Cross rests in the monastery as a relic , which was brought out of Jerusalem by Helena , mother of Emperor Constantine the Great and buried in a secret place in Krastowa Gora. During the Ottoman rule, the Sweta Troiza (Holy Trinity) monastery was destroyed, and around 300 monks were killed. On his pilgrimage on May 1, 1936, the Bulgarian King Boris III. a massive iron cross that was erected on the eastern part of the mountain.

Holy Trinity Chapel

In 1956, on the western part of the hill, the Holy Trinity Chapel was built on part of the preserved foundation of the old monastery church. In 1993 the construction of another church began. At the same time, twelve chapels were built on the Way of the Cross towards the summit.

meaning

On the Day of the Holy Cross (September 14th), thousands of Orthodox believers make a pilgrimage to the holy place every year to attend the liturgy for the maintenance of health.

Web links

Commons : Krastowa Gora  - collection of pictures, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

  1. Plovdiv Guide: Krastova Gora (The Cross Forest) ( Memento from February 8, 2006 in the Internet Archive )

Coordinates: 41 ° 50 ′ 25 ″  N , 24 ° 55 ′ 1 ″  E