Bulgaria, Ivanovo Rock Monastery - Saint Mochael the Archangel

The Ivanovo Monastery, located near Ruse and the village of Ivanovo, is a historical and cultural site within Natural Park Rusenski Lom. Founded in the 1220s by Monk Yoakim, it was supported by Bulgarian Tzars and became a spiritual center during the Second Bulgarian Empire. The monastery is renowned for its 13th and 14th-century wall paintings, which are exemplary of Bulgarian Church art and Palaiologus art. These artistic qualities led to its inclusion in UNESCO's list of global cultural heritage. Despite its decline during the Ottoman period, the site was declared a national archaeological reservation in 1978. Today, the monastery is inactive but remains a significant historical site.

Who founded the Ivanovo Monastery in the 1220s?

• French scholars

• Monk Yoakim

• Tzar John Ashen

• Queen Theodora

What is the significance of the wall paintings in the church of St. Mary?

• They depict the life of Monk Yoakim.

• They are examples of Palaiologus art and recognized by UNESCO.

• They show the construction of the monastery.

• They were painted by French scholars.

What was the original purpose of the hole dug in 1936?

• To expand the monastery.

• To build a parking lot.

• To explore and study the wall paintings.

• To create a new entrance for tourists.

Which mystic trend in Orthodox Christianity was the monastery a center for in the 14th century?

• Hesychasm

• Monasticism

• Gnosticism

• Iconoclasm

When was the Ivanovo Monastery declared a national archaeological reservation?

• 1936

• 1978

• 1360

• 1220