250size54.jpgThe “St. Prophet Ilya” Monastery of Plakovo lies in the north part of the Balkan range, close to the village of Plakovo, 18km south of Veliko Tarnovo.

According to legends, in the past, Tsar Ivan Asen built a big monastery. Remains of the old monastery church have been preserved up to the present day. During the ottoman invasion the old monastery was destroyed, and later it was reconstructed. During the slavery times the monastery was destroyed several times and in 1845, it was restored for the third time and the current monastery church was built as well. The church is unique monument of the Bulgarian religious architecture. Above the entrance gate, an unknown artist painted the unique scene of the ascension of “St. Prophet Ilia”, with donors’ epigraphs. In 1856, Kolyu Ficheto built the big residential buildings and the 25.90 m high church tower. The church still keeps the icon of Jesus with the 12 disciples, painted by Zahari Zograf in 1845.

During the Turkish yoke, the monastery was an important spiritual and cultural center. A great number of old transcripts and books has been preserved.

The monastery played an important role in the liberation of Bulgaria. In 1835, a revolution called “Velchova zavera” started in the Plakovo monastery.

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