Podcast in English
Text size
Bulgarian National Radio © 2024 All Rights Reserved

Tracing Albanian ancestry in the Arbanasi architectural reserve

“The Virgin Mary” Arbanasi Monastery
Photo: Zdravka Maslyankova /archive

The Arbanasi architectural reserve near Veliko Tarnovo is one of the most popular tourist destinations. The medieval monasteries and churches, including the Church of the Nativity, are particularly attractive. The churches of Arbanasi are museum sites and services are held only on the days of their patron saints. \
But few people know that the settlement of Arbanasi has Albanian roots, says Assoc. Diana Toteva of the Christian Art Department of the Regional History Museum. In the 16th century, the majority of the population of the settlement were Albanian Orthodox Christians. At the time of Skanderbeg's rebellion, around the 1560s, some of the Albanians left and some of them settled near Tarnovo. The place was named Arbanasi after these settlers. Thanks to them, 7 Orthodox churches were built in the small settlement in the 16th and 17th centuries. The information is provided by the BNR correspondent in Veliko Tarnovo, Zdravka Maslyankova.



Последвайте ни и в Google News Showcase, за да научите най-важното от деня!
Listen to the daily news from Bulgaria presented in "Bulgaria Today" podcast, available in Spotify.

More from category

Hannukah celebration in the central Sofia synagogue

From December 25 to January 2, Jews will light Hanukkah candles

At sunset on December 25, the Jewish community begins to celebrate Hanukkah. The holiday begins on the 25th day of the Jewish month of Kislev in the Hebrew calendar and, depending on the year, can fall in November or December.  By lighting 9..

published on 12/25/24 10:35 AM
Bulgarian Partriarch Daniil

Orthodox Christians in Bulgaria and the world celebrate Christmas

The Bulgarian Orthodox Church celebrates Christmas with solemn services. The festive services began on Christmas Eve, when the church held a solemn vigil.  Hundreds of laypeople gathered at the St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral in Sofia, where..

published on 12/25/24 9:25 AM
Photo: Bulgarian Eastern Orthodox Diocese in the USA, Canada and Australia

Metropolitan Joseph: Christmas is a double holiday for Orthodox Bulgarians in the USA, Canada and Australia

This year, the holiday of Christmas for the Bulgarian Eastern Orthodox Diocese in the United States, Canada and Australia is especially exciting! Metropolitan Joseph’s long-standing prayers to have his own vicar bishop have come true. His previous..

published on 12/25/24 4:30 AM