On November 8, the Bulgarian Orthodox Church celebrates the big Christian Feast of Archangel Michael and the Other Heavenly Bodiless Powers. Holy liturgies take place throughout the country in honor of the leader of the heavenly army.
There are many Bulgarian churches and monasteries bearing the name of St. Michael the Archangel, which also celebrate their church holiday. Some of them are still active today, while others remind us of the flourishing of spirituality in past centuries. Among them is the rock-hewn monastery "St. Archangel Michael", not far from the Danube city of Ruse. Spiritual life stopped long time ago but the monastery, protected by its heavenly patron, continues to guard the centuries-old Bulgarian history.
An article from the collection of Radio Bulgaria: “St. Archangel Michael Monastery near Ivanovo – cradle of hesychasm” takes us there.
Compiled by: Darina Grigorova