By the end of 2021, Bachkovo Monastery will launch an exhibition of ancient icons and liturgical items that have never been shown before. They will be on display in a renovated exhibition hall in the monastery’s museum, which will be unveiled at a major church feast. According to Bishop Zion, Abbott of the Bachkovo Monastery, the old icons date back to the 15^th century. The exposition will also present an ancient marble iconostasis from the old temple dating back to the 19^th century. Visitors will be also able to see a cross, donated by Byzantine Emperor Alexius Comnenus, an ancient throne, several old icons, etc. Finely carved wood crosses, typical of the monastic art that occurred in Mount Athos in the 6^th-7^th century AD, are also on display in the museum, which was established back in the 1930’s.A gold plated silver monstrance covered with many semi-precious stones is among the most valuable church items. It resembles the San Marco Basilica in Venice. There are two more ostensories like this one. One of them is kept at the National Museum of History in Sofia and the other one- at the Saint Catherine’s Monastery in Egypt. Liturgical items and chalices are also on display at the museum. One of the chalices was made in the town of Asenovgrad back in 1599.

Written by: Darina Grigorova

English version: Kostadin Atanasov