Dragalevtsi Monastery

The beginning of the monastery complex Mala and Sofia Sveta Gora dates back to the 13^th century, when most of the monasteries in the region of Sofia were built. The complex includes 14 monasteries located along the Vitosha Mountain and its neighbouring mountains. The complex appeared spontaneously and has been formed over the centuries. Originally, the main monastery was the Bistritsa Monastery, of which “St. George” church in the village of Bistritsa has remained. The most significant monastery shrines are located in the mountains surrounding Sofia and parts of them have been preserved until today. These are the Dragalevtsi Monastery “St. Virgin Mary”, Kokalyanski Monastery „St. Archangel Michael”, Cherepishki monastery “The Assumption of Virgin Mary”, Etropole Monastery “Holy Trinity”, Osenovlashki Monastery “The Seven Altars” etc. In the vicinity are the monasteries in the region of Pernik - the Kalkaski Monastery “St. Petka", Radiboshki Monastery “St. Trinity” in Radomir area, Zemenski Monastery “St. Yoan Bogoslov” (St. John the Apostle), Peshtera Monastery “St. Nicholas”, in the Breznik area - Bilinski Monastery “St. Archangel Michael", Rebrevski monastery “St. Nicholas” and the Giginski Monastery “St. St. Kozma and Damyan", in the Tran area - Nedelnishki Monastery, Glogovishki and Mislovshki monasteries, in Godech area – the Cheparlinski, Razboishki, Shumski, Malovski, Ponorski and Vasilovski monasteries. Around the monasteries of Mala Sveta Gora, which were centres of the national spirit and culture over the centuries, settlements were gradually established, which nowadays are part of Sofia city.