The complex

The late 16th and early 17th centuries marked a "Great Reconstruction" after long periods of looting and decay. Supported by tax relief from Sultan Suleiman I, the monks rebuilt the complex to its current appearance. The reconstruction of the Cathedral Church of the Assumption was done in 1604, and the Refectory in 1601. This period saw the creation of the refectory’s unique frescoes in 1643, which famously include the Tree of Jesse intertwined with twelve ancient Greek philosophers—such as Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle—symbolizing the synthesis of Antique and Judean thought. I highly recommend that you to visit the place. You should buy a ticket. Usually, a guy is selling them right in front of the entrance of the Refectory. If you don’t see him, check at the museum.

By 1745, the monastery lost its independence to the Patriarchate of Constantinople, leading to a long struggle for Bulgarian ecclesiastical rights. This cultural resistance culminated in the 19th-century works of Zahari Zograf, who painted the Church of St. Nicholas (1836-1841) and included his own controversial self-portrait, signaling the dawn of secular art in Bulgaria. In 1894, the monastery finally returned to the jurisdiction of the Bulgarian Exarchate. In the 20th century, it became a sanctuary for national identity; it is the final resting place of Exarch Stefan and Patriarch Kiril, who were instrumental in saving Bulgarian Jews during the Second World War. Today, Bachkovo is a major pilgrimage site, included on the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List since 1984, and continues to preserve its diachronic legacy through ongoing restoration of its unique frescoes and its rich museum collections, which saw a major expansion in 2022. Please note, that the monastery is still an active one and services are taking place every day.