Rozhen Monastery marks its patron saint's day

The monastery lost its independence in 1761 and became subordinate to the Monastery of Iviron. It received a copy of the miraculous icon of "Theotokos – Portaitissa". The legend has it that the original icon was painted by Luke the Evangelist. Its copy was made in 1790 by icon-painter Jacob Iversky.

Unlike other copies, the one donated to the Rozhen Monastery is made of sacred iron and is surrounded by ten small compositions depicting its healing miracles. Every year, on the eve of the feast, many worshippers from Bulgaria and abroad offer gifts to the icon of the Virgin Mary and spend the night in the church.

The "Nativity of the Theotokos" is the largest monastery in the Pirin region. It is believed to have been established in the 13th century, as evidenced by Greek manuscript copies.