The Bachkovo Monastery archaically the Petritsoni Monastery or
Monastery of the Mother of God Petritzonitissa in Bulgaria is important
monument of Christian architecture and one of the largest and oldest Eastern
Orthodox monasteries in Europe. It is located on the right bank of the
Chepelare River, 189 km from Sofia and 10 km south of Asenovgrad, and
is directly subordinate to the Holy Synod of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church. The
monastery is known and appreciated for the unique combination of Byzantine,
Georgian and Bulgarian culture, united by the common faith
