The monastery is situated in the village of Hajidimovo, it`s called "St. George". It was build on old christian sanctuary in time before Ottoman Turks to conquer Bulgarian land, around 1290. The temple was burnt to ashes several times in the middle of 14. century. Then it was forgotten, and later re-discovered and re-build.
The legend says that the old shepherd diado Atanas Lazarov had a strange dream. To him appeared young mane riding white horse. He told him to start work of digging in the mound nearby, which was all covered with wild bushes and grass. (later on this exact place church was raised). Diado Atanas didnt pay any attention of this dream and didnt start digging. The next night the dream repeated. This made the old person concern to share the dream with his wife. She also didnt take it seriously and even laughed on it. On the third evening the young man on horse appeared again and insisted that Atanas should start digging work on the place. In the dawn he left the sheep to his wife and went digging. Turkish people, who had property around the hill, saw him and started negotiate with him to stop his work. He didnt want to give up, but as they were stronger, he finally went back home and left his work. The same evening the young man appeared to him telling him to not be afraid, and that the people, who disturb his enterprise will be forced to go away. Encouraged in this way diado Atanas went back in the morning to the area of hill and continued his work digging.
The Turkish man, who had a field nearby, came with his oxen to plow up. He went to see what is matter in the place of hill, as he noticed someone is there. When he understood, that this area should become a christian sanctuary, he became extremely angry and even started to beat the poor old man. he drove him away from the place again. Turkish man thought he won the fight and returned happy to his field. During that time his oxen were lying to rest. He urged them to got up, but they didnt want, then he started to beat them, but nothing helped. The oxen didnt want to continue the work. Other Turkish people came to help him and wonder how such strong and young oxen cant got up to work. When they understood what happened with the old Christian man, who was driven away and beaten, they didnt approve this. They said: "Because this man came here to dig the ground without anyone to pay him for this work, here there is the finger of Allah already!" They Persuade the Turkish man to call back the Christian. When he did so and diado Atanas came to place of the hill, the oxen immediately got up from the ground. The man was shocked and took the animals to his home and donated the whole field to the future monastery land.
Now no one wanted to stop the digging work, as it was with help of God. So after some days of digging (also he had now more helpers) the Christian found an old icon of "St. Georgi", which was completely well preserved. That made everyone excited. More people join them and shortly they build a little Christian chapel on the place. This is the story known about the nowadays church in Hajidimovo.
Later by scientific research it was found out the icon of St. George dated back to 1750 -1800. After burning several times in Ottoman era, the only preserved icon of the church was this. The visitors can still see its original there, but are not allowed to take photo of it. I saw it and bought one big card with the miraculous icon of "St. George", which survived the time.
The monastery now is in process of renovation, it has a huge library part with a Clock tower, beautiful garden and in the middle - spring, round pavilion and an amazing tree. The place would be wonderful in spring too!
The monastic chambers section
Icon of St. George in the anteroom of the temple
The ancient miraculous icon of St. Georgi found by first digging
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