“St. John the Theologian” monastery of Zemen

“St. John the Theologian” monastery of Zemen is situated near the town of Zemen, 15 km from the international Sofia – Kyustendil and Gyushevo road. It is not dwelled by monks. The monastery church dates back from 11 B.C. and it is one of the little survived monuments of the Bulgarian medieval architecture, building and wall-painting. The murals covering the entire inner church walls are beautiful and impressive. The painting of St. Anna is the only one surviving from the monastery foundation to date.

The paintings of St. Ivan of Rila and St. Kliment of Ohrid and those of Despot Deyan and his wife Doya and many others are the oldest and of greatest artistic value after the paintings of Kaloyan and Desislava on the walls of the Boyana church.