Kapinovo Monastery of Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker is nestled at the foothill of the Fore-Balkan Massif, near the banks of the Veselina River. Built in the distant 1272, this holy place is part of the complex known as Tsars’ Monasteries, located in close proximity to the old capital of the Second Bulgarian Empire – the city of Veliko Tarnovo.
The monastery church dates back to the end of the 17th and the beginning of the 18th century, and houses a unique scene of the Last Judgement, a fine example of Bulgarian Revival painting. The icons and the wooden iconostasis with carved elements, made by painters and woodcarvers from the famous Tryavna School, are also emblematic achievements of medieval art. The dormitory, built with donations from the brothers and future monks Theodosius and Kessarius Horozovski, will strike you with its unique architectural beauty. The monastery was used as refuge by many participants and leaders of the Bulgarian struggles against the Turkish invaders, and still keeps the memory of the patriotic spirit of the time.
References:The Clementinum is a historic complex of buildings in Prague. Until recently the complex hosted the National, University and Technical libraries, the City Library also being located nearby on Mariánské Náměstí. The Technical library and the Municipal library have moved to the Prague National Technical Library at Technická 6 since 2009. It is currently in use as the National Library of the Czech Republic.
Its history dates from the existence of a chapel dedicated to Saint Clement in the 11th century. A Dominican monastery was founded in the medieval period, which was transformed in 1556 to a Jesuit college. In 1622 the Jesuits transferred the library of Charles University to the Klementinum, and the college was merged with the University in 1654. The Jesuits remained until 1773, when the Klementinum was established as an observatory, library, and university by the Empress Maria Theresa of Austria.