Krastova Gora (Cross Forest)
At the moment Cross Forest is the most significant Christian sanctuary in Bulgaria. It is located on a 1416 m peak, and it shares the peak with the St. Trinity Monastery and a few chapels.
Some pieces of religious ceramic vessels have been discovered at the top, proving that the place was worshipped by the Thracians thousands of years ago. When you come to Cross Forest, you can feel your faith and energy rising. The number of people, who recovered from all kinds of physical and mental diseases by coming here, is countless. Thousands of people climb this remote peak every single day, to strengthen their faith or to find a cure for their pains.
The place was called Cross Forest, because a piece of the cross on which Jesus Christ was crucified, was buried here. The piece was brought by monks from the Bachkovo Monastery, who had bought it from the Turks in Tsarigrad (Istanbul). The Turks, on their part, had plundered the piece of the cross after they conquered the Byzantine capital.
The St Trinity Monastery has been here since the 8th century, and although it has been destroyed by the Turks more than once, it has always been restored, and it will always be a main Bulgarian center of Christianity.
On September 14, the Bulgarian Orthodox Church marks the Holy Cross Day. For Bulgarians, it is a day shrouded in mystery and legends of miracles.
In 312, Constantine the Great led his troops to Rome to save the capital from the rule of a tyrant. The emperor, whose warriors were outnumbered by the enemy, felt he might lose the battle and prayed to God for help. According to Christian legend, at sunset, Constantine saw an cross in the skies with an inscription saying, "By this sign you shall conquer." When the emperor felt asleep that night, God appeared in his dream and bade him to make a banner portraying the cross, and to draw crosses on the helmets and shields of his soldiers. By the power of the cross, Constantine the Great defeated the tyrant and entered Rome victoriously.
Several years later, Queen Helena, mother of Constantine the Great, visited the holy lands of Palestine. In 326, according to the legend surrounding her life, she found the Holy Cross on which Christ was crucified and a temple was erected at Golgotha in praise of Jesus.
In 614, the Persians invaded the Byzantine Empire and conquered Jerusalem, devastated the churches and stole the Holy Cross. Fourteen years later, Emperor Iraclius solemnly returned the Cross to Jerusalem.
It is now believed that a tiny particle of the cross could still be found hidden in Krastova Gora (Forest of the Cross) - a place near Assenovgrad, about 100 km from Sofia. The crucifix was preserved in the St Trinity monastery until the 17th century when the Turks destroyed the monastery and converted the locals to Islam. However, three monks were brave enough to hide the relic in one of the caves nearby. It has not been found.
A cross, weighing 66 kilograms was commissioned by Tsar Boris III in a St. Petersburg foundry as a token of gratitude for his sister Princess Evdokia's curing after a visit to the "Bulgarian Jerusalem" as people call Krastova Gora.
The cross shines brightly on the hill of Krastova Gora up to the present day. People believe that it has healing powers. They hang clothes on it and then wear them hoping to be cured.
There is a tiny creek meandering among the rocks, which is also believed to have healing powers. Legend has it that the blind can recover their sight if they wash their eyes with only a handful of the miraculous water.
Folklore has it that on this day the night and the day "cross," which means they become equal in length. Bulgarians believe the Holy Cross Day ushers in the autumn season.
In different regions across Bulgaria, the autumn sowing season starts on this day. Grape-picking also starts on the Holy Cross Day. Some villages in North-eastern Bulgaria enjoy colourful fairs accompanied by myriad of festivities, dancing and feasts.