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Byzantine

Sozopol

The medieval monastery St. Nicholas the Wonderworker rests in close proximity to both the southern gate of Old Sozopol and the church St. Cyril and Methodius. Unearthed serendipitously in early October 2011 during archaeological excavations near the southern fortress wall, the monastery has a history steeped in the beginnings of Christianity. The monastery church, resembling a three-nave basilica, was constructed during the Middle Ages atop an early Christian temple dating back to the V-VI century. An extensive archaeological examination of the monument and its surrounding artifacts has shed light on the ancient monastery's bygone days. Notably, three imperial seals were unearthed, bearing the names of Basil II, Theodora, and another, implying that this Sozopol church was under the patronage of Byzantine emperors. A remarkable find within the monastery, emphasizing its significance and patronage, was the rediscovery of the reliquary containing the ointment of St. Nicholas of Mirlikiski in 2012, located in the church's central part. This relic, a clay pot with a lid, was found within a small brick niche and is characteristic of the early Christian era. The miniature container held emulsion and powder, believed to be myrrh from Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker. The sanctity of the monastery's location is further affirmed by the revealed necropolis nearby, which initially originated close to the original early Christian church and persisted through the centuries, surrounding the monastery church. The various funerary structures within the necropolis date back from the early Christian period (5th century) to the early 17th century.

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