SAINT GEORGE – THE VICTORIOUS CHURCH – ZLATOLIST VILLAGE

Zlatolist is a small village nestled in the Sandanski-Petrich valley, on 32 km from Sandanski.

Saint George Church in the village of Zlatolist was built in 1857. It is remarkable with its old murals painted in 1876 by painter Teofil Minov from the village of Galachnik, Rekan. Among the murals there are particularly interesting images of: Sts Cyril and Methodius with a footnote explaining that they were Bulgarian educators, born in Thessaloniki; St. Haralampius Defeating the Plague; St. Christopher with a Dog’s Head and more. In the middle of the temple, under the dome, there is a marble stone with a two-headed eagle. There are legends saying that whoever steps on it, gets healed from whatever illness they may suffer. In the church yard there is a 1300 year-old plane tree that is believed to help for different health problems.

In the 90’s of XX century the temple was renovated and a small monastery complex was constructed around it. In the first half of XX century in the small room of the women’s section lived reverend Stoyna, honoured by the local population for her healing and prophetic powers. She was born on 9 September 1883 in Haznatar, Serres. She got blind when she was 7 years old. Left an orphan, she came to St. George Monastery, in the village of Zlatolist, and stayed there until her death on 22 December 1933. Her life passed in fasting and prayer. She is known for helping people in their deseases. Today, years after her death, local people and tourists tell about the miracles that occur on these lands.