They are distinguished from other preserved rock monastery complexes in Bulgaria by well-preserved wall paintings that are a unique cultural heritage. .
The rock-hewn churches of Ivanovo are an inseparable part of the hundreds of Medieval rock churches, monasteries, sketes, and individual hermit cells that during the period of 10-14 century turned the valley of the river Rusenski Lom and its tributaries into a famous Bulgarian spiritual center.
The churches and all premises around them in the region Pismata near the village of Ivanovo form the big rock monastery Saint Archangel Michael. It was established in the 20s of the 13th century by a monk named Yoakim who was later chosen as the first patriarch of Tarnovo. During the entire period of the Second Bulgarian Kingdom (13-14 century), the monastery maintained stable connections with the royal court in Tarnovo. Its founders were the tsars Ivan Asen II (1218-1241), Ivan Aleksandar (1331-1371) and other representatives of the ruling families whose founders’ portraits still remain.
The monastery has a complex structure and unifies the complexes of rock premises near the so-called the Covered church (St. Archangel Michael chapel), Baptismal room, God’s ravine (the most richly decorated one with wall paintings), the Demolished church (St. Theodore), and St. Holy Virgin church.