Eleshnishki monastery "St Bogoroditsa"

Eleshnishki monastery "St Bogoroditsa" is situated 4 km north of the village of Eleshnitsa, in Elin Pelin municipality, Sofia region. The capital Sofia is 30 km southwest. 

It is hidden high at the foot of the peak Murgash that is surrounded by the peaks Babyak, Klopetsi and Kamiko, around the small river Yakovishtitsa called also Manastirskata river.

History

It is unknown the exact timing of the foundation of the monastery. There are assumptions that hermits were the first that inhabited the area in the beginning of the IX century. Other researchers say that like many other monasteries in Sofia area this one has also been set up in the XIV c. in the time of tsar Ivan Aleksander or in the following XV century. This is evidenced from the oldest preserved to nowadays information for the foundation of the monastery and this is marble slab with ornaments from 1499 and it is installed together with the flooring of the temple and later found in the near area. On the slab is written the name of Yovan bakal. Most probably from this time dates the inscription on the west door of the temple. This assumption that the church is from older period are the preserved frescoes that are with the typical for the XV - ХVІ century Zographski style.
In the monastery took shelter Vasil Levski. After the defeat of the Botev guerilla group in the beginning of June 1876 some rebels also hid here. In the first half of the XIX century is made complete renovation of the Eleshnishki monastery. During the Secon World War the monastery stopped working. It was at first friary and then nunnery. After 1966 the monasteries began to decline. In 1989 starts its renovation in the old look and style.

Architecture

When it was founded there are constructed the iconic buildings, the church and the small residential buildings in the northeast part of the monastery. In 1793 the holy temple was demolished by Kardzhaliite. The researchers accept that the monastery is renewed and reconstructed a couple of years later.

The churhc is not preserved in its original look. Today we can see the typical for the late Medieval era one apse and one nave church. It consists of two parts and there are signs from the many repair works of the inscribtions and the frescoes.
According to the specialists and their oppinon is based on the caligraphic specifications of the inscribtions and the art style of the frescoes, the oldest fresco is the nave and is dated to the end of the XVI-th century and the beginning of the XVII century when the monastery was renovated. Above the south end door of the narthex and is fresco of Uspenie Bogorodichno. In the altar are scenes of Blagoveshtenie and the tsar David and Solomon. In the apse is icon of St Bogoroditsa of the throne with the baby Jesus.
The monastery buildings are with two storeys. On the first are the stables and the facilities for the cattle and the second are the cells of the monks. The monastery complex is with two separate entrances and two residential areas.

It is declared architectural and cultural monument.

Transportation

The village of Eleshnitsa is easily accessed by the international road E79. There is comfortable bus transportation to there.

Accommodation

In the monastery is not offerred accommodation or food. The tourists can go to some of the hotels or guest houses in the town of Elin Pelin.

Sources: http://www.bg-patriarshia.bg
Photos: http://www.snimka.bg/