Razboishki monastery "Vavedenie Bogorodichno"

Razboishki monastery "Vavedenie Bogorodichno" is working Orthodox monastery and is situated near the village of Razboishte in Godech municipality, Sofia region. It is 25 km west if the town of Godech, 19 km east of the town of Dimitrovgrad and 69 km northwest of the capital Sofia.

It is situated in the defile of Nishava river in the Berkovitsa part of Stara planina mountain and the nature that surrounds is ecologically clean and picturesque.

History

The monasticism in the area is developed on three stages. Its formation is connected with the rock monasticism in out country. At first the cave was used as a church where the monk served some rituals. After some time during the First Bulgarian kingdom on the plate in front of the entrance of the cave was constructed the chapel on altitude of 50 m. This expansion was due to the growing number of the hermits. There was also rock skete. When it was later reconstructed and new residential buildings were added in XVIII and XIX they were adjacent to north rock. Remains of them can still be seen on the left shore of the river. They date back to the third stage when the larger Razboishki monastery appeared.

This rock monastery was demolished and robbed during the Ottoman rule and was three times set on fire. Virgin Marry appeared in the dream of one of the monks and said to him to rebuilt the monastery up high in the rocks. The residential buildings that surrounded from four sides the yard were constructed on the right shore of the river on a sunny and plain terrain (1841).

In 1861 it was renovated by Yoan Totyu and he then took part of the legion of Rakovski. During that years the monastery was used for manufacture of gunpowder weapons and sheltering rebels. The monastery preserves old Bulgarian Menaion from 1869.

Architecture

The church "Vavedenie Bogorodichno" is archaeological monument of culture with small one nave, one apse construction. To it leads small wooden bridge over the river. The altar is dug into the rock. It is with icons and frescoes on the inside and on the outside and also roughly decorated stones connected with mortar. At the moment there are preserved frescoes on a part of the old western facade and just a little bit on the inside. On them there are depicted episodes from the Last Judgment. There is preserved iconostasis from the XIX century and the new was made in 1950. Between the outer walls of the temple and the cave was left narrow tunnel which can be managed only by the people without sins. In one niche in the cave were hidden ancient stone and wooden cross.

Transportation

There is easy access to the monastery through a couple of routes. Also to the village of Razboishte there is well developed railway transportation. By car there are there are two options through the asphalt road and Godech to the village and to its end there is convenient parking and after short walk about 2 km from the holy place. The other way is trough Kalotina and the road is much longer and harder but it will lead you just to the monastery.

Accommodation

The monastery offers accommodation to the tourists in authentic conditions of about a couple of centuries ago. In Godech there are nice guest houses where you can stay. 

Sources: http://www.pravoslavieto.com , http://bg.wikipedia.org
Photos: http://www.snimka.bg/