Description of the attraction
The Basarbovsky monastery in honor of St. Dmitry Basarbovsky is located near the village of the same name, in the river valley Rusenski-Lom, the nearest town of Ruse is 10 kilometers from the monastery. This is the only active monastic complex, carved into the rocks, which still operates in Bulgaria.
The rocky monastery was founded in the era of the Second Bulgarian Kingdom, it was first mentioned in 1431 in the tax register of the Ottoman Empire.
After the liberation of Bulgaria, the monastery was empty during the 19th century, but since 1937 Father Chrysant lived here, who came here from the Preobrazhensky monastery. This gave new life to the ancient religious center.
St. Dmitry Basarbovsky, born at the end of the 17th century in the neighboring village of Basarbovo, spent his whole life in a rocky monastery. His remains were buried in a village church, but in connection with the Russian-Turkish war, his relics were transferred to the Church of St. Constantine and Helena in Bucharest. They are kept there to this day.
A path leads to the monastery through a green courtyard, where a well, which was dug by St. Dmitry, is still preserved. Local residents have a belief that this well water has healing properties.
At the foot of the monastery there is a dining cave and two utility rooms that were dug out in 1956. 48 steps lead to a rocky area with a niche, where, according to legend, St. Dmitry slept. And to the right of the niche is a church with a carved iconostasis made in 1941. There is also an icon on which the saint is depicted in full growth.
Another stone staircase leads to a natural cave where the burial place of the monk Chrysant is located - the same monk who revived the monastery in 1937. This cave serves as an ossuary; there is also a museum exposition here.
On October 26, on the day of St. Dmitry, a temple holiday is celebrated here. At the monastery, tourists can buy icons and various information materials. Accommodation options are not provided here.
