ROCK MONASTERY "SAINT DIMITRY BASSARBOVSKI"

               ÁÚËÃÀÐÑÊÈ                      MONASTERY                    SAINT                     MONKS                    SOUVENIRS                   CONTACT
  A small river, collecting its waters from Slannik and Ludogorie regions, pushes its way toward the Danube. Cutting through the yellow loess and the solid limestone. The river has shaped moving canyon-like gorges - pictures- que and clearly outlined.  The marvel- lous world of Polomie region combines natural charm and historical landmarks. The most typical among them are the rock monasteries along the rivers tribu- tary to Russenski Lom – Beli (White), Cherni (Black), Malki (Small), Baniski...
   The stone premises of Polomie region were the place where Bulgarian literature and spirit and Christian scrip- tures and conscience ware preserved. The hermit monks transcribed the holy scriptures, draw icons… The small painted rock churches had a miracu- lous impact on the Christians. The near by villagers brought food and other gifts to the poor monks full heartedly.
    Nowadays, the observant eye could find words engraved in the walls of monk’s cells – laconic confessions and touching messages. 

                Designed by Stelian Rashkov

    e-mail: monastery@mlnk.net


                                 Site Meter              

 Beneath them can be read the names of: Detko, Radoslav, Gostill, Russen, Dobrin, Kiril, German, Kalinnik, Gerasim, Voislav, Dunav, Dragoi, Zahe, Teto … They are not among us quite a long ago. The rock dwellings are empty and hollow. So little has left from what was done with the endowments of the tzars: Ivan Assen II, Ivan Alexander, George Terter II, and tzaritsa Theodora ... Treasure-hunters and nothingarians, born in times of atheism, break the walls of the rock churches, poke be- neath the wall paintings, desecrate the monk’s graves in search of hid- den treasures.
    About 40 years ago the rock church “St. Petka” which was nearest to Rousse and the Danube was buri- ed under the construction of Rousen- ski Lom bridge. The good news is that something from the outstanding murals within the churches of Ivano- vo’s neighbourhood “Pismata” (the Letters) is still preserved.
    Now the only left rock monastery, is St. Dimitry Bassarbovski.

Ph.D Vassil Doikov

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