Many years have passed since our last walkt to Razboishki monastery. Its name comes from the nearby village, to which you first need to go before you head to the monastery. Well, you can take alternative route, but this one is the most picturesque and this is why we will tell you about it.
Anna and I found ourselves in Razboishte in mid-October. This is probably one of the most beautiful times to be here. When I look through my old articles, it appears that the last time we were here was again October. And because I really like my old article about the Razboishki monastery, I will leave it as it is and will just add some new details and updates to it.
An October walk a few years ago
It was a lovely October morning in the autumn when we decided to go to Razboishki monastery. For this place I had heard long ago and I wanted to visit it for a long time. Saturday turned out to be a good day for going there**. We reached the small village Razboishte and stopped our car at the end of the village at a glade. From the glade started our autumn walk.
[info]If you decide to visit this beautiful place you have to go first to town of Godech – after that, Tuden[/info]
The Razboishki Monastery
The path passes through a forest. We walked briskly, following the signs, and we eventually found ourselves on the edge of a hill with a stunning view towards the train line and a picturesque group of poplar trees. We started to descent down the hill looking around for the small church of Razboishte monastery. I knew that you can see it somewhere from the top of the hill.
Walking and staring for the church we almost missed it, but when we looked behind us we found a new fabulous view of rocks whit a church in the middle of them. Here I have to share my experience for photographers. This small white building is always in shadow.
But from the top of the hill you can enjoy the extremely stunning view of the river Nishava and all other buildings of the monastery.
In the old times this church was smaller and painted in beautiful wall paintings. But in 1941 someone decided to make renovation and covered the paintings with mortar.
Following the steep path we went to the rails and headed to the monastery. There we were cheerfully welcomed by Vasil, who was maintaining the buildings. He was chopping wood and stacking them below the wooden staircase. When we came to the door, he interrupted his work to greet us, and a little embarrassed that we stopped his work we went to the rock church. I noted in my mind that I have to quickly get back to help him with the wood.
I had almost forgotten the story with Vasil. I have no idea what life has brought to him since then, but during our last trip we spotted a nun caring for the monastery. The buildings and yard looked very refreshed. Anyway, I love my old story so I decided to keep it as it is.
The small church of the Razboishki Monastery
It is easy to get up to the small church (in the name of “Entrance of Our Most Holy Lady Theotokos into the Temple”) in the rocks. You have to pass over the Nishava River and to climb the stone stairs to the entrance of the church. But in the old times there weren’t stairs. The hermits were living into other caves in the rock ridge in Balkan Mountains named Tupanitsa.
I lit a candle. Then I hurried to the residential buildings and still intended to help with the wood. But our host had finished harvesting of firewood and was talking with some new visitors. We sat on the stairs in the yard and talked about the history of the monastery and the last residents of this holy place.
Some years ago Anna and I lit candles and prayed for the health of our loved ones.
About the monks and nuns in Razboishki monastery
In the ancient times the monastery had been male monastery but the last 60-70 years nuns have lived there. They were caring for the holy place. The last nun died in 2007 and now you can met only Vasil there. The rooms and all the place look lonely and abandoned.
Cheparliansky monastery
We said goodbye to the kind man who recommended us to visit the neighbouring monastery which was only 15 minutes away – Cheparliansky monastery.
Recently they celebrated their wake (The Day of Saint Parascheva of the Balkans) and the main caring for this monastery was cleaning the vats from the sacrificial rite. He offered us chocolates, fresh water from the well and quinces. While we were talking we heard the freight train for the mines. We waited for the train to pass and headed back to our car.
Exactly on sunset we found ourselves on the top of the hill above Razboishki monastery. The view could not be described with words so I hope I could convey it in my photos.
Sunset with my fairy Anna
Anna is 4-year old, almost five, as she likes to introduce herself. Sometimes she says she is a fairy, sometimes she is.. Daniel. Anna and I agreed to make a wonderful walk in the forest and this is exactly what we did when we left the monastery. We had to pass by the rails of the occasionally passing train and we decided to have a photo shoot.
The train had passed recently, we heard it. So it was not likely to return anytime soon. We dedicated our time to answer the thousands wuestions Anna asks. We were not in a hurry, it was early for the sunset. And the last people we spotted in the area had left half an hour ago. So we were on our own.
The only route through the river to the village is by the iron bridge and then by the abandones train stop. Once you could get off the train here an go to Razboishte. But for many years now, no train stops here.
We climbed on the place we had spotted before, with amazing views to the whole area, the monastery and the church on the rocks.
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