Razboishki monastery

Razboishki monastery ""Vavedenie Bogorodichno"" is situated near the village of Razboishte in Godech municipality, Sofia region. 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. The first information about the existence of the monastery dates back to the IV century. Then the place where the rock church is located today was used by an unknown Christian ruler and his nobles as a hiding place by the Byzantine troops. The rock caves were also a refuge of St. Owl. Legend has it that when the saint set out for Jerusalem, Lent found him at this place and he spent 40 days here. According to legend, as a result of his stay, the place has acquired holiness and from then until today healing water springs from the rock. 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 rebuild the monastery up high in the rocks. 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. The church “Vavedenie Bogorodichno” (“The Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary“) 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.