Osenovlashki Monastery „Virgin Mary”

The Osenovlashki Monastery, popular also as

Sedemte Prestola (i.e. the Seven Altars) is

situated in the picturesque valley of the river

Gabrovitsa in the skirts of the northern Balkan

MountainRange.

Location

Osenovlashki Monastery

History of the monastery The legend says that the

establishment of the Osenovlashki

Monastery (the Seven Altars) is related

to the name of the famous Bulgarian

boyar Petar Deliyan and the rebellion

against the Byzantine rule in 1040.

According to another legend, the holy

cloister was set up in the 11th century

by 7 boyars, who are believed to have

come from Besarabia and they settled

together with their Slav families in the

Balkan.

In the time of the National

Liberation struggles of Bulgarian

nation, the Osenovlashki

Monastery was repeatedly a

shelter for revolutionaries. There

their protection found Bulchan

voevoda, Sofronii Vrachanski

and the Apostle of Freedom

Vassil Levski.

Architecture and present condition

Currently the Osenovlashki

Monastery is functional and it welcomes

visitors. The monastery consists of high

stone wall and the church is situated in

the middle of the inner courtyard. The

complex includes also a church tower

and two residential buildings, most of

which are guest rooms. The courtyard is

quite impressive for every visitor

because of its well-maintained garden

with many flowers, blooming bushes

and old trees, one of which his one-

century sequoia.

The belltower consists of two bells and

wooden and metal clappers – the latter made of

metal taken from the Roman fortress in 1799.The

Monastery’s church dates back to the 11th-12d

century, but due to its numerous renovations

during the past centuries, it has lost its authentic

architecture. However, its architecture is unique

and incomparable to none. The Monastery also

houses its own library which keeps old Orthodox

books, including one which is a gift from the

Russian Empress Ekaterina the Great.

The four main altars form a cross and

are separated from the main hall by inside

walls. The other two altars are closer to

the door and are even more isolated. The

7th altar, though, is the one situated just

to the opposite of the entrance of the

church.Each altar represents a separate

chapel with its own wall paintings and

iconostasis and is dedicated to a

Bulgarian saint (or saints). All wall-

paintings in the church are more than 100

years old. Besides the altars, the visitor

will be amazed with the massive wood-

carved and painted chandelier.

1.- Altar

2- Altar

3.- Altar

4.- Altar

5.- Altar

6.- Altar

7.- Altar

Lilia Ivanova Hristova XI class

Hope you enjoy and the monastery is definitely a place you have to visit!