Sokolski Monastery
The Sokolski Monastery ( Bulgarian манастир Соколски to German Falk convent, monastery also Gabrovo ( Bulg Габровски манастир ), Gabrovo - Sokolski monastery ( Bulg Габровско - Соколски манастир ) called ) formally Assumption, Dormition or Assumption into heaven or HI. Assumption ( Bulgarian " Успение Богородично " / " the Assumption Bogorodichno " ), is a Bulgarian Orthodox monastery in northern Bulgaria. The monastery was founded in 1833 by Josif Sokolski and is still used by monks and nuns. It is placed under the diocese of Veliko Tarnovo.
Location
The Sokolski Monastery is located in the area Sokolova Peschtera ( Bulg Соколова пещера to German Falk cave ) in the valley of the Yantra River, on the northern slopes of the Balkan Mountains. The monastery is located about 4 km south of ethnographic open-air museum Etar and 12 km south-east of Gabrovo. In the immediate vicinity is located in the area Usana the geographical center of Bulgaria.
From the name of the area is also the name of the monastery and the nickname of the Hegumens derives ( monastery headman ). First Hegumen was Josif Sokolski.
History
The present church was built in 1834 and 1862 decorated with murals. The consecration of the monastery was carried out by the Greek metropolitan Hilarion Kritski of Tarnovo on August 15, 1834. The iconostasis was made also in 1862 by masters of the Tryavna school. It is believed that the icon of the Mother of God is working wonders with the Child Jesus. A valuable architectural monument is erected by the builder Kolju Ficheto in the yard stone fountain.
The Sokolski Monastery was closely connected with the liberation struggle of the Bulgarian people. In 1865 here was the consecration of the flag of the volunteer corps of Captain Nikola Djado and 1876 the monastery was the rallying point for the Gabrower participant in the April Uprising with Zanko Djustabanow at the top. In the northern part of the monastery there is another chapel with iconostasis and icons of Jesus Christ and the Virgin Mary with the child Jesus, by the famous painter Zahari Zograph.