The Place, Chosen for Us by a Saint
The St. Petka Paraskeva Klisura monastery near Bankya is renovated and well maintained, and that is why it attracts many pilgrims and tourists
~ 2 мин.
Since we have brought nothing into the world, it is clear that we cannot take anything out of it - this is the inscription we read on the walls of St. Petka Paraskeva Klisura monastery near Bankya. And more: When we have food and clothing, let us be content with that. St Petka Paraskeva is the patron saint of marriage and fertility, considered to be a protector of all who are distressed and exhausted by the life woes.
Location
The monastery is located at the foot of the Lyulin Mountain and is only 8 km away from Bankya. It is situated on a hill over the village of Klisura, in the middle of the ancient Roman road Sofia-Breznik. The cloister is reached by an asphalt road and this is another advantage if you want to visit it. The Klisura Monastery is also near Berkovitsa, so be careful not to mistake the destination.
Legend
Little is known about the history of the monastery, whose archives and library have burnt down at a large fire in the second half of the last century. Most of the information is drawn from legends and traditions that have survived throughout the ages. It is believed that it dates back to the Second Bulgarian Kingdom. According to the legend, in 1238 Tsar Ivan Asen II demanded the relics of St Petka Balgarska to be transferred from her native town of Epibates, on the Sea of Marmara, to the capital of Tarnovo. The procession stopped to rest at this place and a miracle happened - it was lit by the incorruptible body of St. Petka. Then, they built a church here, and later a monastery.
Renovation
Over the years, a number of churches have arisen at this place. In 1956, the 300-year-old temple collapsed. But the nun, Mary Magdalena, who arrived at that time, restored the Church of St Petka entirely with frescoes, made according to the canon. Hers is the merit for attracting a numerous monastic community.
Today, the monastery has its own new life and it is no accident that it is considered a pearl among the Sofia monasteries. Three nuns, dedicated to labour and prayer, find consolation and life rest here. But how did its renovation and expansion happen? In the 1990s, with the blessing of Patriarch Maxim, the thorough improvement of the holy monastery began with the construction of new monastic and farm buildings at the place of the demolished old ones. In the yard, a second exquisite church rotunda “Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary” was built, which is masterfully painted.
For the Soul
A beautiful spiritual place, says everyone who has come here. A visit to the monastery is a walk among nature, fresh air, but mostly, a time for reflection. And it tells us goodbye with the question: What is the benefit of gaining the whole world, if you are to lose your soul...
