Sokolski Monastery is one of my favorite Bulgarian monasteries. I have visited it many times and in different seasons. It is one of those places that never gets boring.
Sokolski Monastery is known by several other names – Gabrovo Monastery, Sokolovski Monastery, Gabrovo-Sokolski Monastery. This article is dedicated to it. The photographs below are taken during various visits.
How to get to the Sokolski Monastery
Sokolski Monastery is located 217 km east of Sofia, 13 km south of the city of Gabrovo and 4 km southwest of the well-known Etara Ethnographic Museum. The monastery can be reached by car on an asphalt road. First you reach Etara and take the road to the right towards the monastery.
In Gabrovo there are clearly visible signs for Etara, follow them. There are also signs for the Sokolski Monastery near Etara. In front of the monastery there is a large space convenient for parking.
Short information about the Sokolski Monastery
The Sokolski Monastery “Assumption of the Virgin Mary” is situated in the locality of Sokolova Cave (means Falcon Cave). The place has pretty views, but it also holds interesting cultural and historical values like several icons painted by the Bulgarian painter Zachary Zograf and the stone fountain with eight spouts built by other famous master – Kolyu Ficheto.
It is supposed that there was a rock monastery on this place during the Second Bulgarian Kingdom. The present monastery was founded in 1833 by Archimandrite Joseph Sokolski, who came from the Troyan monastery with Hieromonk Agapius. They built a wooden church next to the entrance of the cave near the present church.
The next year the wooden church was demolished and in its place a large stone church was built by the famous at that time master Constantine from Peshtera. In the next year, he built a church at Troyan monastery. Later, he also built a church at Batoshevo Monastery.
People from the neighbouring villages of Etara and Nova Mahala, now districts of Gabrovo, also helped in the construction of the new church.
Nowadays, a monument to Joseph Sokolski – “The Creator of the Monastery” – is erected on the meadow near the gates of the monastery. There are great conditions for a picnic on this meadow. I even remember that when I was a child there were regular gatherings on it – many people came together for a family picnic. We, as children, didn’t want to stay sit and we kept running down to the cave and around.
The church is called “Assumption of the Virgin Mary” and therefore the Day of the Great Virgin Mary or Assumption, August 15th, is the feast of the holy monastery.
The church is a single-aisled, single-domed building with two naves and a large open narthex. It is considered a remarkable monument of Bulgarian Renaissance architecture.
In 1836 a cell school was opened in the Sokolski Monastery, which became an important educational center for the whole region.
In 1862 the church of the Sokolski Monastery was painted. The painting was done by Pope Pavel Zograf and his son Nikola from the village of Shipka, near the town of Kazanlak.
In 1865 in the yard of the monastery was built the unique white stone fountain with eight spouts with falcons by master Kolyu Ficheto.
On May 1st, 1876, in the days of the April Uprising, a band of brave souls led by Tsanko Dyustabanov, a local Bulgarian revolutionary, gathered at the holy monastery. Tsanko, a nephew of Vasil Aprilov – the founder of the first Bulgarian secular school – rallied his detachment, ready to fight for freedom!
In the first half of the 20th century several fires broke out in the Sokolski Monastery, destroying part of its buildings. They were rebuilt in the early 1980s.
The church and the courtyard of the Sokolski Monastery of the Assumption are very well maintained and pleasant to the eye. To the right of the church there is a natural cave with a rather spacious entrance gallery. Once, when I was a kid, we used to go in there. Now, however, access to the cave is blocked by a grill due to the danger of falling rocks.
Walking routes to and from the Sokolski Monastery
Etara – Sokolski Monastery
The Sokolski Monastery can be reached on foot in about one hour from Etara. If you decide to make this hike, go with comfortable sports or hiking shoes, as half of the route is along a steep forest trail.
The hiking trail from the Etara to the Sokolski Monastery starts just across from the parking lot near the main entrance to the ethnographic complex on the southern edge of Gabrovo.
The route can be divided into two stages:
- Stage 1: at the beginning you walk steeply uphill through the grove above Etara along a trail;
- Stage 2: the route then continues along an asphalt road to the monastery.
The whole walk from Etara to the Sokolski Monastery takes about an hour, split evenly between the two sections of the trail. On the way back for a change you can go back on the tarmac road for cars.
Sokolski Monastery – Shipka peak
Another interesting walking route is from the monastery to the temple-monument on the Shipka Peak. It takes about 2 hours. It starts from the parking lot in front of the monastery. There are signposts. You should follow the blue and green markings.
Tip: It’s good if you are a group of several people – the trail is well marked, but doesn’t seem to get much use. Also, after the monastery you pass near an old rest home with lots of dogs barking by.
The route can be divided into 4 main stages:
- Stage 1: Sokolski Monastery – crossing the third class road: about 60 minutes;
- Stage 2: third-class road – Shipka camping: about an hour and 20 minutes;
- Stage 3: Shipka camping – the foot of the steps to the monument: about 20 minutes;
- stage 4: the steps to the monument: about 20 minutes.
Other interesting places nearby
A visit to the Sokolski Monastery goes well together with a visit to the Ethnographic Open Air Museum – Etara. In the city center of Gabrovo I recommend you to visit the Aprilov High School museum. Also, take a walk in the historic town, known as the “Sixth Precinct” – this is the Gabrovo’s oldest district, around which the town has developed over time. It is next to the main pedestrian street. There you will also see the old clock tower, a prototype of the one in Etara.
Final thoughts
Enjoy your stay at the Sokolski Monastery! The place is very nice – beautiful, well maintained, and with peaceful atmosphere, it offers beautiful views. In addition, the monastery’s courtyard, the fountain and the church are very attractive.
