Gabrovo-Sokolski monastery "Assumption of Virgin Marry"
The Gabrovo-Sokolski monastery "Assumption of Virgin Marry" ("Uspenie bogorodichno") is located about 12 km south of Gabrovo and 4 km south-west of the Ethnographic museum complex Etara.
The monastery was founded in 1833 by Joseph Sokolsky (Archimandrite Joseph), who came here from the Troyan monastery together with the priest-monk Agapius. Next to the entrance of the nearby cave, they built a small wooden church. In 1834, on the same place, with the support of the local people from the villages around, they built a big temple – a remarkable monument of Bulgarian architecture from the National Revival period.
The monastery has a big yard full with flowers and greenery. In the middle of it there is a white-stone fountain with seven spouts. It was built in 1868 by the famous Bulgarian builder - master Kolyu Fitcheto.
To the monastery was open a museum, where are exhibited relics of the struggle for liberation.
Nowadays Gabrovo-Sokolski Monastery is acting mixed monastery of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church and since 1973 it has been declared a historical place.
