"The Seven Thrones" monastery
Osenovlak monastery "Virgin Mary" (better known under the name "The Seven Thrones monastery") is located 7 km north-west of the village of Osenovlag. It is situated in the gorge of the Gabrovitsa river, in the northern part of the Balkan Mountains, under Mount Izmerets.
About the foundation of the monastery there are different versions. The first one relates the monastery with the boyar Peter Delian and the uprising against the Byzantine rule in 1040.
According to another version the monastery was founded by seven boyars (or seven brothers) and their tribes after their resettlement in these lands from the region of Bessarabia (hence the name 7 thrones). Together with the monastery was founded also 7 surrounding villages - Osenovlak, Ogoya, Ogradishte, Bukovets, Leskovdol, Jelen and Lakatnik.
In the beginning of XIX century Osenovlag monastery was destroyed and deserted. Its territory became property of the Turkish feudal lord from the town of Roman. Later, local patriots bought out the land and the monastery was restored.
Nowadays the monastery of "Seven Thrones" is functioning. There are high stone walls surrounding the church, the bell tower and two residential buildings (with lots of guest rooms). The monastery church is unique in architectural terms. It is cruciform, triapsidna cylindrical building with a dome and consists of seven separate chapels. The church-yard has well developed garden with many flowers, flowering shrubs and old trees, including an ancient redwood.
