Basarbovo Rock Monastery

A magical corner in the Ruse region that you must not miss if you’re coming this way is the St. Dimitar Basarbovski Monastery. It is located near the village of Basarbovo, 12 km from the city of Ruse. Built into the rock near the picturesque Rusenski Lom River, it is the only functioning rock monastery in Bulgaria. When I visited it for the first time, I told myself, “How have I never been here before? And I live just 12 km away!” The church nestled in the rock, the cozy base of the cliff, the tidiness and cleanliness of the little courtyard—all contribute to the unique atmosphere of peace and bliss.

There are many stories connected to the saint whose name the monastery bears. Even Paisiy speaks of him in his Slavonic-Bulgarian History. His life is an example of godliness, humility, and holiness. Having spent most of his days as a monk, the venerable one cultivated supreme virtue within himself. Because of this, he was rewarded by God and his name became renowned.

Miracles—an inseparable part of the life of every saint—did not pass by Dimitar Basarbovski either. It is said that after his death, he appeared to a blind girl in the village and instructed her to find his relics, which had been carried away by the river, and she would be healed. And so it happened. The relics were then placed in the village church, and the fame of their healing power spread far and wide. Those who tried to take parts of the holy remains of St. Dimitar were met with unexpected and insurmountable obstacles.

Unfortunately, in the distant year of 1774, no one stopped Russian General Petar Saltykov from taking the relics of St. Dimitar to Bucharest, where they remain to this day, helping those who believe in their healing power. In 2005, the Romanian Patriarch Teoctist gifted the monastery an icon containing a relic of St. Dimitar Basarbovski.

Today, the monastery has been renovated and is clearly cared for by people who believe in the holiness it carries.