Arbanssi Monastery

The “Assumption” monastery is located several kilometers away from the middle aged capital Veliko Tarnovo in the museum village Arbanassi. It was built during the time of the Second Bulgarian Kingdom. The monastery survived after the Ottoman invasion but later it was abandoned because of the unceasing robber bands attacks. During the 17 – 18th century the monastery was restored, and transformed in a women’s monastery. Here is the miraculous icon of Holly Virgin which has very interesting silver repousse cover. Part of it was added later. The donation was made by local merchant whose child was cured by the icon. The relic dates back before the Ottoman slavery. The legend says that after Tarnovo was conquered the nuns hid it in the ground. Many years after that, a young shepherd heard someone’s cry from the ground and found the icon.