This monastery is located in the central part of the South Balkan Mountains.
It is not very widely know because there isn�t much left of it. It was built in the 4th century. Around it there was something like a village,
and the monastery was there to protect it. Up in the mountain there was a tower so the people could see from far away if somebody was coming.
According to the rumors there should be tunnels under the ground that lead from the monastery to the tower. It is too bad that this region was never researched,
and not too many things that could tell something about the past were found. That�s why a big part of it is still a mystery.
The name �Elensko� comes from the word �elen� which means deer. It comes from one story according to which every year there was an deer that was
coming down from the mountain, and the monks were catching it, killing it, and they used its meat for making soup in huge cauldron. The bones they were
placing back in the skin. Then the deer was becoming alive again. Nobody knows exactly what happened with the village and the people living there. It is only
known that the Turkish somewhere between 1400 and 1500 destroyed the monastery. The place is also know as St. Ilia, and every year in the summer on
St. Ilia�s day people are going there, and they make ritual soup. One big stone cross is still left in the middle of the monastery where the people light candles.
This is the only day when somebody is going up there. The rest of the time the place is empty.
My house is located up in the mountain, and it is about 5 min. walking from the monastery. Since I was 5 year old this is my favorite place to hang out. It is very quiet,
there is very beautiful view, and I could just sit there for hours����..
For more pictures of the monastery click HERE.