Kabile Monastery Nativity of Holy Virgin Mary

The monastery Nativity of Holy Virgin Mary is situated near the archeological reserve Kabile, 6 km from the town of Yambol. In late antiquity (4-5th century) Kabile was a big religion center. During the reign of Emperor Constantine the Great there was a monastery here, about 1 km away from the present reserve. The legend tells that Queen Elena often sent her men to bring her water of the curable spring nearby. Later the monastery became an orthodox nunnery and was inhabited until the Ottomans conquered Bulgaria at the end of 14th century. Although the monastery was destroyed, local people never forgot the story of the magic spring. In 1918 an old woman from Sliven found the spring after a prophetic dream. Supported by generous men, a small chapel was built there. The constuction of the monastery began in 1918 and ended in 1944. Now the cloister is nunnery, and the temple holiday on September 8 gathers lots of Christians. Most of them come here believing that the holy spring of the monastery will bring them health and longevity.