Tavna Monastery

Really beautiful place with friendly people. Loved it here.

Nice family place to visit.

The monastery is extremely beautiful, and the atmosphere is very friendly.

Great place for wedding. Nice local priest.

I had the privilege of visiting this beautiful monastery during my tour of duty as an US Army Civil Affairs Officer attached to the Russian Brigade in 1998. I will always remember my visit there as one of the highlights of my tour there. It was a place of peace and tranquility that stood in stark contrast to areas of devastation still present at that time from the civil war that had only recently ended. The UN translator explained that it had recently been refurbished as it had been subjected to gunfire while soldiers were being cared for it the monastery as it was being used as a field hospital during the war. It is unfortunate that such behavior in war continues to exist. Humans have a long journey ahead of them to reach a 'civilized state of being'. However, the restoration of the monastery and its continued mission of faith gives hope that we will continue to move forward to becoming more humane. The other memory that I will have was how the nun there and the UN translator were perplexed by the fact that I crossed myself in the Orthodox tradition upon entering the church. I explained that I am Russian Orthodox myself. They did not realize that there were Orthodox Churches in the US. I told them that there were in fact not only Orthodox Churches, but representatives of almost all faiths in the States. Furthermore, I explained that being a native Californian, I came from a State that has people that create their own religions when they can't find one that suits them. (Nowadays, I would go so far as to say, would accept them. There are reasons why I don't live in the cesspool of the US anymore.) But, yes, Tavna Monastery is a place I will always remember and will always be a bright spot in my memory of my participation in SFOR. May God bless that wonderful place and those who come to pray there.