Sveta Marina Cave, Slivarovo village

Overview

Saint Marina Cave is located very close to the border fence with Turkey, about 25 kilometers east of Malko Tarnovo, about 12 kilometers east of the village of Slivarovo and about 10 kilometers south of the village of Kosti. There are dirt roads leading to the sanctuary, which are not suitable for cars. For reference, in some places on the dirt roads there are arrows for the cave and other interesting sites in the area. The water that drips into it is considered a spring. The cave near Slivarovo is the largest cult center of the saint in Southeastern Thrace. Legend has it that the Slivar spring of St. Marina was discovered by a shepherd of a herd of cows, including a blind bull. He poked his head into the spring and saw. Since then, people have realized that this is the healing spring of St. Marina. This cave is also associated with a very ancient tradition - at the opening in its eastern part or at the icon to leave miniature, made of tin or silver, images of the diseased organ or the whole human figure (votive). It was believed that the disease would remain on the image in the cave. Saint's Day (July 30 old style, July 17 AD) was a big holiday for young men and women of premarital age, so in Strandzha it is called "Lefter's Fair". The feast of St. Marina is at night. The pilgrims ate and slept by the cave, hoping for healing or a dream sign, waiting for a sign from the saint what to do to alleviate their suffering. The sacred places of St. Marina are complexes of a monastery, a healing spring (spring), a tree (or several trees) on which a thread, a garment or part of it is hung with the belief that the disease passed in them will self-destruct and the person will go home completely healed. These sacred complexes are located outside the settlements, in low, wet areas, most often in a cave or deep valley. So going to these sacred places is always a long descent. Apart from Slivarovska, in Strandzha is also known the Stoilovska cave of St. Marina. Marina lived in the third century, in Antioch - a city founded by Alexander the Great around 300 BC. no. The daughter of a pagan priest, she was left without a mother at an early age. He accepted the faith of Christ at the age of 12. Just as she was 16, she was met by the governor of the eastern Roman provinces, Olibrius, who, struck by her beauty, wanted her for a wife. She does not hide that she is a Christian and declares that her only fiancé is Christ. She was immediately detained and put on trial. She was subjected to inhuman torture: nailed to a tree and tortured again, her wounds set on fire. Because she was constantly praying to God to give her Holy Baptism, she was tied up and thrown into a large tub of water. Her shackles miraculously fall and she, standing in the water, sings songs of praise to God. Finally, the governor ordered her to be cut down with a sword outside the city. St. Marina is often portrayed as the victor of the devil, the cause of evil - perhaps as an echo of the legend that he kills the dragon-tempter, with a sign of the cross to get rid of his belly. The saint visits the dreams of people who believe in her, prophesies or gives advice on what to do to save believers from disease and misfortune.