Rila Monastery
Rila Monastery is Bulgaria’s most famous spiritual center, one of the largest active male monasteries in the world. It is located in the northwest of the Rila Mountains in the valley of the Rila River at an altitude of 1150 meters above sea level. A rather steep winding road leads to the monastery, which ends in a flat area. Once on it, tourists feel as if they are in a different world: they can see an impregnable fortress, where in the very center, surrounded by a colonnade, stands the church. Rila Monastery was built on the place of death and burial of St. John of Rila, one of the patrons of the country. The monastery has the status of a stauropegial monastery: the cross was placed on it by the patriarch himself.
General information
At first sight the building strikes with its beauty: openwork arches, colorful frescoes with the faces of saints and scenes from the Holy Scriptures, covering the entire interior space, including the passages and domes, carved gates of the 14th century, a tower with a chapel.
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Nowadays the shrine is visited by tourists to learn more about the deeds of the saint, enjoy the beautiful architecture of the monastery and unique wall icon paintings. There are especially many pilgrims during the Throne Feasts: July 1 – the day of the transfer of the relics of John of Ryla from Tarnovo to the monastery, August 18 – the date of the saint’s repose and October 19 – the transfer of the relics from Sredets to Tarnovo.
.Historians and philologists also come to the monastery, as the local library contains valuable books, many of which exist in a single copy.
.History of the Rila Monastery
The Monk John of Rila, during his lifetime ranked among the saints, lived for a long time as a hermit in the mountains, preaching asceticism and spiritual self-improvement. The fame of his wisdom spread throughout the region, and near the cave where he settled, his followers founded a monastery in 927. Their activities were supported by the authorities, and soon the place became not only a religious but also a cultural center of the country.
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Under Ottoman rule, the Rila Monastery made a significant contribution to the preservation of the Bulgarian language and culture. A fire in 1833 destroyed most of the buildings, but thanks to the efforts and help of the faithful, the monastery was again restored to its present form.
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At the end of the 20th century, the monastery was inscribed in the UNESCO World Heritage List. Remarkably, it is still active today, with 8 monks permanently residing there.
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Monastery treasures
The Rila Monastery is visited primarily to touch the relics it houses. The relics of St. John of Rila, possessing miraculous properties, are in a casket in front of the altar icon of Jesus Christ. They are hidden behind a velvet veil, which is lifted after the end of services and on feast days. They can also be shown at the request of pilgrims. After the prayer, which is read near the imperishable remains of the saint, all those present are given a consecrated piece of cotton. The images of St. John of Rylsk, located in the chapel of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker and above the relics, are also attributed the ability to heal from many diseases.
.One of the most famous icons of the Rila Monastery is the image of Our Lady “Hodegetria”, which means “Guide”. Many miracles are associated with this shrine, but most often people turn to it for healing. It is not just an icon, but a relic, which contains the incorrupt remains of 32 saints: Lazarus, the martyr Stephen, the Apostles Andrew and Matthew, St. Athanasius of Alexandria, St. John the Merciful, the martyr Andrew Stratilat, St. Mary Magdalene and others, and in the very center is a small image of the Mother of God. The relics are arranged in separate cells, and their names are engraved on the silver partitions. The iconostasis also includes a magnificent fresco depicting the countenances of these same saints.
Moving to the northern part of the Rila Monastery, visitors enter the museum. The center of its rich exposition is the naprestolny carved cross of the monk Raphael. The shrine, whose height is just over 80 centimeters, is made of linden. The master spent 12 years to make it, lost his eyesight and health during the work, but now people can admire a real work of art. It depicts more than 100 different biblical scenes, as well as 650 figures of saints – each of them no bigger than a grain of rice.
.In addition, the museum houses the first globe made in Bulgaria, a huge collection of coins, weapons, a rich collection of icons. The pride of the monastery is the library, which includes unique manuscript and old printed editions. Some of them date back to the 11th century.
.To get acquainted with the way of life of monks, to learn more about how their day goes, will allow the exposition “Monastic economy”. During the tour tourists will also be shown the cells of the clerics.
Upon arriving at the monastery, it is definitely worth visiting the cave of the “hegumen of all Bulgaria” John of Ryla, where he spent the last days of his life. This place is indicated by the modest chapel of St. Luke and St. John of Rylsk.
.Visiting the monastery
The Rylski Monastery welcomes visitors daily from 8:00 to 18:00. In summer, you can also climb the tower: it offers a beautiful view of the courtyard and the mountains surrounding it.
There are rooms for pilgrims in a separate building, so you can spend the night here if you wish. However, it is important to keep in mind the rules of behavior, as this is a working monastery, not a hotel.
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You can get here from any Bulgarian resort – to the shrine regularly organized field trips. If tourists want to go on an independent trip, it is best to leave from Sofia. From the bus station Ovcha Kupel daily at 10:20 there is a bus to the station Rila, from where you can take a cab (the monastery is only 10 km away). The return bus leaves at 17:00. Approximate ticket price is 11 BGN. You can also go to Dupnica, and from there you can take a direct flight to Rila Monastery, but you need to check the schedule beforehand.
.Another option is to rent a car. For this you will need an international driver’s license and passport. In addition, the renter must have at least 3 years of driving experience. Clients under 21 have special requirements: they often have to pay an inflated rate.
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For large groups, a convenient option will be to rent a tourist bus. In this case, vacationers will be able to visit several other attractions on the way.
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