Rila Monastery

Rila Monastery - a visit to the monastery, founded in 10th century by a monk St. Ivan Rilsky. Over the years the monastery took great part in the Bulgarian history as an important cultural and spiritual centre.It is situated at the slopes of Rila Mountain and the area is declared nature reserve with more than 13,000 plants and a lot of animals as:foxes,wolves,hares,bears,dears,boars,etc.The single road leading to Rila Monastery passes first through Kocherinovo village and nature phenomena Stobs pyramids.Beyond the village,the road enters the narrowing valley of the foaming river Rilska,fed by innumerable springs from the surrounding pin and beech-covered mountains.

It is traditionally thought that the monastery was founded by the hermit St. Ivan of Rila, whose name it bears, during the rule of Tsar Peter I (927-968). He was considered a miracle healer and the main saint for Orthodox church.The Rila Monastery is the biggest monastery in Bulgaria and is included in the list of cultural heritage of UNESCO ,because of its specific architecture and unique frescoes.There is a library with 20,000 volumes.The masterpiece of museum collection is wooden cross cut by monk Raphail. The complex acted as a depository of Bulgarian language and culture in the ages of foreign rule.