Rila Monastery was founded in the 10th century by St John of Rila, a hermit canonized by the Orthodox Church. His ascetic dwelling and tomb became a holy site and were transformed into a monastic ...

The main holy place of Bulgaria is Rila Monastery at which the relics of Venerable John (Ivan; c. 876-c. 946), the Wonderworker of Rila and patron-saint of this Orthodox country, rest. Rila Monastery ...

Carved right into the rock, up on a cliffside or overlooking the valley from atop a rocky promontory... In the Balkans, from ...

We woke reasonably late following the feast and free flowing wine the night before. After gathering ourselves and our packs, we headed down to our homestay ...

Bulgaria's Rila Monastery. Founded in the 10th Century, it has played a key role in the country's cultural and national identity A chronology of key events: 500 BC - Thracian tribes settle in what ...

946), known as the first Bulgarian hermit. His followers founded many churches in his honor, including the famous Rila Monastery. The saint is featured with a halo with eleven dots, somewhat ...