Travel Challenge # 12: Rilski monastery

Its creation is related to the life of the Bulgarian saint Ivan Rilski, who was born at the end of the 9th century in the village of Skrinno, a small village in the folds of the Osogovo Mountain. Ivan Rilski witnessed some of the most important events in Bulgarian history - the adoption of Christianity, the rise of the state at the time of Tsar Simeon and its decline to his son Peter. After taking the monastery at Boboshevski Monastery "St. Dimitar" the saint gave himself to Hermit life.

Ivan Rilski was in many places before settling in Rila, where he founded a monastery where he stayed for the rest of his life.
In the 11th-12th centuries, during the Byzantine rule the monastery was already known and was the mainstay of Bulgarian self-consciousness and generic memory. After the rebuilding of the Bulgarian state in 1185, Carried the relics of the saint in the new capital of Turnovo - an indisputable sign of the immense significance of St. Ivan Rilski, considered to be a heavenly patron of Bulgaria.

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In the 14th century, the monastery became a solidly fortified and impressive complex, thanks to the efforts of the local feudal ruler, Hagel, the sevastokrator. In 1335 he built a five-storey defensive tower with battlements, known as the Hrelyo's Tower, and in 1343. Built a church that was destroyed in the 19th century.

Upon the conquest of Bulgaria from the Ottoman Empire, the monastery survived and preserved its privileged position. But in 1435. Was completely deserted by robbery attacks. It was restored in 1460. By three brothers who, in 1469, Managed to obtain permission from Sultan Murad II to return the relics of St. Ivan Rilski to the monastery. The return of the saints' relics has become a nationwide demonstration of the unspiritual Bulgarian spirit. The procession was described by Vladislav Gramatik in Panagerika of the monastery.

During the years of slavery the monastery was a great literary and religious center. Here worked writers, translators and icon-painters, trained clergy, and active contacts with other Orthodox countries. In the early 19th century the monastery was renovated by master Alexi Rilets. In 1834. The construction of the new church "Nativity of the Virgin" began.

All frescoes in it were painted by icon painters from Samokov and Bansko schools. Its iconostasis is the largest in the Balkans. It has been threaded for three years by master Atanas Theladur and has been completely gold-plated a few years after its placement. The two extremely valuable relics are the relics of St. Ivan Rilski and the miraculous icon "St Bogoroditsa Odigitria (Guide)", which are located in the main church. The library of the monastery stores 16,000 volumes, among them there are particularly valuable copies from the 15-19th century.

The museum of the monastery has over 380 exhibits - icon, weapons, priestly garments, worship articles, gifts and gift certificates. One of the most interesting exhibits in the museum is the first geographic globe in Bulgaria, made in 1836. By Neofit Rilski for the monastery school and the Rafail's Cross.

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