The Rila Monastery is one of the most important cultural monuments in Bulgaria, a symbol of the country, included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. It is located in southwestern Bulgaria, Kyustendil district, Rila municipality. It was founded in the 10th century by St. Ivan Rilski the Wonderworker.

In 1335 a defensive tower and a small one-nave church were built by the local feudal ruler Protosevast Hrelio in the yard of today’s monastery and now is the oldest preserved building in the monastery complex. At the top of the tower is the chapel “Holy Transfiguration” with valuable frescoes from the 30s of the 14th century.

During the years the monastery has been burned and robbed many times but in the middle of XIX century it was rebuilt. In 1983 UNESCO declared the complex as part of the world cultural heritage.

The must-see list in the monastery is quite long but you should not miss:

• the holy relics of the saint, if you are lucky, and ask him to help you;
• the museum with all the manuscripts, old printed books, documents from the 14th century to the 19th century, many ancient objects, such as church utensils, scepters, icons, weapons, coin collection, etc.
• the tomb of St. Ivan Rilski, including the church “Assumption of St. Ivan Rilski” and the fasting house St. Ivan Rilski;
• the hermitage “St. Luke”, including the churches “St. Luke” and “Holy Intercession” and the cell school;
• the Orlitsa convent with the church “St. St. Petar and Pavel”;
• the Church of the Assumption of the Mother of God;
• the Pchelino convent.

The last Bulgarian tsar Boris 3rd was also buried there.

You are not allowed to take picture inside the churches and the museum but you can do it in the yard outside. In the church shops you can buy holy objects and even water. There is also a small bakery outside the monastery walls where you can get and taste the most delicious bread made in an old fashioned way. There are a couple of small hotels and restaurants nearby where you can stay the night and continue with your journey to the mountain peaks on the next day. You can also find accommodation in the monastery hotel part, if you want to experience the atmosphere there.

For those who would like to prove to themselves that you have no sins you should go to the cave where St. Ivan Rilski lived and try to pass through the rock gate there. The place is about 5 km away from the monastery into the mountain but if you have comfortable shoes it will be a nice walk into the forest, too.