Rila Monastery

The Rila Monastery (Bulgarian ?????? ????????, Rilski Manastir) is the largest and most famous monastery in Bulgaria. It is situated in the Rila Mountains 120 km south of Sofia, in a spectacular setting in the deep valley of the Rilski River.

Related Topics:
Bulgarian - Bulgaria - Rila Mountains - Sofia

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It was founded in the 10th century by Saint John of Rila (also known as Ivan Rilski), a hermit canonized by the Orthodox Church. His ascetic dwelling and tomb became a holy site and were transformed into a monastic complex which subsequently played an important role in the spiritual and social life of medieval Bulgaria, and maintained the tradition of icon painting and manuscript copying during the Turkish rule.

Related Topics:
10th century - Saint - John of Rila - Ivan Rilski - Orthodox Church - Bulgaria

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Partly destroyed by fire at the beginning of the 19th century, the complex was rebuilt between 1834 and 1862, though retaining the older buildings which did survive the fire.

Related Topics:
19th century - 1834 - 1862

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The monument is a characteristic example of the Bulgarian Renaissance (18th?19th centuries) and symbolizes an awareness of a Slavic cultural identity following centuries of occupation. The Rila Monastery is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Related Topics:
Bulgarian Renaissance - Slavic - Identity - Occupation - UNESCO - World Heritage Site

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The monastery is the setting for a brief part of the novel The Historian (2005) by Elizabeth Kostova.

Related Topics:
The Historian - 2005 - Elizabeth Kostova

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