The Rila Monastery, Travel Bulgaria

One of the greatest Monasteries in Bulgaria. Huge, beautiful, ornate, & wonderful place in the Rila Mountains

What an incredible day in the holiest place in Bulgaria!

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RILA MONASTERY was founded in the l0th century by the Bulgarian monk St. John of Rila and was rebuilt in the l3th -l4th century. From that time are the fortress tower (1334), the bishop’s throne, richly carved doors and some manuscripts, icon-paintings and church plates.The Rila Monastery has been listed as a world monument of culture.

Religious tourism in Bulgaria – Rila monastery

Rila Monastery in Bulgaria 2008www.garywritesablog.com

www.ignatov-art.comThis model of St. Rila Monastery is the one and only unique version of its kind not only in Bulgaria but in the world. The making of this great model version of the famous Bulgarian Monastery, St. John of Rila, began on 2nd September 1991,and was concluded on 29th October 2008 has taken Mr. Ignatov 17 years and 2 months to build. The model is 2 sq/m big. The author has visited the monastery 34 times while making this model version. He has used the following quantities and materials to complete this unique model: 4,497,000 matches, 73 litres – glue, 500 lighters (for burning the end of the matches), 360 stones, such as: 100 purls, emerald, jade, amber, ruby, opal, gill crystals, mother-of-pearl and tigers eye. The foundations are built out of copper and copper coins. On the east side of the model, has been created a 1:1 bishops room as the ones from the 18-29 century. The model has been sanctified in the church of St. Ivan of Rila in the Holy Seminary in Sofia. It has beaten the Guinness Record! At the moment, Plamen Ignatov has put on sale some of his works: the castle Victory, The Temptation, The Great Pyramid of Giza and the Sphinx, The Rila Monastery and a catholic church from a painting of Bernard Buffet. All of those creations are one of their kind. You can commission a custom-made icon or portrait.For more information please visit www.ignatov-art.com

Visiting Rila Monastery in 28.12.2008Pictures about my Bulgarian journey:http://picasaweb.google.hu/horvath.laszlosw/Bulgaria2008NewYearSEve#

1000 metre-high mountains stretch across southwestern Bulgaria. Deep in the woods of these mountains is the Rila Monastery. It looks like a fortress. The monastery was built in the 10th century and became the focal point of Bulgarian national identity during the Byzantine Empire. The complex, however, was damaged by an earthquake at the beginning of the 14th century. It was subsequently rebuilt to withstand natural disasters and the threat of foreign invasion. The monument that still survives from this period is the Tower of Hrelu. The Monastery became a key centre of religion and culture in Bulgaria. Frescoes decorate the corridor walls. A single path runs down from Christ from the world above. It is a path followed by those who are faithful to Christs teachings. It is clear where that path eventually lead to The painting on the wall below depicts hell. The paintings convey Christian teaching to people who could neither read nor write. The Monastery at one point was totally destroyed by fire. With the rise of Slavic identity and desire for independence from the Ottomans, reconstruction of the building began immediately. Craftsmen from around the country gathered and a symbol of the people, the Rila Monastery, was restored. The churchs centrepiece is the altar. Drawn here … is the Eye of God. The Eye silently watches the churchgoers, solemnly observing their true faith in God. Over 300 monks once lived in the Monastery. Today, there are just 9, leading a quiet … meditative existence. The monastery has survived several disasters, and has come back to life each time like a Phoenix rising out of the ashes.