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The Rila Monastery is really extraordinary and important place for the Bulgarian people. Created in the 30s of the tenth century, the monastery was repeatedly destroyed and rebuilt.

Its creator is the hermit monk St. Ivan Rilski, born around 876 in Skrino village, nestled in the folds of Kyustendil. After his death in 946, this first and greatest Bulgarian saint was canonized in Sredets (today Sofia). After countless trips his reamins, miraculously survived, were returned to the renovated Rila Monastery in 1469, where even today they are subject of worship. Ivan Rilski is major patron of the Bulgarian people and is reverently celebrated by all Bulgarians.

In the fourteenth century the feudal Stefan Hrelyo Dragovol created well-fortified monastery ensemble, which resembles a fortress from the outside and inside the monastery is surprising with the softness of architectural forms: arches, colonnades, covered wooden stairs and carved balconies. In the middle of the courtyard is the fortress tower, to which in more recent times, a belfry was added.

Fires burned the monastery in 1778 and 1833, but both times it was rebuilt by Master Alexi Riletz - considered the first modern Bulgarian architect. Between 1834 and 1837 the main church "Virgin Birth" was built, decorated with beautiful iconostasis. It was painted in by the best painters of the time: Dimitar and Simeon Molerovi of the Bansko School of Art, Zachary Zograf, his brother Dimitar and his nephew Stanislav Dospevski of the Samokov School of Art.

Thr church "Virgin Birth" is demolished church in the Rila Monastery. It was built to replace the old "Hrelyova church". The new chapel is Athos type. It is a domed basilica with five crossed domes. From north and south the builders have added two chapels dedicated to "St. Nicholas Mirlikiyski" and "St. Ivan Rilski". Outside, from the west, north and south arcade gallery serves as a narthex.

The monastery provided shelter to Vasil Levski, Ilio Voivoda, Gotse Delchev and many Bulgarian revolutionaries.

The monastery has a rich library, which holds about 250 manuscripts of the XI century, 9000 Antiquarian books, National Revival manuscripts and graphic prints, the museum is a treasure trove with its 35,000 historical artifacts, works of applied art, woodcarvings, religious and ethnographic objects. It has also an exceptionally rich collection of icons.

There is a lot to be seen in this cradle of the Bulgarian spirit, history, culture and art, but if you have little time, you should not miss two things: the miraculous icon of Virgin Mary Odigitria (the Pathfinder), donated by Mara, sister of King Ivan Shishman and wife of sultan Murad I.

The second piece is a unique cross made with fine chisels, magnifying lenses and a threaded needle by the monk Raphael, born in the village of Kalishta near Radomir. He managed to carve 104 religious scenes, 36 of the life of Jesus Christ and 650 small figures on a piece of wood measuring only 81 by 43 cm. The work took him 12 years. For this masterpiece the monk paid with the loss of his eyesight.

In 1961 the monastery was declared as the National Museum "Rila Monastery", but in 1968 it became active monastery again. The monastery was declared by UNESCO a monument of world significance in 1983.

Tags: Rila Monastery, Hundred national tourist sites, Kyustendil sights, Kyustendil tourism,

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