Rila Monastery

June 17, 2019
076 - IMG_4824 The Monastery of Saint Ivan of Rila, better known as Rila Monastery is the largest and most famous Eastern Orthodox monastery in Bulgaria. It is situated in the...
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063 - IMG_3561 The Rila Monastery is named after its founder, the hermit Ivan of Rila (876 - 946 AD), and houses around 60 monks.
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090 - P1170517 Founded in the 10th century, the Rila Monastery is regarded as one of Bulgaria's most important cultural, historical and architectural monuments and is a key...
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001 - IMG_3526 The Rila Monastery is depicted on the reverse of the 1 lev banknote, issued in 1999.
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078 - IMG_3582 It is traditionally thought that the monastery was founded by the hermit St. Ivan of Rila, whose name it bears, during the rule of Tsar Peter I (927-968). The...
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066 - IMG_3568 Ever since its creation, the Rila Monastery has been supported and respected by the Bulgarian rulers. Large donations were made by almost every tsar of the...
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080 - IMG_3585 The Rila Monastery was reerected at its present place by Hrelyu, a feudal lord, during the first half of the 14th century. The oldest buildings in the complex...
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002 - IMG_3527 The arrival of the Ottomans in the end of the 14th century was followed by numerous raids and a destruction of the monastery in the middle of the 15th century.
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003 - IMG_3528 Thanks to donations by the Sultana Mara Branković, the Russian Orthodox Church and the Rossikon monastery of Mount Athos, the Rila Monastery was rebuilt in the...
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091 - P1170518 The complex acted as a depository of Bulgarian language and culture in the ages of foreign rule. During the time of the Bulgarian National Revival (18th-19th...
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007 - IMG_3531 The erection of the residential buildings began in 1816, while a belfry was added to the Tower of Hrelyu in 1844. Neofit Rilski founded a school in the...
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082 - IMG_3587 The monastery complex, regarded as one of the foremost masterpieces of Bulgarian National Revival architecture, was declared a national historical monument in...
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070 - IMG_3574 Portico frescos..
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008 - IMG_3533 Ceiling and wall frescos at portico...
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009 - P1170454 Details of a fresco...
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010 - P1170455 Beautiful and colorful frescos...
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