In the 10th century, a young Bulgarian herder became a priest and ventured into the Rila Mountains to seek peaceful life in prayer. Saint Ivan of Rila, as he was known, attained many admirers due to the many miracles he performed. Though he lived in caves in harsh conditions, his way of life inspired many students to learn from him. The young monks thirsty for education, climbed the mountains and joined him. They settled near his cave and began building the Rila monastery, which is now the biggest Eastern Orthodox monastery in Bulgaria.
Saint Ivan was already a saint while alive, and even the tsar visited him. The monastery thrived for centuries, and was not only an important religious centre, but also cultural. When the Ottomans invaded in the beginning of the 14th century, the monastery became a fortress that kept the Bulgarian culture alive for almost 500 years, while the whole country was held hostage under the foreign rule. It housed many important people, from monks to tsars and even revolutionaries, and continues to be one of the most important Bulgarian monuments to this day.
The tower is the oldest building in the complex, and last line of defence under attack.
The chapel has frescoes representing Bible stories. It contains 40 days of various temptations your soul goes through after death.
It is a beautiful, magical place.
