Rila Monastery - Saint Ivan Rilski Monastery Rila / Bulgaria description:The Rila (Rilski) monastery is part of the UNESCO World
Inheritage List..
The Rila Monastery was founded by the followers of Ivan Rilski. Ivan Rilski lived
during the 10th century. He relocated himself from a monastery in Rouen to the
Rhodope mountainrange in Bulgaria. But he did not live on the place where now the
monastery is: he lived in a cave further in the mountains.
A group of monks formed around Ivan (also known as Johannes) Rilski. After his
death, on August 18th, 946, they formed a monastery. This however got destroyed by
fire during the 13th century.Some kilometres further, thanks gifts by Stefan Hrelyu,
a powerful local prince, in 1355 a tower and a church to honor the in
themeatime recognized Orthodox Saint Johannes of Rila.
Under the Ottomane rule (1400-1878) the monastery stayed open, although the first
half of the 15th century was desastrous, with lootings and destruction. But thanks to
gifts of Sultana Mara Branković, the Russian Orthodoxe church and the monastery of Rossikon on Mount Athos, the Rila monastery could be rebuilt by the end of the 15th
century. Also thanks to the influence of Sultana Mara Branković, in 1469 also the
relics of the Holy Ivan of Rila could be moved from Trnovo to the Rila Monastery. The
monastery had a lot of influence on how culture and art developed in the Christian
areas in the Ottomane Empire.
In 1833, the complex was destroyed by fire (however the 23 m high
bell tower of Stefan Hrelyu survived). Afterwards, the
mnastery was rebuilt in Bulgarian Revival style.
One of the high marks on the site for sure is the central Our Lady Assomption cathedral (Oespenië Bogoroditsjno), built in
Byzantine style in 1834 - 1837. Het interior is decorated
with 1200 frescoss of mainly Bible sceneries.
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