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The Rila Monastery-unabated source of energy and serenity (photo trip)

The winter is in pure harmony with the nature, and I find it really charming. One day the predicted good weather provoked me to escape from the bustling city and set off to a place where the time does not really matter. I am that kind of person who is pretty spontaneous and indecisive, so I just enjoy choosing the holiday spot in the last minute. It really worth touching the magic of the Rila monastery as it is a place which has preserved the spirit of centuries and represents proudly the majesty of Orthodox religion. It was one gloomy weekend in the beginning of the cold December when I decided to head off to the Rila monastery, the biggest monastery in Bulgaria. I shall be honest that even though it is one of the most beautiful places in Bulgaria, I have visited it only once before. Moreover, I was a little girl and my family insisted on going there, so I can hardly remember those lovely picturesque sceneries. It is said that as you are growing, you realize what really matters in your life, which are those place where you feel as if at home and who are those people never lose their faith in you. I vaguely remembered the holy cloister and its surroundings, but this might be the reason why I felt really attracted towards it. When one mentions the name of the popular sanctuary, only peace and beauty come to my mind.

The monastery’s main church "Nativity of the Virgin", the so-called ‘magernitsa’(‘monastery’s kitchen’) and the museum are open to visitors. The architecture, wall paintings and decoration of the church admire the visitor with their gracefulness and uniqueness. The Rila monastery treasures some of the most impressive icon paintings created in the 14th-19th centuries as they were painted in accordance with the best practices of the icon-paining art. The richly decorated walls strengthen the impression of the interior, the great diversity of compositions depicting religious scenes, and last, but not least, a unique woodcut iconostasis with azure fretwork. We lit a candle and whispered a silent prayer in for the sacred place which preserved Bulgarian faith and inspire the visitor to believe in the beautiful things in the real life. As you are standing in the yard of the monastery, you can admire at the Hrelyo Tower, a powerful stone fortification, rising stately in the middle of the courtyard, as well the inside architecture of the monastery’s complex.

I strongly recommend you to visit the monastery’s museum as the exhibition is really impressive. You will be amazed at the costumes of monks for special occasions, cassocks, icons, coins, monastery’s seals, dating back to different periods, arms, ancient handwritings and transcriptions, crosses of high artistic value and plenty of things which worth seeing. The variety of ancient items, skillfully inlaid small details, the craftsmanship of generations of Bulgarian masters, the exciting history of the monastery have left a profound imprint on my mind. I believe that they will inspire every visitor.

There is a cafe and a restaurant outside the monastery. I took my time to enjoy the afternoon coffee there whilst emerging myself in the tranquillity. I just let my mind to wash my worries away and indulged in the magic of the sacred cloister, a completely different universe...What a magic...Simultaneously I felt the antiquity of the monastery, its richness, knowledge, size, power, contribution to the spiritual life of the Bulgarians. The great value and infinity of this place has followed me along my tour there and long afterwards. A walk around the Rila monastery "St.Ivan Rilski" reveals picturesque views to the neighbouring peaks, veiled in dark clouds and kissed by the winter sun.

The crystal clear air, unsurpassable beauty of the nature and positive energy of the the Rila monastery made me feel renewed and high in spirits. It’s time to go back to the strenuous life and the bustling Sofia city.

A brief review:

Anita Valentinova, 10.07.2009

Rila Monastery is one of the most famous Bulgarian symbols. Not only is it the biggest monastery in Bulgaria, but also it is the most influential spiritual centre in the country and the second biggest monastery on the Balkan Peninsula.It was founded in the 10th century by the monk hermit John, who was later named Bulgaria’s patron saint and his disciples. John of Rila, popular in Bulgarian language as Ivan Rilski, was raised to sainthood by grateful Christian Bulgarian people in a sign of tribute to his life work. The Rila Monastery is a cultural and spiritual centre. It keeps Bulgarian faith through tough years. The Rila Monastery has always been as a source of revival, faith and hope for Bulgarian souls and minds. Rila Monastery turned into the stronghold of Bulgarian nationality and culture during Byzantine Period. Not only is it the biggest holy cloister in Bulgaria, but also it boasts stunning nature surroundings, rich architecture, extraordinary frescoes and ancient history. The monastery is charmingly embraced by the small mountainous rivers Rilska and Dushlyavitsa.

The Rila Monastery has been turned into National museum since 1961 and the region around it into Nature Park. Rila’s sacred place is one of the 100 Bulgaria’s National tourist objects. The Rila Monastery is one of the nine objects in Bulgaria (the second monastery after the rock cloister nearby the village Ivanovo) which are under the auspices of UNESCO.

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