Rila Monastery Tour
Overview
The Monastery of Saint Ivan of Rila, better known as the Rila Monastery is the largest and most famous Eastern Orthodox monastery in Bulgaria. It is situated in the southwestern Rila Mountains, 117 km south of the capital Sofia in the deep valley of the Rilska River. The monastery is named after its founder, the hermit Ivan of Rila (876 - 946 AD).
The monastery complex, regarded as one of the foremost masterpieces of Bulgarian National Revival architecture, was declared a national historical monument in 1976 and became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983. Since 1991 it has been entirely subordinate to the Holy Synod of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church.
The whole complex occupies an area of 8,800 sq.m and is rectangular in form, centred around the inner yard 3,200 sq.m, where the tower and the main church are situated.
The museum of the Rila Monastery is particularly famous for housing Rafail's Cross, a wooden cross made from a whole piece of wood.
A guided tour can be arranged for you, you will be collected from your hotel, transported to the monastery with ample time top look round and then returned to your hotel. The price is based on a minimum of two people and the entry fee for the church is not included.
Price: 40 Euros
please quote "Rila Monastery"
Please be aware that Rila is a working monastery and there are strict rules when visiting the monastery;
no improper attire for example short skirts, shorts, vests and all other kinds of revealing outfits.
no smoking in the monastery complex.
no photographs and videos in the temple and in the monastery museum.
no entry to the upper floors of the residential buildings.
no pets.
When in the temple:
observe silence by all means.
men remove hats.
no perambulators, tourist backpacks and other kinds of bulky baggage.
when praying in front of the icons or in front of the chest with the relics of Saint John, do not touch them. The Holy Icons, as well as the relics, are honored only with kissing.
the lit candles are not held in hands, but they are placed in the appropriate places: the low candelabra for peace and the high candelabra for health.
it is not acceptable to sit in the temple with crossed legs, to keep hands in your pockets or the use of mobile devices.