Monastery of Saint John of Rila

The Monastery of Saint John of Rila, commonly called Rila Monastery, is Bulgaria’s largest and most important Eastern Orthodox monastery, founded in the 10th century by Saint John of Rila. The surviving ensemble of churches, residential wings and towers mostly reflects major 19th-century rebuilding after destructive fires, and it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Key features include the richly painted main church with large fresco cycles, the medieval Hrelyu Tower that predates the 19th-century reconstruction, and museum collections that hold relics and religious objects. The monastery remains an active monastic community and a major pilgrimage and tourist destination.

Rila Monastery lies in the Rila Mountains in southwestern Bulgaria, at roughly 1,000 m elevation and about 120 km south of Sofia by road, surrounded by forested mountain slopes.

• Founding and reconstruction: Founded by the hermit Saint John of Rila in the 10th century; the present complex is largely a 19th-century reconstruction following fires and later rebuilding.
• World Heritage status: Inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983 for its cultural and religious significance and for well-preserved medieval and post-medieval architecture.

What to See #

• Main church and frescoes: The main church of the monastery (the Nativity of the Virgin) decorated with extensive 19th-century frescoes and icons, including works by the artist Zahari Zograf.
• Hrelyu's Tower: Hrelyu's Tower, a surviving 14th-century fortified tower that predates later rebuilding and served as early monastic accommodation and defence.
• Museum and treasury: The monastery museum and treasury which hold religious relics, manuscripts, and objects connected to Saint John of Rila and Bulgarian Orthodox history.