Rila Monastery or The Monastery of Saint Ivan Rilski is the largest Eastern Orthodox monastery in Bulgaria.Situated in Rila mountain,near Kyustendil ,Bulgaria, this monastery owns an unique architecture with its outward 24 meters stone walls,which form a pentagon,the monastery has a vision of a fortress. Thats why when you enter through the iron gates  in the inner yard, you will notice the multitude of the arches, colonnades, covered wooden ladders, the wood-caving balconies and behind them – the cells,about 300 or 400.

Just in the middle of the monastery is the main church named “Rozhdestvo Bogorodichno“ (The birth of  Virgin Mary), known with its stunning  wood-caving and mural painting.

This huge  orthodox “fortress” has also an own library, which contains plenty of books gathered during the centuries, a lot of valued Bulgarian papers, about 250 handwritten books and many more.

The museum of the monastery also owns  a  rich exposition – a great collection of  icons, a work of  applied arts, wood-cavings, and  ethnic objects in  abundance.

Rila Monastery is built in 10^th century, it’s creator is Saint Ivan Rilski – the first Bulgarian monk-hermit, who chose the way of a primitive life on purpose of a spiritual elaboration and against the tramping of the highest ethical norms  of the real Christianity.

A place, surrounded by a superb nature, full of history and a magic atmosphere, Enjoy!