Rila Monastery — Attraction in Rila

Was it beautiful? Yes. Was the story behind it amazing? Yes. So why the rating of 2 stars? I am a 63 year old woman who made the unintentional mistake of wearing modest shorts. I came from Istanbul where I knew men and women were not to wear shorts in a mosque. For those in Istanbul who dressed “immodestly”, every mosque gave out paper-ish head scarves and body coverings and did it in a respectful way that did not make their guests feel awkward. In my ignorance, I thought it was only mosques, so when I arrived at Rila Monastery in shorts, I was surprised and felt bad when I realized the mistake I made. The guard was not happy with me and I was not offended at all - I wanted to respect their religious beliefs, so I gestured that I would leave and it was really okay. He continued to not be happy but gestured to follow him to his guard hut. When he came out with a cloth in his hand, I thought they must do what the mosques do and help dress their guests appropriately. Imagine my surprise to be handed a polyester flannel-ish fabric in bright red with large monkey faces all over it. I decided to suck it up and wear it, even though I felt a little ridiculous. Again, I wanted to respect them. After tying it around me with the guard making sure it was long enough, I tried to catch up with my group. As I went to find my group, every employee I passed either looked at me and laughed or gave me a look of disgust. It was obvious the fabric was chosen to shame women who show up in shorts. Eventually I couldn’t suck it up anymore with all the looks of disgust I was being given, so I returned to the guard hut, took off the bright red monkey face fabric and hung it on his door knob and left. It is also interring to note, there were no less than 5 men in shorts (my husband included) and a young girl in flesh colored skin tight leggings (that showed way more than my modest shorts) and none of these people were asked to dress more modestly. You may think me ridiculous and that’s okay, but I literally got back on my bus and had a good cry. I don’t think I have ever felt shame like that. Maybe it affected me so much because I truly did not want to be disrespectful to their beliefs, but never dreamed they would treat me with such disrespect and contempt. I know there are many, many people in this world who have far worse shaming experiences than this, but today I got a glimpse of just how uncomfortable it is to feel that way. Note to self: I will now travel with my own covering for any place where I need to respect their culture. Let me end by saying again, the monastery is beautiful and the story behind it is amazing; I was just disappointed in how they treat those who come to learn about them but may be ignorant of...

In my youth, I worked as a tour guide for Balkan Holidays in both Sunny Beach and Golden Sands, where I also drove tourists around Bulgaria. One of my favorite destinations was Rila Mountain, where I enjoyed showing tourists around the Rila Monastery.

The Rila Monastery has a rich history, believed to have been founded in the 10th century by Saint Ivan Rilski, the first Bulgarian hermit. Saint Ivan came to this region in the first half of the 10th century and lived as a hermit in a cave near the present monastery site for the last five years of his life. After his death, his followers built a small stone church near the cave, which still stands today. They decided to build the monastery near the place where he had lived his last years for its security and because a small temple already existed there.

The Rila Monastery was constructed from 927 to 941. Initially small and modest, it underwent significant changes in the 14th century under the local feudal lord protosebastos Hrelyo Dragovol, who transformed it into a well-fortified complex capable of withstanding attacks. During his rule, the monastery was enriched with monastic residential buildings, a small one-apse temple, and a defensive tower. Of these, only Hrelyo’s tower remains today.

Throughout its history, the Rila Monastery was supported by all Bulgarian tsars until the country fell under Ottoman rule. Notable patrons included Ivan Alexander and Ivan Shishman, the latter of whom donated extensive lands to the monastery in 1378. This support helped establish the monastery as Bulgaria’s most important spiritual and cultural center until the end of the 14th century when it fell under Ottoman rule.

In the following centuries, the monastery faced numerous attacks and was ultimately destroyed and plundered by Turkish invaders in the mid-15th century. It took many years before the monastery began to revive, starting at the end of the 15th century, thanks to donations and support from Bulgarians across the country. The Russian and Moldovan Orthodox churches also contributed with donations, books, and church accessories.

The monastery has existed in its currently preserved form since the 19th century. Today, it stands as a testament to its storied past, with history remembered and honored by...

The monasteries must be the jewel in Bulgaria UNESCO heritage and it’s absolutely beautiful. It takes about an hour and 45 thereabouts from Sofia.

I hired a car and drove there and left about 7am and got me there about 9 o’clock at which point there were no tourist buses and just a couple of people in the monastery who are staying there overnight in a couple of people who decided to drive in early.

The atmosphere was peaceful. Enjoyed the monastery bells ringing. The church was empty other than a few local worshippers which chants being sung.there are also two shops selling religion art. There is another museum about the guards for 4 lev at the back entrance of the monastery.

The museum was rather small with a cost eight lev for entrance fee( cash or card) on the ground and the lower ground. The start takes you underground with one large room with two smaller. Middle lower ground room - article for church, gifts , church memorabilia religions art, Ecclesiastical flags, guns shrouds. Far end room of the lower ground had machine for Printing prints from metal cliche, modern day posters. Top Floor were three rooms with Priest liturgical And Vestments. Probably only need 30mins in there.

The back entrance of the monastery is a lovely as there is fast stream adjacent with a hotel and a number of restaurants, one with a terrace and nice view. Here again there is parking. The stand-load coffee shop sells coffee and snacks with coffee for 3.50lev that was below average. The hole in the wall with the Mekitsa was good for 1 lev.

Free parking 250meters with three enclaves before the main car park.

Total time in the monastery was...