The Rila monastery – the cradle of Bulgarian culture
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The Rila monastery is situated at 1 147 meters above the sea level among the fragrant coniferous forests in the Rila mountain. The Rila monastery was built in X c. The founder of the cloister is the first Bulgarian monk – hermit Yoan Rilski (876 – 946), who chose this way as a means of spiritual elaboration and protest against violating of the high moral standards of true Christianity.The Rila monastery distinguishes with unique architecture. It is a complex of religious, housing and farm buildings with total surface 8800 sq. m. The monastery looks like a fortress. That is why when the pilgrim or the tourist who is in the inner side of the two iron gates, becomes surprised by the softness of the architectural forms: arches and colonnades, covered with stairs and carving verandas. Behind them are the cells – 300 – 400 in number. In the middle is situated the Hreliova Tower and the Baroque silver domes of the main church. There is a small church next to it which is only a few years younger (1343). Later next to the tower a bell tower is added. Approximately from the same period dates the monastery church “Rojdestvo Bogorodichno”. The architect is the master Petar Ivanovich who had been working on it since 1834 until 1837. The temple is with five domes, three alter niches and two side chapels. One of the most precious things inside is the iconostasis with its incredible fretwork. The frescos were finished in 1846 and were achievements of many masters, but only the famous Zahari Zograf signed his paintings. In the church there are a big number of valuable icons, created between XIV – XIX c.A precious literary heritage is being preserved in the library of the monastery. The museum situated on the territory of the monastery also has a rich exposition – a historical collection of 35 000 exponents, rich collections of icons, works of applied arts, fretworks, religious and ethnographic objects. Here is the unique find - The Christ of Rafail. It was made from a whole piece of wood and was named after its creator. The monk used fine burins, small knives and magnifying lens to sculpture 104 religious scenes and 650 small figures in the Christ. The work continued not less than 12 years and finished in 1802 – then the author lost his eyesight. The Rila monastery has turned into a cognitive, cultural and tour center, which has the task to educate the contemporaries and the future generations in a deep human spirit, to continue the life-work of the monastery, built by the Bulgarian saint Yoan Rilski. It has succeeded to preserve the spirit of Bulgarian history and has turned into a monument of great value and importance for the world culture. Not by chance it takes an important place in UNESCO’s list of world heritage. |
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