Podcast in English
Text size
Bulgarian National Radio © 2024 All Rights Reserved

Bulgarian Orthodox Church marks Dormition of St. John of Rila

Photo: archive

The Bulgarian Orthodox Church marks today the Dormition of St. John of Rila (Ivan Rilski), patron saint of Bulgaria and the Bulgarian People. St. John of Rila was born around 876 in the village of Skrino located at the foot of the Osogovo Mountain. He was a contemporary of the reign of Knyaz Boris I and his son Vladimir, Tsar Simeon I the Great and his son Tsar Peter I, when Christianity was spreading across Bulgaria. 

At the age of 25, St. John of Rila became a priest at St Demetrius monastery located under Ruen peak. After accepting the life of a monk, he left the monastery in order to continue his life in solitude and prayer. Later he settled in Rila and founded the Rila Monastery. He died in 946 and was buried in the small church in the Rila Monastery. St. John of Rila was canonized around 980.




Последвайте ни и в Google News Showcase, за да научите най-важното от деня!
Listen to the daily news from Bulgaria presented in "Bulgaria Today" podcast, available in Spotify.

More from category

The Kazanlak Thracian tomb was discovered 80 years ago

"Man does not know the way to heaven, but the horse does," says an ancient Thracian proverb. That is why the Thracian kings were necessarily sent to the afterlife together with their horses. Because of the numerous burial mounds of rulers from the..

published on 4/19/24 4:35 AM

New technologies recreate the Battle of Tutrakan

An innovative museum site opens its doors in the military cemetery near Tutrakan. The "Tutrakan Epopee - 1916" memorial is situated in a new museum-exhibition building. It includes a number of new technologies that immerse the visitor..

published on 4/18/24 1:15 PM

80 years since the last bombing of Sofia

The last and most destructive bombing of Sofia during World War II took place on April 17, 80 years ago. In 1944, on April 17 at noon, 350 American bombers, accompanied by Thunderbolt and Mustang fighters, dropped 2,500 bombs on..

published on 4/17/24 1:26 PM