On the occasion of the 40th anniversary of the entry of the Rila Monastery into the World Heritage List, in the period from April 24 to 28, 2023, a photo exhibition titled "The Heart of Bulgaria" is presented at the UNESCO headquarters in Paris...
Forget the coast and its hordes of tourists - inland Bulgaria is home to hillside monasteries, dazzling lakes and charming cities. That's what freelance journalist Charlie Kitcat writes for the British tabloid "The Daily Mail" . His journey in Bulgaria..
On the eve of the feast of the heavenly patron of Bulgaria, St. John of Rila (Ivan Rilski), hundreds of Orthodox Christians head to the monastery established by him in the heart of Rila Mountain for an all-night vigil. According to tradition,..
On 18 August the Bulgarian Orthodox church marks the Assumption of St. John (Yoan) of Rila, the most revered Bulgarian saint, protector of Bulgaria, also called the miracle-worker of Rila. John of Rila is one of the most prominent figures of the..
“He who wants to be first amongst you, let him be the servant of all.” According to legend, that was the advice St. Ivan of Rila gave Tsar Peter while politely declining the royal gifts he had brought. The hermit monk set a personal example – tearing..
The national pilgrimage marking the return of the relics of St. John of Rila from the town of Veliko Tarnovo to the Rila Monastery has begun. The route connecting the old Bulgarian capital and the Rila Monastery is 700 kilometers long and crosses..
More than 80 firefighters, forestry workers and Rila Nature Park staff have been fighting to put out two fires covering some 50 hectares of land . One of the fires in the higher reaches of the mountain has been localized. The other fire is under..
High electricity prices spurred rolling heating outages at the Rila Monastery. The monastery uses industrial electricity . Its electricity bill for December last year amounted to EUR 14,000, which was three times more as compared to the same period..
Bulgaria was elected a member of the World Heritage Committee at the session of the General Conference of UNESCO held in Paris. The World Heritage Committee meets once a year, an consists of representatives of 21 of the States Parties from the..
On the day when the Bulgarian Orthodox Church venerates the memory of the heavenly patron of Bulgaria, St. Ivan Rilski (John of Rila) the Wonderworker , medical professionals in Bulgaria celebrate their holiday. It has been celebrated for 25..
