Rila Monastery, World Heritage Site in Bulgaria

The monastery in Rila, a town surrounded by mountains in southwestern Bulgaria, was founded in the 10th century by Ioan of Rila. Eventually the monastery was visited by many pilgrims, and although it was destroyed by fire in the 19th century, it was soon rebuilt. The monastery itself is valued for its Bulgarian identity.

Here, a World Heritage enthusiast explains why the Rila Monastery is a World Heritage Site in an easy-to-understand manner. Read this and you will definitely learn more about Rila Monastery!

What is the Rila Monastery?

Rila is a small town located in the Rila Mountains in southwestern Bulgaria. The monastery is located about 20 km from this town and attracts many pilgrims.

The origin of the monastery was originally founded in the 10th century by a saint named Ioan of Rila, who led an ascetic life here and founded it for his students. Eventually, in the 11th-14th centuries, it became a place of pilgrimage for many, and the place flourished as the cultural center of Bulgaria. The monastery existed even during the Ottoman rule, and even though it was sometimes destroyed, the frescoes and other paintings inside were preserved and kept the Bulgarian culture alive.

Most of the current monasteries were rebuilt in the 19th century, so they are not old structures, but they are masterpieces of the craftsmanship of the Balkan Peninsula at that time.

The main registered monasteries are

Cathedral

Almost destroyed by fire in the 19th century, what you see today is a rebuilt version: a large cathedral with five domes and three altars. And there are frescoes all over the ceiling and walls, which were painted by famous artists of the time from various places.

Hrelyo’s Tower

The monastery has been destroyed many times, each time rebuilt and restored, and in the 14th century it was rebuilt by a lord named Hrelyo Dragovola. In the 19th century, most of the buildings were destroyed by fire, and the only thing left standing of the monastery before that time is Hrelyo’s Tower. The bell tower was then added in the 19th century.

For what reason is the Rila Monastery on the World Heritage List?

Rila Monastery was recognized for the following

Registration Criteria (vi)
The point is that the monastery, which can be said to “preserve” Bulgaria’s history with its icons and crosses, became their symbol during the Bulgarian cultural revival in the 19th century.

Conclusions and Thoughts of a World Heritage Maniac

Actually, the Rila Monastery is valued more as a symbol of Bulgarian culture than as an architectural structure itself.In the 19th century, when Bulgaria was ruled by the Ottoman Empire, nationalism was on the rise, and the Bulgarian people saw the Rila Monastery as a symbol of their identity. The monastery was a spiritual center for the Bulgarian people, with icons and books written in the Bulgarian language.

Incidentally, the monastery’s lodgings can also be used as a hotel.Tourists can only visit from morning to evening, but it is a wonderful way to experience the monastery in the early morning….However, do not expect hotel-like facilities as the rooms are modest due to the monastery’s lodging.

*The contents here are considerations derived from the research of a World Heritage enthusiast. As for the data, interpretation differs depending on the medium.