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RILA MONASTERY, BULGARIA
Rila, Bulgaria’s largest and most famous monastery, blends into a narrow valley 119 km south of Sofia. Rila was founded by Ivan Rilski in 927 as a colony of hermits and in 1335 the monastery was moved 3 km to its present location. Hrelyu’s Tower, the clock tower beside the church is all that remains from this early period. By the end of the 14th century, Rila Monastery had become a powerful symbol of Bulgaria and it contributed in keeping the country’s culture alive during the dark age of Turkish rule from the 15th to the 19th century.
Following a fire in 1833 which destroyed much of the site, the monastery was re-built on an even grander scale, with the present church being built between 1834 and 1837.
JOHN QUINN
DECEMBER 2010 |
