NEWS /1076 years from the Dormition of St. John of Rila
Today we mark the 1076th anniversary of the Dormition of Saint John of Rila.
Every year in the Rila Holy Monastery, this bright holiday is celebrated with an all-night vigil and a bishop's holy liturgy. Hundreds of Orthodox Christians from different parts of the country arrive at the monastery to bow before the Rila saint.
St. Ioan of Rila is revered as the greatest Bulgarian saint, the heavenly patron of Bulgaria, and the intercessor of our people before God.
On this day, the monastery - the largest and most revered Bulgarian shrine, which also gave its name to the "Rila Monastery" Nature Park - celebrates its holiday.
Saint Ivan Rilski was born in 876 in the village of Skrino, Dupnitsa. He died on August 18, 946 at the age of 70.
His earthly path passes through the time of Prince Boris and his son Vladimir, of Tsar Simeon and his son Peter - a time of widespread Christianity in Bulgaria.
During his lifetime he chose the difficult path of the hermitage. His days are spent in fasting and prayer. Before he left this world, St. Ivan wrote a covenant to his disciples and the whole nation, which still sounds instructive today.
After his death, his disciples carried his mortal remains from the Rila Monastery to the ancient Sredets.
In 1183, the relics were taken to Hungary, but soon after they were returned again. In 1195, King Asen I solemnly transferred the relics of St. Ivan Rilski to Tarnovo, where they remained for almost three centuries. In 1469, the relic was returned to the Rila Monastery.
The photo is from https://rilskimanastir.org/