Cultural Tour to Rila Monastery

About the tour

The Conference organizers offer a pre-conference tour to Rila Monastery on Wednesday, 10 June 2015, from 09:00 to 16:00.

Tour details:

1. The tour is not included in the conference registration fee and additional payment is required.
2. The payment for the tour is 35 euros a person.
3. The payment includes:
   • Bus transport Sofia – Rila Monastery – Sofia;
   • Museum tickets in the monastery;
   • English guide;
   • Lunch.

4. The payment is in cash to the travel agency before the trip.

5. Participants, who want to join the tour, should inform the organizers at [email protected]

About Rila Monastery

Rila Monastery was founded in the 10th century by St John of Rila, a hermit canonized by the Orthodox Church. His ascetic dwelling and tomb became a holy site and were transformed into a monastic complex which played an important role in the spiritual and social life of medieval Bulgaria. Destroyed by fire at the beginning of the 19th century, the complex was rebuilt between 1834 and 1862. A characteristic example of the Bulgarian Renaissance (18th–19th centuries), the monument symbolizes the awareness of a Slavic cultural identity following centuries of occupation.

In its complicated ten-century history the Rila monastery has been the hub of a strong spiritual and artistic influence over the Eastern Orthodox world during medieval times (11th-14th c.). Under Ottoman rule (1400-1878) the monastery influenced the development of the culture and the arts of all Christian nations within the Ottoman Empire. With its architecture, frescos etc. it represents a masterpiece of the creative genius of the Bulgarian people.

Rila Monastery is the most important spiritual and literary center of the Bulgarian national revival, with an uninterrupted history from the Middle Ages until present times.