Rila Monastery Sights

  1. Church of Rozhdestvo Bogorodichno

    Within the monastery's walls, four levels of colourful balconies - with monastic cells, storerooms, a refectory and kitchen - surround the large courtyard, where stands the magnificent Church of Rozhdestvo Bogorodichno, Bulgaria's grandest monastery church. Built between 1834 and 1837, the structure is crowned by three great domes.

    Read more about Church of Rozhdestvo Bogorodichno

  2. Ethnographic Museum

    Beside the Samokov gate at the northeast of the monastic compound is the Ethnographic Museum, displaying regional folk costumes, textiles and crafts. Again, labelling is Bulgarian-only.

    Read more about Ethnographic Museum

  3. Museum

    After the church, see the museum , in the compound's southeastern corner. Its collected 18th- and 19th-century ecclesiastical paraphernalia, prints and Bibles is punctuated by the astonishing Rila Cross, a double-sided crucifix carved over a 12-year period by a certain Brother Raphael, between 1790 and 1802. It's incised in miniature with 140 biblical scenes and inscriptions, and about 650 human figures.

    Read more about Museum