Eastern and Central Europe (Eyewitness Travel Guides)

BULGARIA 613

Grave of

Tsar Boris

The heart of Tsar Boris

III, who was allegedly

poi soned by the Nazis

in 1943 for saving

Bulgarian Jews, is

buried here.

. Iconostasis
This masterpiece was created by
a team of woodcarvers working
under Atanas Telador between
1839 and 1842. The 10-m (33-ft)
wide iconostasis, covered in gold
leaf, is elaborately decor ated with
complex carvings of stylized floral
elements, symbolic human and
animal images, biblical scenes
and wild animals.
. Holy Relic
of St Ivan
A silver casket holds the
nation’s holiest relic:
the preserved left hand
of St Ivan of Rila. In the
16th century, the right
hand was taken on
a tour of Russia
to raise funds for
the monastery.

STAR FEATURES

. Murals
. Holy Relic of St Ivan
. Iconostasis

ST IVAN OF RILA

The medieval hermit St Ivan of

Rila (880–946) retreated into the

Rila Mountains to escape what he

believed to be the moral decline of

society. He was venerated both for

his wisdom and as a healer, and

was persuaded by his followers to

establish a monastery. After his death,

pilgrims came to view his remains,

which were believed to possess

curative powers.

The three main

cupolas contain murals

of the Holy Trinity

St Ivan of Rila, patron

saint of Bulgaria

VISITORS’ CHECKLIST

119 km (74 miles) S of Sofia.

Tel (359) 7054 2208. @ from

Sofia. ª from Sofia. # 7am–

10pm daily. & 8 ^ in main

church. 5 6am & 5pm Mon–

Fri, 8am & 6pm Sat, Sun &

public hols. 0 - = _

Easter (Mar–Apr), Feast Day of St

Ivan of Rila (19 Oct). ® http://www.

rilamonastery.pmg-blg.com