Bulgarian Orthodox Church commemorates Saint Ivan of Rila

On October 19, the Bulgarian Orthodox Church commemorates St. Ivan Rilski (St. Ivan of Rila), the miracle maker, honoured as the patron saint of the Bulgarian people and as one of the most important saints in the Bulgarian Orthodox Church.

The name of the greatest Bulgarian saint is related to many miracles both in his life and after his death. It is for this reason that the Bulgarian doctors have chosen the saint as their patron saint. Therefore, as part of the tradition, Doctor of the Year Award is presented every year on October 19.

Saint Ivan of Rila is traditionally regarded as the founder of the Rila Monastery, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of Bulgaria's most important cultural, historical and architectural monuments.

Saint Ivan of Rila was born app. 876 a.c. in Skrino, at the foot of the Osogovo Mountain, close to the town of Dupnitsa, South-Western Bulgaria.

Originally a herder, at the age of 25, Saint Ivan of Rila became a priest in the "St. Dimitrii" monastery located under Ruen peak (Osogovo mountain). After accepting the life of a monk, he left the monastery in order to continue his life in solitude and prayer.

Saint Ivan of Rila lived in isolation in various locations before going to the Rila Mountains. There he spent the rest of his life in prayer and deprived himself of an everyday life by settling in the uncomfortable conditions of the caves in the Rila mountains.

According to the legend, Saint Ivan of Rila was known to have performed a multitude of miracles in order to help the people.

Word of the miracles he performed reached the then capital of the Bulgarian Empire - Great Preslav. Tsar Peter I (son of tsar Simeon the Great) travelled all the way of 440 km to the Rila Mountains in order to meet St. Ivan and seek spiritual advice. Their meeting is described in detail in one the hagiologies of St. Ivan as well as in the Testament of the saint itself.

As the medieval hagiologies point out, St. Ivan of Rila refused to meet the tsar in person to avoid the temptation of vanity and pride due to the extraordinary visit. As such, the two men only bowed to each other from a distance. The emperor sent a soldier to deliver the gifts that were brought for the saint. St Ivan of Rila kept only the fruit and returned all of the gold and precious gifts, advising the tsar that monarchs need gold in order to protect the country and help the poor.

Shortly after the saint's death, his remains, which were thought to have wonder-working powers, were transferred to Sofia during the reign of tsar Peter I.

During one of the Hungarian-Byzantine wars, King Béla III conquered Sofia in 1183 and the remains were sent to the Hungarian capital Esztergom and remained there for four years. Impressed, but also worried about the miracles the relics created there, the Hungarians returned them to Serdica (now Sofia).

In 1194, Bulgarian Tsar Ivan Asen I ordered the relics to be moved to his capital, Veliko Tarnovo.

In 1469 the saint's relics were returned to Rila Monastery.

Чуйте последните новини, където и да сте!
Последвайте ни във Facebook и Instagram
Следете и канала на БНТ в YouTube
Вече може да ни гледате и в TikTok
Намерете ни в Google News