FamxplorCave of Saint John of Rila
What to expect
The Monastery of Saint John of Rila, also known as Rila Monastery, is the largest and most famous Eastern Orthodox monastery in Bulgaria. It is situated in the southwestern Rila Mountains and is a popular pilgrimage site for many Orthodox Christians. The monastery is named after its founder, the hermit Saint Ivan of Rila, and houses approximately 60 monks. It is a key tourist attraction for both Bulgaria and Southern Europe for religious tourists, attracting 900,000 visitors in 2008 alone. The monastery complex is regarded as one of the foremost masterpieces of Bulgarian National Revival architecture and is a national historical monument
Plan your family visit to the Cave of Saint John of Rila with these blog insights 👇
A day in the holy lands of Rila - Rila Monastery and the Cave of Saint John
Activities: We hiked to the cave of Saint John of Rila, where he spent 7 years in seclusion. We walked through the cave and crawled through the 'Holy Hole', seeking purification. We left a prayer note on the prayer rock
Highlights: My son loved the cave, especially crawling through the 'Holy Hole'. We all enjoyed the beautiful forest trail leading to the cave and the peaceful atmosphere ✨