Rila Monastery is the largest and most famous Eastern Orthodox monastery in Bulgaria. Founded in the 10th century, the Rila Monastery is regarded as one of Bulgaria's most important cultural, historical and architectural monuments. [Wikipedia]
One of the oldest buildings in the complex is the Tower of Hrelja which dates from 1334–1335.
The main church of the monastery was erected in the middle of the 19th century and its frescoes were finished in 1846.
No photography is allowed in the church so the next four pictures are from postcards.
The museum of the Rila Monastery is particularly famous for housing Rafail's Cross, a wooden cross made from a whole piece of wood (81×43 cm). It was whittled down by a monk named Rafail using fine burins and magnifying lenses to recreate 104 religious scenes and 650 miniature figures. Work on this piece of art lasted not less than 12 years before it was completed in 1802, when the monk lost his sight. [Wikipedia] It was astounding.
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