“Father’s Day”. The Feast of St. John of Rila, Bulgaria’s Heavenly Patron, in Rila Monastery

A Photo Gallery

The most venerated Bulgarian saint, the heavenly protector of Bulgaria—St. John of Rila—lived in the ninth to tenth centuries. He spent the last twelve years of his life in the high hills of Rila in a tiny cave, but despite his solitude he became the founder of a great monastic brotherhood that would become the most important spiritual center in Bulgaria.

In Russia, St. John of Rila became especially honored because he was the patron saint of the beloved St. John of Krondstadt. In the year 1900, on the banks of the Karpovka River in St. Petersburg, St. John of Kronstadt founded the St. John of Rila Convent dedicated to his heavenly patron.

St. Seraphim (Sobolev) called St. John of Rila the “Glory and beauty of the Bulgarian Church”. St. Seraphim composed an Akathist to the saint, and often visited the holy places associated with him. He always called upon his flock to sacredly fulfil St. John’s commandments, the first of which is to “preserve the holy Faith pure and untouched by any evil thoughts, just as you received it from your holy fathers, and without falling prey to foreign and different teachings.”

The Bulgarian Orthodox Church dedicates three days out of every year to St. John of Rila, but this day in autumn, October 19/November 1 has become the main one and is called “Father’s Day”—the day of all Bulgaria’s heavenly protector. It is especially celebrated in the holy Rila Monastery of St. John.

Mosaic of the St. John of Rila Monastery in St. Petersburg, Russia

Mosaic of the St. John of Rila Monastery in St. Petersburg, Russia

Church of the Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos in Rila Monastery, Bulgaria

Church of the Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos in Rila Monastery, Bulgaria

Храм Church of the Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos in Rila Monastery, Bulgaria

Храм Church of the Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos in Rila Monastery, Bulgaria

Rila Monastery, brother’s quarters

Rila Monastery, brother’s quarters

Rila Monastery, All-Night Vigil on the eve of the feast of St. John of Rila. October 18–19, 2022

Rila Monastery, All-Night Vigil on the eve of the feast of St. John of Rila. October 18–19, 2022

Church of the Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos. Liturgy on “Father’s Day”

Church of the Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos. Liturgy on “Father’s Day”

Cross procession after the Liturgy on the feast of St. John of Rila, October 18–19, 2022

Cross procession after the Liturgy on the feast of St. John of Rila, October 18–19, 2022

Cross procession after the Liturgy on the feast of St. John of Rila, October 18–19, 2022

Cross procession after the Liturgy on the feast of St. John of Rila, October 18–19, 2022

Cross procession after the Liturgy on the feast of St. John of Rila, October 18–19, 2022

Cross procession after the Liturgy on the feast of St. John of Rila, October 18–19, 2022

Cross procession after the Liturgy on the feast of St. John of Rila, October 18–19, 2022

Cross procession after the Liturgy on the feast of St. John of Rila, October 18–19, 2022

Cross procession after the Liturgy on the feast of St. John of Rila, October 18–19, 2022

Cross procession after the Liturgy on the feast of St. John of Rila, October 18–19, 2022

Cross procession after the Liturgy on the feast of St. John of Rila, October 18–19, 2022

Cross procession after the Liturgy on the feast of St. John of Rila, October 18–19, 2022

Cross procession after the Liturgy on the feast of St. John of Rila, October 18–19, 2022

Cross procession after the Liturgy on the feast of St. John of Rila, October 18–19, 2022

Cross procession after the Liturgy on the feast of St. John of Rila, October 18–19, 2022

Cross procession after the Liturgy on the feast of St. John of Rila, October 18–19, 2022

Cross procession after the Liturgy on the feast of St. John of Rila, October 18–19, 2022

Cross procession after the Liturgy on the feast of St. John of Rila, October 18–19, 2022

Cross procession after the Liturgy on the feast of St. John of Rila, October 18–19, 2022

Cross procession after the Liturgy on the feast of St. John of Rila, October 18–19, 2022

Rila Monastery

Rila Monastery

Rila Monastery

Rila Monastery

Rila Monastery

Rila Monastery

Rila Monastery

Rila Monastery

Rila Monastery

Rila Monastery

Brothers’ quarters

Brothers’ quarters

Rila Monastery

Rila Monastery

Paraclesis (chapel) of the Archangel Michael Cathedral

Paraclesis (chapel) of the Archangel Michael Cathedral

Brothers’ quarters

Brothers’ quarters

Brothers’ quarters

Brothers’ quarters

Brothers’ quarters

Brothers’ quarters

Spring in the monastery courtyard

Spring in the monastery courtyard

Fresco of St. John of Rila in the gallery of the Church of the Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos

Fresco of St. John of Rila in the gallery of the Church of the Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos

Frescoes of St. John of Rila in the gallery of the Church of the Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos

Frescoes of St. John of Rila in the gallery of the Church of the Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos

The Baptism of the Lord. Fresco of St. John of Rila in the gallery of the Church of the Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos

The Baptism of the Lord. Fresco of St. John of Rila in the gallery of the Church of the Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos

Frescoes of St. John of Rila in the gallery of the Church of the Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos

Frescoes of St. John of Rila in the gallery of the Church of the Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos

Frescoes of St. John of Rila in the gallery of the Church of the Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos

Frescoes of St. John of Rila in the gallery of the Church of the Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos

Frescoes of St. John of Rila in the gallery of the Church of the Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos

Frescoes of St. John of Rila in the gallery of the Church of the Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos

Frescoes of St. John of Rila in the gallery of the Church of the Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos

Frescoes of St. John of Rila in the gallery of the Church of the Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos

Frescoes of St. John of Rila in the gallery of the Church of the Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos

Frescoes of St. John of Rila in the gallery of the Church of the Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos

Frescoes of St. John of Rila in the gallery of the Church of the Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos

Frescoes of St. John of Rila in the gallery of the Church of the Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos

Frescoes of St. John of Rila in the gallery of the Church of the Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos

Frescoes of St. John of Rila in the gallery of the Church of the Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos

Window on the Church of the Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos

Window on the Church of the Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos

Fountain in the gallery of the Church of the Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos

Fountain in the gallery of the Church of the Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos

A monk of the monastery calls all to services

A monk of the monastery calls all to services

In the Church-historical museum of Rila Monastery. The cross of St. Raphael (early 9th century)

In the Church-historical museum of Rila Monastery. The cross of St. Raphael (early 9th century)

Khrelev Tower (14th c.)

Khrelev Tower (14th c.)

Khrelev Tower (14th c.)

Khrelev Tower (14th c.)

Khrelev Tower (14th c.)

Khrelev Tower (14th c.)

Southern entrance to the monastery

Southern entrance to the monastery

Fragment of a wall painting over the southern entrance to the monastery

Fragment of a wall painting over the southern entrance to the monastery

Fragment of a wall painting over the northern entrance to the monastery

Fragment of a wall painting over the northern entrance to the monastery

Monastery cemetery

Monastery cemetery

Monastery ossuary

Monastery ossuary

Road from the monastery to the cave of St. John of Rila

Road from the monastery to the cave of St. John of Rila

Icon of St. John at the path to his cave

Icon of St. John at the path to his cave

Church at the cave of St. John of Rila

Church at the cave of St. John of Rila

Entrance to the cave

Entrance to the cave

Prayer requests to St. John at his cave

Prayer requests to St. John at his cave

Entrance to the cave of St. John

Entrance to the cave of St. John

Exit from the cave of St. John

Exit from the cave of St. John

The cliff on which St. John of Rila prayed

The cliff on which St. John of Rila prayed

The holy well at the cave

The holy well at the cave

Fresco of St. John of Rila over the southern entrance to the monastery

Fresco of St. John of Rila over the southern entrance to the monastery

Troparion to St. John by the path to his cave

Troparion to St. John by the path to his cave

The hills of Rila

The hills of Rila

Archival Photo of Archbishop Seraphim (Sobolev) at the exit from the cave of St. John of Rila

Archival Photo of Archbishop Seraphim (Sobolev) at the exit from the cave of St. John of Rila

Photographs by Yanina Alexeyeva, Bulgaria

1 ноября 2022 г.

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