"Rila Monastery Crosses" - Rila Monastery, Bulgaria The Rila Monastery sits in a cool wooded valley only a few hours south of Bulgaria's capital Sofia. Its construction spanned the first half of the 19th century, but the monaster'Ys history goes all the way back to its foundation in 927 AD. Pictured here are the domes of the church, built between 1834 and 1837. monastery, Sofia, domes, church, crosses < Back to Gallery | More photos from Bulgaria