Day 390: A Monk's Life

Post from Tim:

The Rila Monastery's cool alpine location and colorful buildings make it a popular tourist destination on the weekends. I visited on a Sunday and despite the hordes of other visitors making noise around me, I still sensed the underlying solitude in the fresh mountain air that drew monks to this location over 1000 years ago.

The monastery's four levels of rooms (300 plus) surround an ornate domed church housing hundreds of frescos. The whimsical architecture and patterns reminded me of an MC Escher drawing of real-life proportions.

As soon as I arrived, I regretted my decision to visit as a day trip from Sophia. I'd spent over six hours travelling to spend only 90 minutes here, while I could have spent the night in a monastery room with attached bath for only $10 a night. I pictured the quiet scene after dark, with most of the people gone and the chilly air cooled down even farther. Like the monks before me, I'd search for peace in a simple room with rough hewn floors and a simple bed. Maybe next time.

Photos From This Location

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.
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.
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.
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.
A priest walks with three men while gazing toward the courtyard of the Rila Monastery. 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.
A priest walks with three men while gazing toward the courtyard of the Rila Monastery. 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.

Related