Rila Monastery – Bulgaria

In the morning after a very peaceful night we drove the windy, steep and narrow road back down the hill to the main road. We were trying to avoid the tour busses that would be coming up the hill and with the road being so narrow it would be difficult to pass each other. We were in luck and had a smooth run to the road leading to the Rila Monastery. By mid morning we were in the car park of the monastery after paying the attendant for the privilege. Being a sunday and school holidays  it was very busy and our thoughts of staying in the monastery car park overnight were dismissed. It was a very interesting place to visit with pictures painted on walls and ceilings. Many of the pictures were of heaven and on the lower levels there were graphic depiction of what  hell could be like. In the church there was a service going on with a priest reading from a book while people were being quiet and many were kneeling. After he spoke they all lined up and in turn kissed a small coffin with a glass lid. I was to find out later that it was the relics of St. Ivan Of Rila who had established the monastery.  While this was going on other monks were singing and chanting which resonated through the small church. Many candles were being lit and placed in several holders which a monk spent most of his time rearranging , straightening bent candles and throwing away the spent ones. Other people were buying beads on a string and going over to a priest who after putting on a different hat,sprinkled water over them while chanting. He then returned the beads after receiving payment for doing so. Many people were carrying leaves which I was told that they take them home for good health. While all this was going on women with trays of bread rolls were distributing them to the people. I sat in the church for quite a while watching all this going on and trying to make sense of it all.

The monastery was very fascinating both the buildings and the activities that were happening all around.  In the carpark after leaving we met a Canadian couple Penny and Carmen who were also traveling Europe in a motorhome. They left theirs in Germany with friends and came back every year to  explore different places. They also have a motorhome in Canada which they use to drive to Mexico and Central America in the winter. We chatted for over an hour exchanging information and travel stories.

On the way back we stopped to have lunch next to a river, being warm I went for a dip to cool off and wash away the sweat. The water was very clear and fast flowing and yes very cold.

The afternoon was spent driving to the border to the next country Macedonia.