A great clamoring of bells, fierce masks and animal costumes scare away the death of winter and evil spirits with a Mummer's Festival in Bulgaria's Rhodope Mountains. This ancient Thracian tradition of Kukeri or Mummers rings forth in.....
Read More...In SEARCH OF RUSSIA
..people, history, religion, arts, sciences, food, the land, here is a very rich culture.
What will it feel like to be in Russia?
Read MoreRila Monastery: Part Three, Church of the Nativity
Feast your eyes; fill your soul. Rich images cover The Church of the Nativity, Rila Monastery, Bulgaria. The current church was started in 1835, replacing a smaller, Medieval church. Master painters worked together to layout the 1200 paintings and
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Exterior wall of Rila Monastery, Bulgaria. Photo © Evelyn Weliver
Rila Monastery: Part Two, Evolving
And so in the 10th century, John of Rila gave his blessing to Brother Gregory and a handful of monks to start Rila Monastery. ... Within a few centuries, this holy place designed to save men's souls would save their country's heritage.
Read MoreRila Monastery, Bulgaria: Part I, The Cave of St. John of Rila
The snow capped Rila Mountains welcome us into the historic, religious center of Bulgaria--Rila Monastery, the largest monastery in the Balkans. Even though it is hidden in the mountains, it has been overcome by bandits and Ottoman Turks, but
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