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 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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