On August 18, Orthodox Christians celebrate the feast of one of the most respected and revered Bulgarian saints - the famous miracle worker Ivan (John) Rilski. In numerous churches dedicated to this saint, solemn services are held, and thousands of pilgrims come to the Rila Monastery to pray before the ancient icons and venerate the miraculous relics of the saint.
According to historians, St. Ivan Rilsky was born around 876 in the village of Skrino in the Dupnitsa region of Bulgaria and died on August 18, 946. At the age of 25, he took monastic tonsure and devoted his life completely to divine service. The most active years of his religious activity took place during the reign of the Bulgarian Tsar Peter the Great (927-969). During this period, the monk retired from the world and began to live as a hermit in one of the caves in Mount Rila.
Spending his days in spiritual deed, fasting and prayers, the saint did not forget about the secular inhabitants. He founded a monastery in the vicinity of Mount Rila and performed many miracles, helping the locals and healing them. According to legend, the spiritual strength of St. Ivan Rilsky was so powerful that he could understand the language of wild animals and birds, which themselves came and flew to him, could influence the weather and thoughts of people. His glory of the great healer and miracle worker was so great that he even made Tsar Peter I himself come to the saint for help.
After the death of St. Ivan Rilski was buried in the monastery he founded (Rila Monastery) in the vicinity of Rila, which exists to this day. On the day of St. Ivan Rilski, pilgrims come to the monastery not only from all regions of Bulgaria, but also from abroad. On this holiday, pilgrims can visit the cave in Mount Rila, where the saint lived, with monks, come to the solemn service and pray in front of ancient icons preserved from the time of his life. The pilgrims can also venerate the miraculous relics of the saint, carefully preserved in the monastery.
In addition to the Rila Monastery, festive services are held in numerous churches and temples erected in honor of the holy miracle worker. Today, St. Ivan Rilsky is widely revered not only in Bulgaria, where he is one of the most important and beloved national saints, but also on the entire Balkan Peninsula and in Russia. He is addressed with prayers for healing, for family well-being, for spiritual cleansing and enlightenment.
