On 19 October, Bulgarians commemorate St Ivan Rilski, also known as St John of Rila, who is considered the country’s heavenly protector. He founded the Rila Monastery, which is the largest and most influential spiritual centre in Bulgaria.

• Ivan Rilski is the most beloved and revered Bulgarian saint

According to hagiographers, St John of Rila was born around 876 in the village of Skrino, near the present-day town of Dupnitsa, and lived mostly during the reign of Tsar Peter. Before taking his vows at the Boboshevo Monastery of St. Dimitar in the Vlahina Mountains, he was a herder. After receiving his spiritual education, he gave away all his possessions to the poor and fully embraced the monastic life.

• St. Ivan Rilski – the heavenly protector of Bulgaria

He spent his life in seclusion, fasting and praying, moving between various locations until finally settling in the sparsely inhabited Rila wilderness, home only to wild animals. There, with a few followers, he founded the Rila Monastery, which became a symbol of Bulgarian spirituality and enlightenment. Even during his lifetime, he gained a reputation as a healer and miracle worker, and because of his prayers for the sick and suffering, he was chosen as the patron saint of Bulgarian doctors.

The miraculous relics of the great Bulgarian saint, kept at the Rila Monastery, attract pilgrims from around the world, and the flow of worshippers shows no sign of abating. The monastery also preserves records of the many miracles he performed during his lifetime and after his death.

His Testament, addressed to his disciples and followers, is a vivid example of how Orthodox values should be upheld.

Today, the Rila Monastery is the largest stauropegic monastery in Bulgaria (overseen by the Bulgarian Patriarchate) and celebrates its patronal feast three times a year. 1 July commemorates the transfer of St. John of Rila’s relics to the monastery, 18 August marks his repose, and 19 October commemorates the transfer of his relics from Sredets to Tarnovo. These dates are observed with reverence in churches across the country.

• Rila Monastery safeguards the relics of Bulgaria’s heavenly protector St. Ivan Rilski

Numerous churches and monasteries have been built in his honour, and in Russia there is even a town named after him: Rilsk.