St. Ivan Rilski (around 876 – 18 August 946)

St. Ivan Rilski was born sometime around 876 in the village of Skrino. He lived during the ruling of prince Boris (852-889) and his son Vladimir, as well as Simeon the Great and his son king Peter. Until he turned 25, he was a herd. But his inmost wish ever since he was a youth was to devote his life to God and to become a monk. First, he went to the nearby monastery of St. Dimitri, situated under the Ruen summit. He became a monk, but did not stay in this monastery for too long, but indulged into full solitude, prayer, fast, and destitution. St. Ivan Rilski lived in many places before he finally settled in the Rila cloister, where he spent the rest of his life. There, he founded the Rila monastery, which still exists nowadays. Throughout his lifetime and after his death, he did many wonders. Shortly before his death, he wrote his famous Testament with exhortations to his followers. He died alone, aged 70, on August 18 946. He was buried in the small church in the Rila monastery, in a stone tomb, which has been preserved and still exists. St. Ivan Rilski is among the eminent personalities of medieval Bulgaria and the most honored Bulgarian saint. He is the traditional patron of Bulgarian miners, therefore August 18 is celebrated as the day of Bulgarian miners.