The Kurilo Monastery St. Ivan Rilski

The Kurilo Monastery St. Ivan Rilski is situated at the beginning of the Iskar Gorge, on the right bank of Iskar River, 15 km away from Sofia. It was founded in 9-10th century, near the old Bulgarian fortress Beligrad. The Monastery is one of the oldest in the Sofia Eparchy. In 15th century – the beginning of the Ottoman slavery, it was destroyed. The Kurilo Monastery was rebuilt by monks in 1593 and was painted by Pimen Zografski Sofiyski in 1596. Today you can see the pictures of the Virgin Mary, Jesus Christ, John the Baptist, Constantine and Elena, the scenes – the New-testament Trinity and the Slaughter of the Infants. The small church has one-hall, measurements - 15 x 5,5 meters. Аccording to the legend, the relics of St. Ivan Rilski stayed there for a while during their transportation from Tarnovo to the Rila Monastery in 1469. In the beginning of the 20th century the monastery was in its prime, and there were 40 nuns in it. During the same period, a printing-press for Christian literature was operating there. The monastery was declared a monument of the culture.