Rozhen Monastery
Rozhen is in no way comparable to Rila in terms of size or setting, but approaching the low-slung building there is not a tourist stall in sight. Enter and it is as if you've stepped into another world, a silent, serene place where nothing bad ever happens -- ironic, given how often the monastery has been pillaged since it was founded by Alexius Slav in 1220. Within the small courtyard, which is surrounded by a two-story timber structure, is the Church of the Birth of the Holy Virgin. Like Rila, it attracts pilgrims seeking miraculous answers to their prayers, all the while warning them about the consequences of sinning by means of a vivid mural depicting demons tossing fleeing sinners into the gaping mouth of the Serpent. While Rozhen is one of the smallest of Bulgaria's monasteries, it is in relatively good condition, with well-tended gardens and orchards, proof of how much it is loved by the monks. There is a strong sense here that this is very much a living monastery into which you are intruding as a tourist rather than a pilgrim, so be sensitive to noise levels. Also note that it is strictly forbidden to photograph the monks or the inside of the church.
Rozhen is in no way comparable to Rila in terms of size or setting, but approaching the low-slung building there is not a tourist stall in sight. Enter and it is as if you've stepped into another world, a silent, serene place where nothing bad ever happens -- ironic, given how often the monastery has been pillaged since it was founded by Alexius Slav in 1220. Within the small courtyard, which is surrounded by a two-story timber structure, is the Church of the Birth of the Holy Virgin. Like Rila, it attracts pilgrims seeking miraculous answers to their prayers, all the while warning them about the consequences of sinning by means of a vivid mural depicting demons tossing fleeing sinners into the gaping mouth of the Serpent. While Rozhen is one of the smallest of Bulgaria's monasteries, it is in relatively good condition, with well-tended gardens and orchards, proof of how much it is loved by the monks. There is a strong sense here that this is very much a living monastery into which you are intruding as a tourist rather than a pilgrim, so be sensitive to noise levels. Also note that it is strictly forbidden to photograph the monks or the inside of the church.
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