Bulgarian treasures, churches and monasteries by Lili and Elena

THE RILA MONASTERY

The Monastery of Saint John of Rila, better known as the Rila Monastery is the largest and most famous Eastern Orthodox monastery in Bulgaria. It is situated in the northwestern Rila Mountains, 117 km south of the capital Sofia in the deep valley of the Rilska River. Founded in the 10th century, the Rila Monastery is regarded as one of Bulgaria's most important cultural, historical and architectural monuments.

Bachkovo Monastery in Bulgaria is an important monument of Christian architecture and one of the largest and oldest Eastern monasteries in Europe. It is located on the right bank of the Chepelare river, 189 km from Sofia-the capital of Bulgaria. The monastery is known and appreciated for the unique combination of Byzantine, Georgian and Bulgarian culture.

• Troyan Monastery is the third largest monastery in Bulgaria. It is located in the northern part of the country and was founded no later than the end of the 16th centyry.The monastery is situated on the banks of the Cherni osam near Oreshak and is a popular tourist destination.

• The Boyana Church was built in three stages. The oldest section is a small one. It was built in the late 10th and early 11th century.The second section- mid-13th century. The exterior is decorated with ceramic ornaments.The last section was built on donations from the local community in the mid-19th century. 

St.Alexander Nevsky Cathedral is a Bulgarian Orthodoxcathedral in Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria. The cathedral's gold-plated dome is 45 m.high, with the bell tower reaching 50.52 m. The temple has 12 bells with total

weight of 23 tons.