Father Ivan Rilski

Bulgarian Orthodox monk and founder of the Rila Monastery

Father Ivan Rilski was a Bulgarian Orthodox monk and the founder of the Rila Monastery. He was born in 876 AD and spent his life studying and practicing Eastern Orthodox spirituality. Father Ivan is considered one of the most important figures in Bulgarian Orthodox history and is still revered as a saint today. He is also the namesake of the Rila Monastery, which is one of the most famous monasteries in Bulgaria.