Kurilovsky Saint Ivan Rilski Monastery is located on the shore of the Iskar River, one kilometer north-east of Novi Iskar and 12 kilometers from the city of Sofia.
The monastery was founded in the period of the First Bulgarian Kingdom - in the IX-X centuries and is one of the oldest in the Sofia Eparchy. During the beginning of the Ottoman rule it was destroyed. In 1593 the monastery was restored with funds donated by the residents of the local villages - Kumaritsa, Trebic and Dobroslavtsi. At the same time the church was built, preserved to this day. The paintings in the church were painted by famous Bulgarian painter Pimen Zograf. At the beginning of the XX century in the monastery housed a printing center, specializing in the publication of Christian literature.
Currently acting Kurilovsky monastery complex consists of the church and residential buildings. From ancient monastery has survived only a temple - one-nave structure with one apse (semi-cylindrical shape in the extension of the altar) and two porches. Dimensions Church - 15 meters long and 5 meters wide 5. The building was reconstructed several times, reconstructed. Inside it frescoes belonging to different historical periods. Of particular interest are the surviving fragments of frescoes, painted by scenes from the Holy Scriptures: "Assumption of the Virgin", "The Last Supper", "Massacre of Bethlehem infants", "Washing of the Feet" and others. On the east wall is a picture of the patron of the church - St. John of Rila. Mural painting, dated 1596 year, is likely to belong to St. Pimen Sophia.
During the period of Ottoman rule the holy monastery was an important spiritual and religious center of the Sofia region. Today the monastery contains the monuments of Bulgarian culture - unique examples of manuscripts.
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