Ivan Rilski

Patron Saint of Bulgaria. Born in Skrino, at the foot of the Osogovo mountain, John Rilski came from humble origins. A shepherd in his early days until becoming a monk in the monastery of Saint Demetrius on the slopes of the Ruen mountain, seeking a life of isolation and prayer, he left the monastery, moving from one place to another until settling himself on the Rila mountains. Despite the life of seclusion he led, he soon became known as "the wonder worker" by the locals with many seeking his advice and intercession. Numerous disciples desiring to share the same heremitical vocation soon followed, which move soon led to the construction of the famous Rila Monastery, a present day UNESCO World Heritage Site, regarded as one of Bulgaria's most important cultural, historical and architectural monuments. Ivan died around the year 946 and to this day is revered as the patron saint of the Bulgarians and as one of the most important saints in the Bulgarian Orthodox Church. His commemoration is held twice annually, on August 18 and October 19. On July 1, 1469, his remains, held since his death in Sofia and later in Esztergom, were returned to the Rila monastery, where they remain to this day.