A cultural programme will help familiarise participants in the 2009 ELIA Teachers' Academy with the creative and cultural aspects of Sofia. This programme will include a visit to the Rila Monastery.
Once a centre of Orthodox culture and education, the Rila Monastery is an impressive monument to Bulgaria’s medieval past as well as to the architecture and painting of the Bulgarian National Revival. The Rila Monastery was founded in the 10th century by St. Ivan Rilski, a Bulgarian hermit whom the Orthodox populace of that era also respected as a healer. The monastery complex is quadrangular in form, encompassing a total area of 8800 square metres. Both the Hrelyova Tower (built in 1335) and the main monastery church (“The Birth of the Virgin Mary” – built 1834–1837) are situated in the spacious churchyard. There are over 300 monastic cells and four chapels in the four-storey residential wings. The monastery’s walls and ceilings are richly painted. Many talented builders, icon-painters and woodcarvers of the Bulgarian National Revival took part in creating the decoration of the monastery, including Zahariy Zograf, Stanislav Dospevski and Hristo Dimitrov. In the 15th century, Rila Monastery was one of the most important Bulgarian educational centres. The monastery complex was proclaimed a national historical monument in 1961 and became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983.
For more detailed information about the cultural programme including the programme schedule, please contact Yana Djarova at info_natfiz [at] yahoo.com.
Registration fee
The fee for the day trip to the Rila Monastery is € 40 per person. The fee includes transportation by bus to the Rila Monastery, a tour guide and lunch. Please note that the bank transfer taxes are not included.
How to register
STEP 1: Please make a bank transfer of 40 euros to the National Academy of Theatre and Film Arts. Please download here the bank identification form that contains all the details to make a proper bank transfer. Important: please mention your full name and the word "excursion" in your payment specifications.
STEP 2: After making the bank transfer, please download the registration form here. Please fill in the form and send it by email to Yana Djarova.
Deadline for registration: 26 June
