SOFIA, Bulgaria, May 25 -- Pope John Paul II made a pilgrimage to one of Bulgaria's holiest sites today, visiting a 1,000-year-old monastery in the southern town of Rila in an effort to end a ...

STORY: The Bachkovo Monastery is located in the Rhodope Mountains and on the tentative list of UNESCO world heritage sites, and each year on Easter Monday worshippers gather to take part in a ...

Rila Monastery is regarded as one of Bulgaria’s most important cultural, historical and architectural monuments, and contributed greatly to the preservation of Bulgarian culture and heritage during ...

Rila Monastery was founded in the 10th century by St John of Rila, a hermit canonized by the Orthodox Church. His ascetic dwelling and tomb became a holy site and were transformed into a monastic ...

The Thursday before Orthodox Easter, or Holy Thursday, the Bachkovo Monastery made their traditional preparations by dying about 5,000 Easter eggs in various colors at the monastery’s kitchen. (April ...

Pater Vitaliy tried to get a grip on the squalling, squirming, half-naked infant, who only screamed louder when he raised her up and then dipped her bare legs in the cold water of the metal baptismal ...