| Българска Патриаршия
For the tenth consecutive year, on the first day of the Dormition Fast, on 1st August, a groups of people from all over Bulgaria (and even from abroad) head off from Saint Sophia Church in Sofia in order to walk part of the route of the relics of Bulgaria’s heavenly patron – St. John of Rila. They are united by their love for the saint, they are attracted by the indescribable grace and joy of the pilgrimage route, and also by their admiration for Bulgaria’s wonderful nature, which they enjoy while passing through the Vitosha, Verila and Rila mountains on their way to the Rila Monastery.
The tenth anniversary of the pilgrimage route coincided also with the 550th anniversary of carrying the relics of St. John of Rila by the monks from the old capital Veliko Turnovo to the Rila Monastery in 1469. The anniversaries are usually time for balances – to assess what we have achieved so far. But also what are the challenges in front of us. Many things have been achieved throughout these years – one of the most indicative is the increasing of the number of pilgrims going on the pilgrimage route “Rila Miracle-Maker” – from few brave fellows in the first years now they are already the impressive more than 200 people, among whom there are more and more children. This year around 30 youths joined from an Orthodox camp, organized by the Spiritual and Enlightenment Centre at the Diocese of Varna and Veliki Preslav, with the blessing of His Eminence Yoan, the Metropolitan of Varna and Veliki Preslav. This increase is not accidental – the lasting participation of more and more people from all ages and from all parts of Bulgaria and from abroad, ready to leave their rest and their comfort and to start walking, with prayers and troparions, on the way of St. John of Rila’s relics, is absolute evidence for the power of attraction of the grace given to the participants.
Another interesting moment is the organization of one more pilgrimage route this year – “The Holy Path”, which aimed at repeating with the highest possible accuracy the route of the Rila Monastery monks who carried the relics 550 years ago. “The Holy Path” passed from 1st until 30th July, from Veliko Turnovo to the Rila Monastery, in which people from different parts of Bulgaria joined in the different stages, and few managed to walk without stopping the whole, 600-kilometre route. There were a few people who having just returned from “The Holy Path”, joined “Rila Miracle-Maker”, extending their feat. Again another evidence for the incredible power of attraction and grace of the greatest heavenly protector of Bulgaria.
This year the anniversary pilgrimage route was marked by a number of temptations for our faith – a thunderstorm in the village of Yarlovo, pouring rains in the region of Belchin, extraordinary cold for August during the nights in the tents, which, in combination with the fatigue from the mountain trails and the other inconveniences, could easily turn off the ordinary tourists. But not the pilgrims walking in the steps of St. John – they turn to God and to St. John with a prayer and continue with new efforts and in the firm belief that whatever happens, St. John would lead them forward.
But after the trials a few wonderful sunny days followed, combined with clouds providing us with the necessary freshness. The mountain showed us its beauty again – the way was full of breath-taking views, fragrant herbs, wild berries and herds of horses. The evenings were uniting – singing chants around the camp fire.
The nice weather gave strength to the participants and they continued their way to the village of Klisura, were a divine service was celebrated headed by Archim. Vassiliy, protosyngellos of Sofia Diocese, together with stavrophoros economos Angel Angelov, archpriest Nikolay Nachev, priest Ventsislav Popivanov, priest Sava Kokudev and the priest-monk Spiridon. After the service, the pilgrims managed to taste the delicious breakfast, which the elderly ladies from the village had prepared for them for a consecutive year. The trail continued through Lakatishka Rila to the Rila Lakes. On the next day they ascended from Rila Lakes chalet to the „Babreka” Lake („The Kidney”), where Archim. Vassiliy performed the already traditional bessing of the waters of the late and blessed the participants in the pilgrimage route. After ascending the highest Rila lakes as well („Okoto” („The Eye”) and „Salzata” („The Tear”), the pilgrims continued on the ridge and in the late afternoon they descended to the Rila Monastery, where on the path before the monastery welcoming people were waiting for them with bread, cold water, sweets and fruits.
Entering into the monastery after the long trail is my favourite, a very special for me, and also for most of the participants, moment of the pigrimage route. This is the moment, in which after the long and tiring walking the pilgrims reach their final goal – the relics of St. John of Rila and his monastery. The moment when the doors of the monastery are opened and all the 200 and more people enter with excitement, singing in one voice the troparion of the Rila Miracle-Maker and bow to his holy relics, filling the church with their chants for a long time. The moment when our hearts are filled with a special kind of joy – the joy when you are at home, when you feel warm and cosy and you don’t need anything else, you don’t look for anything else.
The last day is marked by the festive Archbishop liturgy on the great Lord’s holiday Transfiguration, by the blessing of the abbot, by the hospitality of the Rila holy monastery having treated the pilgrims with delicious fish soup and by the procession to the cave of St. John of Rila. There, near the place of the dormition of the Rila Saint, for the last time his akathistus hymn is read and it is time for the pilgrims to separate. But nobody wants to leave – who would like to leave such indescribable grace? The traditional final words of Father Angel usually deeply moves the people and leaving the Great Rila Wilderness becomes even more difficult. We promise to see each other next year, at the same time. Because the pilgrimage route „The Rila Miracle-Maker” has already become part of our way and of our striving for becoming St. John’s. Because, as Father Angel reminded us again, „if you are St. John’s, it means that you are Christ’s”.
