Yesterday was our first proper full day in Sofia. I admit it’s a bit of a cultural shock but we are still loving learning all about the history and being able to be amongst it.
The food here is nice but different for your typical breakfasts it’s cold meats ham and salamis lots of different cheeses and sweets.
Yesterday we went on a day tour to Boyana Church and Rila Monastery.
Boyana Church is in the richest suburb of Sofia Boyana, it’s truly amazing, there are 3 parts to this very small church and no photos were allowed inside.
The first part was built in the 11th century and you wouldn’t be able to swing a cat in it as it’s so small, but inside the first and second part were just amazing, the painting of the walls and roof are so hard to describe just so beautiful, we also learnt that the original wall were painted over as new kings came through and the very first painting of the last super is on theses walls painted about 300 yrs before the one we all know painted by DaVinci and it was perceived very differently.
The second part was build in the 14th century as they the locals wanted to destroy the church as they thought it was too old and run down, the king and queen of Sofia restored the church and also built the inside like the other half but you can tell from the outside it was built in a different era. When you look at the painting on the inside you notice that some of the saints eyes are missing this is due to the pilgrims after the went to the church to say their prays it was considered good fortune for them to scratch a small piece of the saints eyes off put it in a glass of water and drink it.
This is also where queen Sofia now lays to rest.
The 3rd part was build by the locals of Boyana in the 19th century to make it more bigger for the tourists to be able to come. They guard the church 24 hr and only 10 people are allowed it at once. The original door is so small even we had to duck to get in it and has metal over the wood with lots of bullet holes in it and these are from soldiers trying to raid the church thinking this is where the church was hiding all of its riches.
After Boyana Church we drove about 2 hrs up the mountain to Rila Monastery, when you stepped into it you were just in awe it is still a working monastery where about 8 monks are left from over 300 a couple of centuries ago. Built in the 14th century. Being up in the mountains the air was cold and you could see the snow but the monks live a simple like with no power no mattress on the bed or running water in there rooms.
The church itself was just as stunning with paintings and gold all over.
There were several saints that are laid to rest there and one of the prayer areas at the alter there is a small piece of bone from each saint in a glass box for all to see and touch this is said to be extra holly.
In the main church itself is a casket with the founder of Rila Monastery Ivan Rila lays to rest in it minus his right hand which was given to a town in Russia named after the founder. All around the monastery is pictures of his hand which is considered to be very sacred.
George the local cat befriended Em who loved having cuddles and lots of attention.
It’s hard to put into words the experience going to the churches and the Monastry and they were truly stunning.
Emily and Carolyn ❤️