On October 19, the Church celebrates the modest hermit from the Rila mountain, who was called an earthly angel and heavenly inhabitant - St. John of Rila the Wonderworker even during his lifetime. On this occasion, festive services will be held in the temples of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church.
Since 1996, when the Bulgarian Medical Union chose Saint Ivan Rilski as the patron saint of doctors, doctors have celebrated this day as their holiday.
-----------
Brief life of St. John of Rila
The greatest saint of the Bulgarian land, Venerable Ivan Rilski, was born around 876 in Skrino, located in the folds of the Osogovo Mountains near the Struma River (near the town of Dupnitsa). He was a contemporary of Prince Boris (852-889) and his son Vladimir, Tsar Simeon the Great and Simeon's son Tsar Peter. He was a shepherd until he was 25 years old. From a tender age, religious faith began to develop and strengthen in Ivan's soul. At that time, churches and monasteries began to be built all over Bulgaria.
Newly founded monasteries became not only centers of Christianity, but also literary and educational centers. The young man's wish was to devote himself completely to the service of God and to devote himself to a monastic life in some holy monastery. At first, Ivan entered the nearby monastery "St. Dimitri" under the very top of Rouen. Here he not only developed his aptitude for spiritual contemplation, but also received education and acquired knowledge from sacred, liturgical and religious books. He accepted monasticism, but did not stay long in the monastery, but devoted himself to a life of complete solitude, prayers, fasting and deprivation.
Reverend Ivan Rilski wandered in many places, until he finally settled in the wonderful Rila mountain desert, where he remained until the end of his life. There he founded a monastery that has existed for a thousand years. He performed many miracles during his life and after his death: he fed shepherds, he healed a madman with his prayer, he healed and is healing pious people from various diseases, he protects his monastery through his grace.
The fame of the hermit gradually spread throughout the country and even reached the capital. Using one of his trips to Sofia, Tsar Peter I traveled the approximately 120 km distance to the mountain to see the pious old man. The righteous Ivan, however, did not let him near him, but only bowed to him from afar, and the monarch responded in kind. The hermit, of course, also returned the gold sent to him by Tsar Peter. This further increased his fame and he was joined by disciples who built huts for themselves around. Such was the beginning of the most famous Bulgarian monastery.
Before his death, Reverend Ivan went into complete seclusion, there he drew up his "testament" (see Testament of St. Ivan Rila Miracle Worker). He died on August 18, 946 at the age of about 70 and was buried in the vestibule of the church in a stone tomb that has been preserved to this day. His Assumption is commemorated by the Church every year on the same date.
Reverend Ivan Rilski is an exceptional heavenly patron of the Bulgarian people and enjoys the people's reverence.