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Rila Monastery was founded in the l0th century by the Bulgarian monk St.
John of Rila and was rebuilt in the l3th -l4th century. From that time are
the fortress tower (1334), the bishop's throne, richly carved doors and
some manuscripts, icon-paintings and church plates. In the l5th century,
when Bulgaria fell to the Ottoman Turks, the monastery was abandoned for a
short time but in the second half of the same century it was restored to a
new life. Later it was for several times plundered and ravaged. Its
thorough renovation began in the early l9th century. It was then that the
residential wings and the church of the Holy Virgin were raised
(1834-1837). The Rila Monastery has been listed as a world monument of
culture.
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