Orthodox Christians mark the Dormition of St. John of Rila, who is considered the heavenly protector of the Bulgarian people.
The saint was born in the village of Skrino in the Osogovo Mountain in the second half of the 9th century, when Christianity took root among the Bulgarian people. He spent his life in seclusion, fasting and prayer in various places but mostly in Rila Mountain.
In the monastery founded by him, he left a written testament with valuable advice to his followers. He was buried in the mountain next to the place of his seclusion and later his body was found to be incorruptible and placed in the Rila Monastery, where it is kept to this day.
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