Rila Monastery

 

During my recent visit abroad, I visited a Christian monastery in Rila located in the hills of Bulgaria. It is the biggest Bulgarian revival, spiritual and cultural center with a 16,000-volume library  including 134 manuscripts from the 15th to the 19th centuries. This holy site played an important role in the spiritual and social life of medieval Bulgaria. Destroyed by fire due to invasion at the  beginning of the 19th century, the complex was rebuilt later and is now surrounded by a big fort. While being in that divine environment amidst the Reverend Fathers aged between 80 and 90  years old, I felt like praying. I went to the altar and asked for the permission of Reverend Bishop John to recite part of the prayer of St. Francis of Assisi. The prayer was repeated by all the people  present in the Monastery: Lord, make me an instrument of your peace; where there is hatred let me sow love.The silent message in this prayer was felt by the Reverend Bishop, who blessed me  by saying: "You work for world peace. My friend, may this beautiful divine message of love, enlighten our life to work for universal peace."