聖若望里拉（聖伊凡·里爾斯基）
聖人是保加利亞史上最為著名的隱修士和行靈跡者之一，尚在世時就被尊為聖人，死後保加利亞無數教堂和修道院奉其為主保，包括著名的里拉大修道院。如今他也被尊為保加利亞國家和全體保加利亞人的主保。
約876年前後，聖若望生於奧索戈沃山腳下的斯克里諾（靠近現代城市杜普尼察）。他的青少年時期在家鄉過著普通牧羊人的生活，成年後進入盧恩峰下「聖德米特里」修道院，約二十五歲時發願成為隱修士並晉鐸。此後，為尋求更加退隱的生活，他離開了本院，進入里拉山脈的崇山峻嶺，以岩穴為屋，在祈禱和克修中度過了餘生。
在山中隱居的歲月裏，他內在的安和與寧謐達到了如此的高度，以至於整個受造界都同他和諧共處，人們見到他與野獸為友伴，禽鳥棲於其肩頭。雖然聖若望追求避世退隱，但他未嘗離棄人民，而是懷著熱忱的愛德為他們祈禱，他的代禱創造了數不清的奇蹟，救助了困苦窘迫中的人們。
聖若望的聖德和奇蹟聲名遠播，達至當時保加利亞的首都——大普雷斯拉夫。國君伯多祿一世聽聞之後，長途跋涉九百餘里，前往里拉山脈，意欲求見聖人，以獲得他的降福和靈修建議。經過漫長而疲憊的旅程，國君一行人終於到達距離聖人隱廬一箭之遙的地方，卻始終無法登臨其門。可能因為山岩崎嶇，非養尊處優的貴族所能攀援，但古代的聖人傳記作者更傾向於認為，聖若望為避免與國君的會面給自己帶來世俗的虛榮，故而用無形的力量，阻擋了君王和他的臣子們。最終，聖人與國君遙遙相望，隔空行禮。國君派一位士兵將自己的禮物帶給聖人，聖若望只保留了部分糧食，將金銀寶石等都退還回去，說：這些東西對於隱修士來說一無所用，國王卻可以用其幫助窮人。
因為聖人的芳表，遠近各處都有人響應天主的聖召，前來跟隨其過隱修生活，這些人圍繞著聖人隱居的岩洞搭建修行小屋，最終形成了後來的里拉大修道院，而聖若望則被尊為該院的主保和院祖。
聖若望晚年寫下了一本名為《約書》的作品，此書既是早期保加利亞文學瑰寶，也包含了豐富的靈修建議和道德訓誡。
聖若望於946年八月十八日安息主懷。保加利亞教會在這一天以及十月十九日（其聖髑遷葬之日）紀念他，其他地方教會則一般僅保留十月十九日這個紀念日。
祈禱
聖若望里拉之聖頌（第一調式）
聖若望里拉，您是悔改的典範，慈悲的榜樣，靈性成全與慰藉的標杆。您在祈禱、齋戒和淚水中善度此生，猶如天使。我眾之父若望，請為我們的靈魂轉求天主基督！
Saint Ivan of Rila / Saint John of Rila (Ivan Rilski)
Saint John of Rila, a.k.a. Ivan of Rila (876 – c. 946) was the first Bulgarian hermit. He was revered as a saint while he was still alive. The legend surrounding him tells of wild animals that freely came up to him and birds that landed in his hands. His followers founded many churches in his honor, including the famous Rila Monastery. One of these churches, Saint John of Rila was only discovered in 2008 in the town of Veliko Tarnovo. Today, he is honored as the patron saint of the Bulgarians and as one of the most important saints in the Bulgarian Orthodox Church.
St. Ivan Rilski is patron of numerous temples and monasteries in Bulgaria, among which he founded the Rila Monastery. According to tradition, on the eve of the feast of the monastery is done vigil, which traditionally attended by hundreds of pilgrims from all over the country. During the day there is held a festive Divine Liturgy. Patronal festival celebrated Sofia Seminary “Sv. Ivan Rilski”.
According to legend, Saint John of Rila was known to have performed a multitude of miracles in order to help the people. These miracles brought him undesired fame as he tried to live the life of a hermit and avoid contact with others. With his growing number of followers, many young believers and supporters set up camps around his cave, seeking a blessing from him. This led the way to the creation of the Rila Monastery, which is considered to be the foremost monastery in Bulgaria.
Word of the miracles he performed reached the capital of the Bulgarian Empire - Great Preslav. Tsar Peter I (son of tsar Simeon I) took a 450 km trip to the Rila Mountains in order to meet St. John and seek spiritual advice. Their meeting is described in detail in one of the hagiologies of St. John of Rila as well as in the Testament of St. John of Rila itself. After a long and exhausting trip, tsar Peter I reached the place where St. John of Rila lived, however, upon arrival, the tsar then realized that the dwelling of the saint was inaccessible, probably due to the rough local terrain. As the medieval hagiologies point out, St. John of Rila refused to meet the tsar in person to avoid the temptation of vanity and pride due to the extraordinary visit. As such, the two men only bowed to each other from a distance. The emperor sent a soldier to deliver the gifts that were brought for the saint. St. John of Rila kept only a small portion of food and returned all of the gold and precious gifts, advising the tsar that monarchs need gold in order to protect the country and help the poor.
Shortly before his death (August 18, 946) St. John of Rila wrote his Testament (Zavet). A literary work and a moral message to his successors and to Bulgarian people.
Prayer
St. Ivan of Rila, pray for us.