The St. Ivan Rilski Chapel at the Bulgarian base St. Kliment Ohridski on Livingston Island in the South Shetland Islands is the first Eastern Orthodox edifice in Antarctica, the southernmost Eastern Orthodox building of worship in the world, and one of eight churches on Antarctica.
The chapel's new building on Pesyakov Hill in 2012
St. Ivan Rilski Chapel's altar
The old St. Ivan Rilski Chapel, with Balkan Snowfield and Hemus Peak, Bowles Ridge and Burdick Ridge in the background
The interior of the old chapel in 2011
Saint John of Rila, also known as Ivan of Rila, 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.
A fresco depicting St. John of Rila from Rila Monastery, Bulgaria
The tomb of John of Rila near Rila Monastery
The Cave of John of Rila near the Rila Monastery
Saint John of Rila - fresco from the church in Rila monastery, Bulgaria.