In a move set to attract thousands of pilgrims from both Bulgaria and abroad, Bulgarian President Rumen Radev, alongside Bulgarian Patriarch Daniel, officially inaugurated the pilgrimage route "Rilski Chudotvoretz" (The Miracle Worker of Rila) on August 2, 2025. This initiative is part of the broader "On the Path of Faith" project, aimed at enhancing spiritual values, preserving Bulgaria's cultural heritage, and promoting tourism.

The opening ceremony, which took place following a religious procession to the Rotunda of St. George in Sofia, highlighted the significance of connecting Bulgaria’s sacred and historically important sites. In his speech, President Radev emphasized that the pilgrimage routes would not only preserve traditional Bulgarian values such as hard work and honesty but also contribute to the moral and spiritual uplifting of the Bulgarian people.

The newly inaugurated pilgrimage route begins at the Rotunda of St. George, one of the oldest Christian churches in Bulgaria, which once housed the relics of St. John of Rila. The route then continues to the Rila Monastery, where the saint’s relics are still kept to this day. The Rila Monastery, founded by St. John of Rila, is a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of Bulgaria's most important spiritual landmarks.

St. John of Rila, born in the 9th century in a humble peasant family, is one of Bulgaria’s most revered saints. From a young age, he exhibited a deep devotion to prayer, ultimately leaving his worldly life behind to live in solitude and asceticism in the Rila Mountains. There, he founded the Rila Monastery, which has become a central hub of Christian spirituality and culture in Bulgaria.

After his death, the relics of St. John were kept in various places, including Sofia, Veliko Tarnovo, and even Hungary, before returning to the Rila Monastery in 1469, where they remain today.

St. John of Rila is regarded as the heavenly patron of Bulgaria. His legacy extends beyond the borders of Bulgaria, with his memory also honored in other Orthodox Christian countries. In Russia, he is venerated as the patron saint of the town of Rylsk in the Kursk region. Additionally, a relic of St. John’s remains is preserved in the Rylsk Nikolayevsky Monastery in Russia since 2006. The name of St. John is also associated with the Ioannovsky Women’s Monastery in St. Petersburg, founded by St. John of Kronstadt and named after St. John of Rila, who is considered his spiritual protector.

The launch of this pilgrimage route is expected to significantly boost religious tourism in Bulgaria, providing both a spiritual journey for pilgrims and a cultural experience for visitors interested in Bulgaria's rich historical and religious heritage.