Eco-trail "Krasta" ( the Cross)

Overview

Beginning and end of the eco-trail  " Krasta" (The cross) , which goes around the hill, passes through the votive cross, built on an ancient Thracian rock sanctuary, and ends with the shelter at the Holy Water, where a fireplace is built. During the hot months the water dries up. The rock sanctuary of the Cross is located east of the town of Rila. Many folk tales and legends related to St. Ivan Rilski are known for the sacred place. The sanctuary was published in the scientific literature in 2005, after field research led by Prof. Vasil Markov (Southwestern University "Neofit Rilski", Blagoevgrad). The research is part of the program "Thracian sanctuaries from the Western Rhodopes, Pirin and Rila", organized jointly with Southwestern University "Neofit Rilski", Faculty of Arts, Department of Cultural Studies, Archaeological Institute with Museum at BAS and Regional Ethnographic Museum, Plovdiv. The rock "Cross" is known for most folk tales and legends dedicated to St. Ivan Rilski. According to one of the legends, the saint transformed into a falcon flew from the Neighborhood - a place where he was surrounded by his pursuers and thus saved himself by flying and landing on the high rock of the Cross. Ravens and magpies flew around him and betrayed him, so he cursed them not to be able to fly up the cliff. Before climbing the stone, he drank water and a spring gushed at his feet. The saint drank from the water and thus illuminated it. From time immemorial, people visit this spring before sunrise, drink and wash with its water between Easter and St. George's Day. As a gift, worshipers leave coins and flowers to receive health from the saint. To the healing functions of the saint is added the belief that the herbs growing around the rock have great healing power, because on it the saint was saved. The "silver" stones collected near the health rock have the same power. The last motif is present in the folk life of the saint, according to which he petrified a snake, the stones of which have the power to heal.