John of Rila was a 10th-century Bulgarian monk and the country's first hermit. Born around 876 in Skrino, he transitioned from a life as a herder to the priesthood before seeking total solitude. He spent much of his later life living in caves within the Rila Mountains to focus on prayer. Known as a wonderworker, he is celebrated as a patron of the Bulgarian people and is a central figure in the Bulgarian Orthodox Church.