The folklore cycle of legends, legends and miracles about St. Ivan Rilski first originated in his native region, and later spread throughout the country. The folklore tradition about the saint developed in parallel with his literary cult.
Legends were recorded by Ivan Vazov, Lyuben Karavelov, Yordan Ivanov and others. An important place in the cult of St. Ivan Rilski is occupied by the relics proving his sanctity: the "oak of the holy father", the ox bell, the marble snake, the rock of the saint and the WHITE BEE.
"And at the hour a white bee flew and flew into his mouth. And from that moment he began to fly in spirit through the air"
The symbol in the image of the white bee, which allows the saint to float through the air, endows him, according to the oral tradition of Bulgarian folk beliefs, with the gift of holy hermits, the same gift Venerable Stoina also possesses.
