Bystritsky the monastery was built in the first half of the XVI century, its patron Saint is St. John The Theologian. Because of the period of desolation of the monastery during the Ottoman rule it was named in honor of St. John Deserted. In 1928, when re-consecration of the monastery was named after St. John Of Rila.

Initially, the monastery was placed in a specially constructed building and several nearby from each other caves where monks lived. On the Western wall, one of them quite large in size, an unknown artist painted five scenes from the life of St. Demetrios. Unfortunately, these remarkable examples of old Bulgarian monumental painting of the early period of Ottoman slavery now almost completely destroyed. But few remaining in the fragments shows that the painter was one of the most prominent representatives of the medieval Tarnovo artistic school. In preserved under images labels indicate the name of Dmitry, the son of Dubova, and date – 1540 year (most likely, at this time the cloister was restored).

In the rock high above the monastery is a monastic Hermitage. Until recently were visible on the walls painted with the image of St. John Of Rila.

In the era of the Ottoman occupation the monastery was a sanctuary for the insurgents. Twice the building was destroyed on the initiative of the Turkish authorities and was then rebuilt. The current monastery was established in XIX century.

The monastery Church of St. John the Evangelist is a modest one-nave Church with one apse to chancel. On the roof is a low cylindrical tower, crowned by a dome. In the past the temple walls were decorated with frescoes, but they were later plastered. Preserved only the composition of the last judgement, painted on the Western wall during the time when the rector of the Church was FR Joash from the neighboring village of Ezerovo. Probably it was implemented last renovation of the temple. To this day preserved the carved wooden iconostasis 1920 year manufactured trawinski master Peter Minioven.

Bystritsky the monastery was an important spiritual center of the Bulgarians in the region of Vratsa. From surviving documents it is known that in the seventeenth century there existed workshop otlivnyy crosses made of precious metals.