It comes again—a new beginning, a new birth, a new hope. The Church trembles with joy, preparing in its heart and in its courtyards to welcome the Divine Infant. A Child is born unto us, a Son is given to us. Let us welcome Him with joy, receive Him with love. Let us also sing…
On the afternoon of Saturday, November 9, the city of Debar hosted the first Forum held within the framework of a project supporting coexistence in the region, spearheaded by the Association for the Protection and Cultivation of Cultural Values "Rajchica." This important multicultural and multireligious project was initiated with the blessing of our Elder, Bishop…
With deep joy and gratitude to God, we announce that another of our brethren, Hieromonk Gregory, has successfully completed his master’s studies in theological sciences at the Faculty of Theology of Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, under the blessing of our beloved Elder, Bishop Parthenius of Antania. On Friday, November 1, 2024, in the University’s ceremonial…
Yesterday, on a festive Sunday, the Bigorski Monastery had the honor of hosting distinguished guests from Austria, led by: the Austrian Ambassador to North Macedonia, Mr. Martin Pammer; the General Director of EVN, Mr. Wolfgang Mayer; Propst Prälat Anton Höslinger of the Monastery Klosterneuburg; and Prof. Wolfgang von Bandion, Grand Chancellor of the Catholic Order…
There is no sight more beautiful than when all souls flow toward a noble goal, like rivers merging into one sea of love and mercy. There is no stronger blessing than the one born of communal prayer—a prayer that brings heaven down to earth and echoes deeply in our hearts. For this is the foundation…
A Sermon by His Grace, Bishop Parthenius of Antania, Delivered on the feast of the Venerable Paraskeva of Epivatos, during the Divine Liturgy in the Church dedicated to the Saint, in the city of Debar, on October 14/27, 2024 Most Reverend and Pious Fathers,Beloved brothers and sisters in monastic life,Dear faithful, Once again, by the…
On this radiant October day, commemorating the memory of the Venerable Andrew the Fool-for-Christ and the Holy Martyrs Cyprian and Justina, our Holy Monastic Community was graced and adorned by the visit of two esteemed hierarchs of the Church of God: His Eminence, Metropolitan Lukijan of Budim and Administrator of Timișoara, and His Eminence, Metropolitan Jovan…
Indeed, today so many conversations take place. People talk about politics, economics, food, wars, football, theater performances, concerts, accidents, climate change, and international events. So many words. But little is said about Jesus Christ. Yet, there is nothing more beautiful than speaking of Christ. Two words in the Holy Gospel are particularly significant: “go” and…
Man has always needed silence, but even more so in today’s era of technocracy. It is a fact that we live in a disturbed and noisy environment. As a consequence, the everyday life of people is disrupted by many psycho-social problems, which are exacerbated by idle conversations, materialistic excess, entertainment, and, above all, by uncritical…
A Sermon by His Grace, Bishop Partenij of Antania, Abbot of the Holy Monastery of Bigorski, delivered during the Divine Liturgy on the Feast of the Exaltation of the Precious and Life-Giving Cross in Rajcica, following the reading of the Holy Gospel, on September 14/27, 2024, the Year of our Salvation. In the Name of…
The celebrations in honor of the Exaltation of the Precious and Life-giving Cross of the Lord reached their culmination in the sacred Monastery of the Holy Great Martyr and Trophy-bearer George in Rajcica, during the divine liturgical assembly, presided over by our beloved Elder, His Grace Bishop Parthenius of Antania. Accompanying him in this supreme…
Today, the Holy Bigorski Monastery of St. John the Baptist received two restored processional crosses from its precious collection of antiquities. These unique relics, created by the legendary Bigorski iconographers Michael and his son, Hieromonk Daniel, were entrusted to the Abbot of the Monastery, His Grace Bishop Parthenius of Antania, by representatives from the National…
The Feast of the Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos marks the beginning of the New Testament, a moment in human history that announces the nearness of our deliverance. This day is filled with joy, not merely because of the birth of a child, but because of the birth of the One who will bear…
"Monasticism," as our monastic father in Christ, Elder Bishop of Antania, His Grace Parthenius, once said, "is the heart of the spiritual life of the Church, the spring from which the saints and teachers of divine knowledge flow. In the depths of sacred tradition, monasticism is not merely a choice or a way of life,…
Address by His Eminence, Metropolitan of Debar and Kičevo, Timotej, during the monastic tonsure of Nun Thekla at the Holy Monastery of Prechista in Kičevo, on the 20th of September, Year of Our Lord 2024 In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit! Dear brothers and sisters, Allow me this evening,…
† B A R T H O L O M E W BY GOD’S MERCY ARCHBISHOP OF CONSTANTINOPLE-NEW ROME AND ECUMENICAL PATRIARCH TO THE PLENITUDE OF THE CHURCH GRACE, PEACE AND MERCY FROM THE MAKER OF ALL CREATION OUR LORD GOD AND SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST * * * Most reverend brother Hierarchs and beloved children…
According to the established practice of Orthodox liturgical tradition, following each major feast of the Lord or the Theotokos, a commemoration is made for the saints who directly or indirectly participated in the salvific events connected with the feast. Similarly, following ancient monastic tradition, after the main feast day of a monastery, a remembrance is…
Our Holy Church has always, with the deepest reverence, celebrated the virtues and spiritual gifts that adorned Saint John the Baptist, the Forerunner of our Lord, as well as all the Prophets, Apostles, Angels, Martyrs, and Confessors. The Forerunner himself was chosen by God to be the first to proclaim Christ, the first to announce…
A homily by His Eminence Metropolitan Timothy of Debar and Kichevo, at the Divine Liturgy on the Feast of the Beheading of Saint John the Baptist, at Bigorski Monastery, on September 11, 2024, in the year of our Lord. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit! Dear…
"Monasticism is flesh of the flesh of the Church, a dynamic expression of the ascetic spirit and the eschatological yearning of its life. Devoted in soul, mind, and body to Christ, 'strangers and pilgrims in this world,' 'turning nights into days, living in thanksgiving and psalmody,' 'seeking the things above,' monks persistently and patiently knock…
