Dear readers and devotees of the Sacred Bigorski Monastery, it is with immense joy and gratitude to God, the Giver of all good things, that we inform you of a significant honor bestowed upon the Bigorski documentary “1000 Years – Witness of the Light.” Directed by our esteemed friend and collaborator, Mr. Ilija Iko Karov, the film has been awarded Best Music at the international film festival “History,” held this year in Asparn, Austria.
“The greatest credit for this recognition goes to the Macedonian composer Goran Trajkovski, known by his artistic name Gotra. This prolific composer has created exceptionally refined film and theater music globally, thus promoting Macedonian production,” Karov stated in his acceptance speech in Asparn.
The “History” International Film Festival took place in the Schloss Asparn-Zaya castle, in a warm, spontaneous, and creative atmosphere. Due to the festival’s extensive program, films were simultaneously screened in three different locations within the castle, each selected according to the corresponding historical epoch. The documentary “1000 Years – Witness of the Light” was shown in a suitably authentic setting, specifically in a structure that forms part of the permanent exhibition in the castle courtyard. This unique experience was further enriched by the presence of members of the “medieval group Skomrasi,” an ensemble that nurtures medieval Central European culture through various events and interactive approaches.
Before the film screening, Sister Euthymia from Rajchica, with the blessing of our Elder, Bishop Parthenius of Antania, addressed the audience as a representative of our monastic community. In her speech, she said:
“The monastic community from which I come is guided by Beauty, reflected by a great and wonderful man during whose time our monastery’s millennium was celebrated. This man is our Elder, the abbot of the Bigorski Monastery, Bishop Parthenius of Antania. He writes a progressive history that reflects a synchronized connection with humanity, unprecedented till now.
In the film, all of us are talking about a person, who is such an inspiration. It is a person who decided to leave everything in his life, 30 years ago, renouncing himself and his materialistic possessions to become a humble servant of all. I would say that, in line with the testimonies of thousands of people to this day, it has become clear that Elder Parthenius revolutionary managed to establish harmony with humans. A delicate and wonderful atmosphere of coexistence that has changed the lives of many. It is a profound statement that to some may sound impossible, but it becomes reality when one encounters a person who is the epitome of love and interpersonal harmony. He’s compassionate fatherly heart bravely travels through the dark labyrinths and mournful corridors of the human soul, to find the path through which it brings everyone out, but especially those who have desperately sunk and have hit the bottom – and sadly, as if they were unnecessary to the society, have also often been cut off from, not only the society at large, but from their families too.”
“This is the first Macedonian film that does not export despair and misery from the south of Europe; on the contrary, ‘1000 Years – Witness of the Light’ reflects the Macedonian Phoenix syndrome in a millennial continuity. It is a great honor to be a contemporary of the rare flower that blooms every thousand years in the Bigorski garden of St. John. Being even a minor part of its humanitarian and intercultural mission is truly a great satisfaction. So, watch the film, and it will become clear to you,” Karov wrote in his statement about the screening.
The director of the Festival, Mr. Roman Schett, also spoke about “1000 Years – Witness of the Light.” In his statement, he emphasized: “This film has a wonderful atmosphere. The author’s desire to portray the life of the thousand-year-old Monastery and its surrounding nature in the most authentic context is clearly felt. The music is fantastic and enhances the experience while watching the film.”
A special review of our documentary was given by a member of the Film Festival jury, Mr. Erik Kohlbauer: “1000 Years – Witness of the Light is exactly the cinematic documentary experience we expect to see at our festival. Allowing us to dive into the time of the Monastery’s foundation and its culturally diverse Macedonian region, through playful scenes, interviews from various perspectives, unique music, and nature footage, we were drawn into the film from the very beginning.
My only criticism is that the film is visually so strong that I was prevented from watching it continuously, having to pause and rewind several times to re-read the subtitles, as I got lost in the beautiful lighting and photography. An English-dubbed version would prevent this occurrence and allow us to absorb the dense information and spiritual message more easily.”
Our monastic brotherhood, led by Elder Bishop Parthenius, warmly congratulates and thanks the director Mr. Ilija Iko Karov, the composer Mr. Goran Trajkovski, and all the participants in the film’s production who worked diligently and sacrificially for several years to create this impeccable film documentation of our millennial Sacred Monastery.
Link to the film: 1000 years Witness of the Light
