With gratitude to God, the Lover of Mankind, Who continually calls us to translate our faith into works of love, today the second regional summer blood donation drive was successfully held at our sacred Bigorski Monastery under the motto: Give Blood – Save a Life!
This noble and compassionate undertaking took place with the blessing of our Elder and Abbot, His Grace Bishop Partenij of Antania. It was organized by the Municipal Organization of the Red Cross in Gostivar, in cooperation with Bigorski Monastery and the Institute of Transfusion Medicine, and with the support of the Municipal Organization of the Red Cross in Debar.
During the drive, 66 units of blood were collected—each one representing an act of selflessness, sacrifice and concern for an unknown neighbour. Everyone who extended a hand today and donated a part of their own blood became a quiet participant in the saving of human lives and a bearer of hope for those facing illness, suffering or mortal danger.
Blood donation is one of the most powerful testimonies that love is not merely a beautiful feeling or a noble thought, but a concrete deed, a personal sacrifice and a willingness to help someone whom we may never meet. It was a particular joy for us that people of various ethnicities and religious affiliations donated blood during this drive, once again confirming that mercy transcends every human division and gathers us into a single fellowship of love. A donor does not ask who will receive their blood, what nationality or faith the recipient belongs to, or what their social background may be. The donor simply gives, knowing that on the other side is a human person created in the image of God.
In this spirit, our Elder, Bishop Partenij, often teaches us that genuine Christian love always goes beyond the narrow boundaries of personal comfort and becomes care, compassion and sacrifice for the other. Speaking characteristically about this blood donation drive, he said:
When, out of love, we give something of ourselves, we become kindred with Christ, Who gives His whole Self to us. The blood a person donates today may tomorrow become life for their brother or sister. Every deed through which a human person is saved and comforted is a deed that brings joy to Heaven.
The monastery, as a house of prayer, has always also been a home of mercy, consolation and human fellowship. We therefore rejoice especially that, once again this summer, Bigorski Monastery opened its gates to such an exalted humanitarian initiative, in which prayer and action, the spiritual and the compassionate, were united in one common testimony of love.
We offer our heartfelt gratitude to all the blood donors who responded to the call and, through their selflessness, showed that the pain and need of another person are not foreign to them. We also express our gratitude to the medical teams from the Institute of Transfusion Medicine, to the representatives and volunteers of the Red Cross organizations in Gostivar and Debar, and to all the institutions, media outlets and people of goodwill who contributed to the successful realization of the drive.
May the good and merciful Lord reward a hundredfold all those who today gave of themselves for the lives of their neighbours. May He strengthen them with health, peace and blessing, and may their gift become a radiant sign that compassion and self-sacrifice continue to live powerfully among us.
For a donated unit of blood is not merely a medical necessity—it is someone’s hope, someone’s prayer and someone’s new opportunity for life.
Give blood. Give hope. Save a life.
