Amid the joy of these Paschal days, at the conclusion of the radiant and holy week, the Bigorski Monastery was honored by the visit of its esteemed friend, the First Lady of the country, Mrs. Maja Ivanova, accompanied by distinguished guests—the spouses of several resident Ambassadors from Italy, Poland, Romania, the Russian Federation, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden, Ukraine, the United States, and Switzerland.
This cordial visit was part of Mrs. Ivanova’s initiative to introduce her guests to the spiritual and cultural heritage, as well as the natural beauty of our country. It was also a wonderful opportunity to promote the values of our Orthodox tradition and the living faith passed down as a sacred inheritance from our ancestors. The guests, with great delight and admiration, took part in a guided tour of the monastery, led by the steward, Father Dositej. Their visit continued with a trip to the metochion dedicated to St. George the Victorious in Rajčica, where they were warmly received by the monastic sisterhood.
In her brief address to the gathered monastics, guests, and journalists, Mrs. Ivanova emphasized that this visit was an expression of her desire to share with her dear friends—the spouses of distinguished ambassadors—the beauty and profound spiritual experience she had encountered in our two monasteries:
“The admiration on the faces of my guests was evident as they beheld the beauty of this monastery—its architecture, frescoes, woodcarvings, and the spirituality that radiates from every corner of this ancient Macedonian shrine. I also see this visit as an opportunity to promote my country, the Republic of Macedonia, with all its cultural, historical, and spiritual values. From this sacred place, I wish to send a message to all young people and future generations: to cherish and preserve the historical, cultural, and spiritual heritage that is an inseparable part of our history and identity.” – stated Mrs. Ivanova
