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Saint Jovan Bigorski Monastery – Rostushe, North Macedonia – Atlas Obscura

St. John the Baptist's forearm is housed in this remote 11th-century monastery. THE BIGORSKI MONASTERY IS A historic Orthodox monastery located in the western part of North Macedonia, nestled in the mountains of the Mavrovo National Park. Founded in 1020, it is one of the most important religious and cultural landmarks in the country. The…

Historical visit of Athonites to the Archdiocese of Ohrid (PHOTOS)

On Saturday, the abbot of the Holy Monastery of Esphigmenou on Mount Athos, Archimandrite Bartholomew, accompanied by the fathers of the Monastery, and the Abbot of the Holy Monastery of Saints Anargyroi Chernogorski Archimandrite Nikanoros from the  Church of Bulgaria, visited the Holy Monastery of St. John the Baptist Bighorski on the territory of the…

Orthodox Easter celebrations in North Macedonia

Georgi Licovski | European Pressphoto Agency | Professional News Photography Worldwide epaselect epa09905771 Orthodox pilgrims light candles from a torch burning with the Holy Fire from Jerusalem during the Orthodox Christian Easter service led by Bishop Partenie (C) at the 10th century monastery of St. John the Baptist 'Sv. Jovan Bigorski' near Mavrovo, Republic of…

Intricate Opulence: The Nuns Making Bishops’ Miters In North Macedonia

The Rajcica monastery complex sits in a bucolic part of North Macedonia, just a few kilometers from the border with Albania. Members of the religious community spend much of their time in prayer, but they are also devoted to a highly skilled craft: making elaborate bishops' hats, or miters, one of the symbols of the…

In Macedonia, a Monastery Is Helping Men Find Recovery

“The monks and the Abbot in the monastery have love. They help us. They try to reach to the heart. When that happens, life is easy.” “Here, they learn to live like we live,” says Brother Siluan Madiorovski. Hidden in the green nature of Macedonia in Eastern Europe, men recovering from addiction to heroin, methadone,…

Away from the madding crowd, in a Macedonian monastery

By Seamus Kearney There is nothing like a monastery for quiet reflection, away from the madding crowd, but they are not always places you can visit or stay. One Macedonian monastery is different, however, opening its doors to visitors in the Mavrovo National Park and welcoming both female and male travellers who want to stay the…