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 His coming into the world, and the first to witness the Holy Spirit descending from Heaven during the Lord’s Baptism. Saint John was also the first evangelist, declaring the good news of the approaching Kingdom of Heaven, and the first preacher who proclaimed Christ’s triumphant descent into the depths of Hades to the souls imprisoned there. He was truly an earthly angel and a heavenly man, of whom the Lord Himself said that he was not only a prophet but more than a prophet—an angel sent before Him to prepare His way. The first martyr and an example for all future martyrs, who, as his feast-day troparion says, joyfully suffered for the truth, knowing that death is but a door leading to eternity. Saint John the Baptist was also the first confessor of God, who fearlessly rebuked Herod, telling him that for his sin, all the laws of Heaven and Earth would stand against him.
And so, the life and preaching of the greatest among those born of women, which deeply penetrates every Christian soul, once again called forth many noble souls to come to his glorious Bigorski sanctuary to offer him due honor and glory—not only to him but, above all, to Christ the Victor, who glorifies all His Saints. The powerful call to repentance, preached with truth and love through the mouths of his monastic children from the Bigorski wilderness, once again resonated deeply in the hearts of those present at the Divine Liturgy, presided over by our highly esteemed Metropolitan Timothy of Debar and Kichevo. At the Holy Table of the Lord, he was joined by our beloved Elder, Bishop Parthenius of Antania, as well as our dear guest, Archimandrite Matthaios from the Church of Greece, diocesan secretary Protopresbyter Nikola Hristovski, and brothers from Bigorski and clergy from our God-protected Diocese of Debar and Kichevo.
A true spiritual feast for the Forerunner’s celebration was the exceptional prayerful singing led by our dear guest, Archimandrite Cherubim, whose choir elevated our souls in prayerful and thankful ascent.
Enlightening and edifying for all present at the Liturgy was the homily of Metropolitan Timothy, who contemplatively reflected on the angelic image of Saint John.
After the Divine Liturgy, the Elder of the Monastery, Bishop Parthenius of Antania, performed the rite of the blessing of water at the monastery’s fountain, before the sacred icon of the Forerunner. Following tradition, the monastery’s kumbari (patron) for the coming year was chosen, and this time the honor fell to Mrs. Ana Kamcheva, who was the first to step forward to receive this spiritual responsibility and privilege.
This year, alongside the great joy of the three new monastic children—Elisha (Elisej), Panteleimon, and Eustathios, who last evening received the angelic monastic tonsure—the monastery’s celebration was further enriched by the blessing of the foundations for a new church and ossuary dedicated to our holy and venerable Father Naum of Ohrid, located near the monastery’s cemetery in the forest above the monastery.
Receive, O preacher of repentance and radiant light of the Sun of glory, the prayers we have offered to you—You, of whom the Savior testified that you are the greatest among those born of women; You who loosed the bonds of barrenness and turned your father’s silence into a joyful song; You who announced to all the saving law and were deemed worthy to hold and baptize the One who is of the same essence as the undivided Holy Trinity, the Word of God; You, O Forerunner and Prophet above all prophets, glorious and grace-filled John, hear us sinners and kindle the light of faith and repentance in our souls, and enlighten us with your bold intercession before the Divine Throne.**
