The grace of God’s ineffable Mysteries is what renews Christ’s people and empowers them to overcome this world. Without grace, no one would be saved. The Holy Apostle Paul states: “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not from yourselves—it is the gift of God” (Eph. 2:9). Yet, for grace to enter our lives and dwell within us, our cooperation is necessary; we must become vessels capable of retaining grace. The most worthy, pure, and receptive vessel that was found worthy to contain the entire Divine Essence is the Most Holy Virgin Mary, Theotokos. This greatest event in history occurred through the mediation of the Great Archistrategos, Archangel Gabriel, whose Synaxis we celebrate today. The Holy Archangel Gabriel, who has appeared many times throughout history, always bearing good news from God, brings us today glad tidings and grace, allowing us to rejoice in the revival of his once-glorious Monastery.
Indeed, in his honor, the ancient Dolno-Drimkol Monastery was built, and its revival, through the prayers and desires of our esteemed archpastor, Metropolitan Timothy, and our monastic communities led by our beloved Elder, Bishop Parthenius, has been undertaken with special love and sacrifice. Today, after eighty years of desolation, the Monastery of St. Archangel Gabriel in Dolni-Drimkol was revived with a Holy and Divine Liturgy, presided over by our Most Reverend Bishop of Antana, Mr. Parthenius, who was joined by archimandrites, hieromonks, and hierodeacons from Bigorski and our revered priests: Fr. Riste Naumoski from Vranishte, Fr. Mile Angelkovski from Debar, Fr. Pavel Krtsoski from Ohrid, as well as the esteemed protodeacon of our dear Metropolitan, Mr. Nikolche Gjurginoski.
Before the Divine Liturgy began, our Elder was presented with an epigonation bearing the image of St. Archangel Gabriel by Mr. Tome Peev, as a token of gratitude for his efforts for the Monastery and in commemoration of the first service after 80 years. This historic service in that sacred temple resurrected in our souls the memory of our glorious ancestors with great faith and love for God.
After the reading of the Holy Gospel, the Most Reverend Bishop Parthenius addressed the faithful with a soul-beneficial sermon, instilling gratitude and love towards God’s bodiless servants.
Today’s Divine Liturgy at Dolni-Drimkol was truly a hymn of thanksgiving and praise, lifted to the heavens from our hearts, for our Lord opened the heavenly gates and poured out His grace upon us, allowing us to gather in this sacred temple dedicated to St. Archangel Gabriel after eighty years. We rejoice in the resurrection of this Holy Shrine, a witness to our history and our spiritual connection with God. May this holy place, now revived, be our refuge and source of spiritual strength. May it remind us that, by God’s mercy, every shattered soul can be renewed, and every heart, with faith and repentance, can be filled with Divine light.
