By the mercy and goodwill of the all-good God, once again this year—for the sixteenth time—the heavenly blessing was poured out upon the city of Struga through the holy and solemn Litija (Eordia) in honor of the glorious Trophy-Bearer, the Holy Great-Martyr George. The Eordia, which was revived through spiritual zeal and love for God and for the Saint, thanks to the sacrificial efforts of our beloved Elder, His Grace Bishop Partenij of Antania, at the request of Father Vasko Golaboski—himself descended from an old Struga family and deeply devoted to the procession’s restoration—once again affirmed its place as one of the most exalted prayerful gatherings in our homeland.
Like a ray from the world of grace, it descended in splendor and covered the city of poetry, enveloping it in spiritual light and peace. Thousands of faithful, with tender reverence and awe in their souls, flowed in from all directions—not only from Struga and its surroundings, but from every corner of Macedonia and beyond—led by an inner thirst for the presence of God, and by deep reverence and love for the holy Trophy-Bearer. They came not only bodily, but with heart, mind, and prayer, to embed themselves in this solemn spiritual event, which has already become a living tradition and a sacred memory in the spiritual consciousness of our people.
First, in the venerable church of the Holy Great-Martyr George in Struga, the traditional Ktitorial Vespers service was celebrated, prayerfully presided over by His Beatitude Archbishop Stefan of Ohrid and Macedonia and of Justiniana Prima, concelebrated by His Eminence Metropolitan Josif of Tetovo and Gostivar, and by our Elder, His Grace Bishop Partenij of Antania. The service was attended with reverence by clergy from our Diocese of Debar and Kichevo, creating a lofty prayerful atmosphere in preparation for the procession. The sacred service was held under the open sky, in the courtyard of the church. There, beneath the gentle sky of a spring afternoon, in the calm of the celebration, prayer rose like fragrant incense before the face of God, penetrating deeply into the souls of all present.
Upon the conclusion of Vespers, our esteemed Beatitude Archbishop Stefan served a memorial (panikhida) for all the reposed benefactors of the church, offering a prayer of thanksgiving for their faith, love, and sacrifice, through which they built and entrusted this holy dwelling to the Great-Martyr—a place where prayer never ceases and where the name of God is glorified from generation to generation.
Then, in an atmosphere of festivity and spiritual grandeur, the majestic Eordia followed—a grace-filled river of prayer flowing through the city, blessing every corner, every home, every heart opened toward God. Led by a ceremonial police vehicle, the procession began with a gesture of honor toward the Holy Great-Martyr George, the heavenly protector of the Macedonian police—those men and women who, regardless of national or religious affiliation, stand faithfully at their posts, with dedication and patience, safeguarding the peace and safety of the citizens.
Between the police escort and the main body of the procession rode a horseman, clad in Roman tribune military attire, crafted from authentic materials according to ancient original models. The outfit was a faithful reproduction of the military uniform from the time when Saint George served as a tribune in the Roman Empire. In his hand, the horseman held a palm branch—a symbol of peace and spiritual victory. He served as a vivid reminder of the holy warrior George, and at the same time as a peaceful herald and guardian of the sacred procession.
At the head of the procession walked a brother from the Bigorski brotherhood, who filled the streets with the sound of the klepalo, evoking repentance and spiritual vigilance. He was followed by the bearers of the Holy Cross, ripidions, church banners, psaltic chanters, and the brethren of the Bigorski Monastery, as well as the Skopje City Brass Orchestra, which participated in the holy celebration with solemn ecclesiastical compositions.
The procession was adorned by two wonderworking icons: that of the Holy Great-Martyr George the Trophy-Bearer and that of the Most Holy Theotokos Glykophilousa—icons of heavenly power and maternal consolation. Following them were the sisterhoods of the monasteries in Rajchica, Prechista, and Knezhino, then the reverent clergy of the Diocese of Debar and Kichevo, Father Isaac of Lesnovo Monastery, and the hierarchs of the Macedonian Orthodox Church – Ohrid Archbishopric: His Eminence Metropolitan Josif of Tetovo and Gostivar, and His Grace Bishop Partenij of Antania.
At the heart of the resplendent Litija was, of course, the greatest Holy Treasure—the venerable relics of Saint George, placed in a flower-adorned kouvouklion, striking and dignified. This year, the honor of bearing the holy relics was bestowed upon Mr. Dejan Georgievski, Mr. Marko Tankoski, Mr. Kosta Hiohi, and Mr. Igor Krastanoski. They were accompanied and guarded by four captains of the ceremonial guard (seymen) of the Bigorski Monastery, dressed in festive and traditional Mijak attire, decorated with kjosteks bearing the icon of Saint John the Forerunner. Behind them, the seymen guard followed in silence and dignity, bearing on their chests kjosteks with the image of the Holy Trophy-Bearer.
The river of people that poured into the Eordia and followed it with awe and trembling could not help but be nourished by the wondrous grace flowing forth from the Holy Things. In that prayerful and solemn procession, hearts were opened toward heaven, and eyes beheld a sight that uplifted the soul. Not a single heart—neither young nor old—remained untouched by this majestic vision, which lifted thought and feeling from the earth toward the heavenly realm.
As in previous years, the procession concluded where it had begun—in the spacious courtyard of the Church of Saint George the Trophy-Bearer. Yet even that large courtyard was too small to contain the pious multitude gathered with love and faith toward the holy Trophy-Bearer.
At the very end of the Struga Eordia, in the church courtyard, the City Brass Orchestra of Skopje performed an honorary march as a noble expression of the people’s honor and gratitude toward the Saint. This was followed by a cultural and artistic program, continuing the festive celebration, featuring performances by our guardians of folk heritage—the members of the cultural and artistic societies “Ilinden” from Struga and “Biser” from Kichevo. Through their dances, traditional costumes, and songs, they adorned the radiant face of the procession with folkloric beauty, expressing the faith of our people through the centuries.
This prayerful joy was also bestowed upon those who could not be physically present, thanks to the dedicated effort and professionalism of our esteemed collaborator Stojan Stojanovski and his team from 2S Studio, who broadcast the procession live. Thus, the light of this holy day spread far and wide, reaching many homes and hearts that were spiritually united with this sacred celebration.
