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The MPO is raising money to help restore St. Jovan Bigorski (St. John the Baptist) Monastery, Republic of Macedonia. It was nearly demolished by a fire on Sept. 30.
Everyone who toured Macedonia on the MPO trips stopped at the monastery on the first full day of the visit. It is located in a beautiful stretch of mountains high above the Radika River Valley in Western Macedonia between Gostivar and Debar. Those who were on the 2005 tour heard the late Toshe Proeski sing vespers with the monks.
The blaze started in the kitchen and spread to the dining room and library. There were no casualties or damage to icons or the iconostasis. Loss of books, archives and documents is immeasurable.
Total loss is estimated to be 5.5 million euros.
Fortunately, the church itself was untouched by the fire. It houses Macedonia's oldest icon dating to the 10th Century. An icon of St. John the Baptist with three hands is believed to hold holy powers.
Its iconostasis is world renowned for the intricate carvings created 1829 - 1835 by woodcarvers from the Debar School of Wood Carving. The three-dimensional carvings to the left of the Holy Doors depict Old Testament stories, while those on the right relate to the New Testament. Each segment is carved from the trunk of a single tree.
Today four monks and three novices form the brotherhood. Archmandrite Parthenius studied monastic life on Mt. Athos. The gift shop houses one of the finest collections of holy items for sale, including original icons and prayer bracelets made of rope. At least one fourth-generation American-Macedonian, who received a prayer bracelet, believes in the holy powers of St. Jovan Bigorski. Since surviving carbon monoxide poisoning, he has not removed his bracelet.
Construction of the first church there began in 1020. Rebuilding began in 1743, after the Ottoman invasion destroyed it in the 16th Century. After the fall of Communism, Dimitar Dimitrov refurbished the church. Both he and his son Ambassador Nikola Dimitrov attended MPO conventions.
Send contributions to MPO, 124 West Wayne Street, Fort Wayne IN 46802, or donate through the MPO Web site at Macedonian.org, or send credit card information by fax or E-mail to the MPO. In all cases, be sure to specify that the donation is for St. Jovan Bigorski Monastery.