Three Islamists arrested in Macedonia
Macedonian police informed that it has arrested a group of Islamist terrorists who were apparently planning attacks. The arrests were conducted in Skopje and Kumanovo. From the footage made available by the Interior Ministry, it’s visible that the group had the black ISIS flag and was preparing explosive belts with metal balls for causing greater casualties. So far three members of the group have been arrested, the Ministry said. The raids led to the seizure of three five automatic assault rifles, one heavy caliber machine gun, two dozen clips…
Early Christian Basilica found during construction work on new Stip – Kocani road
An early Christian era basilica was found during construction work on the new Stip – Kocani express way. The find was made near the village of Ziganci, and experts from the Stip museum have begun work to locate and preserve the valuable finds. We have an extensive record of archaeological finds dating to the same period in this area, and we hope that we have uncovered a larger complex, said Mitko Sterjov from the Stip museum. According to Sterjov, the find should not delay construction given that the crews can relocate on the …
Name of the church and of the country to remain unchanged: Macedonia's Orthodox Church
The Archbishopric Council of the Macedonian Orthodox Church - Ohrid Archbishopric (MOC-OA) reaffirmed its position that the name of the MOC should not be changed and that the name of the country should not be changed as well. This decision was reached after the MOC Council held its annual session on Friday and Saturday in a monastery in the village of Kalista in Struga. The bishops adopted a resolution in which the MOC position of 26 December 2017 is upheld, namely 'not changing the constitutional position of Macedonian langua…
Bulgarian Orthodox Church underlines stance on Ohrid Archbishopric
The Bulgarian Orthodox Church held its own celebration of the 1000th anniversary of the founding of the Ohrid Archbishopric on June 10, having turned down an invitation to attend the Macedonian Orthodox Church's celebration on May 27 and 28. On the occasion, which was marked with a liturgy at Sofia's landmark Alexander Nevsky cathedral with the presence of Bulgarian Orthodox Church Patriarch Neofit, the Holy Synod issued a lengthy statement outlining its stance on relations with the church in the neighbouring former Yugoslav…
Ivanov: It's our duty to preserve the legacy of Ss. Cyril and Methodius
The photo exhibit In the footsteps of Ss. Cyril and Methodius by Slovak author Pavol Demes opened at the National and University Library in Skopje on Tuesday. Organized by the Embassy of the Republic of Slovakia, the exhibition honors the 1155th anniversary of the arrival of Ss. Cyril and Methodius to the territory of Great Moravia and celebrates the 25-year anniversary of the Slovak Republic. The exhibit, which took Demes three years to complete, features photos of historical monuments that remain from the times of the 9th-centur…
Macedonia and Bulgaria to pay their respects to St. Cyril in Rome
To honor St. Cyril, PM Zoran Zaev will head a delegation of government officials and representatives of the Macedonian Orthodox Church and the Roman Catholic Church in Macedonia to pay an official visit to the Republic of Italia and the Holy See on May 24 and 25. PM Zaev and the Macedonian delegation will pay their respects by laying wreaths at St. Cyril's tomb in the Basilica of Saint Clement together with a Bulgarian government delegation. Later in the day, the Macedonian delegation will lay a wreath at the St. Cyril and Met…
Archbishopric of Ohrid to mark 1000th anniversary on May 27
Activities marking the 1000th anniversary of the Archbishopric of Ohrid will begin on May 27 in Ohrid with a formal ceremony, attended by members of the Holy Synod of the Macedonian Orthodox Church - Archbishopric of Ohrid, led by H.H. Stefan, and top state officials. Darjan Sotirovski, head of the commission for relations with religious communities and groups, said the event marked a remarkable jubilee - one millennium since the establishment of 'an indispensable church and spiritual organization uniting people in times of turmoi…
Exhibit on frescoes in Kurbinovo church St.Gjorgji
Exhibit "Restoration of Painting in Church 'St.Gjorgji' in Kurbinovo - Masterpiece of Byzantine Art in Macedonia" will open in the Museum of the City of Skopje on Wednesday. The exhibit presents the results of project "Macedonian Frescoes - Masko 360", implemented by association "Makedonida", in cooperation with the Faculty of Christian Archaeology and Byzantine Art History within the Goettingen University, and supported by the German Max Planck Society and Macedonia's Office for Cultural Heri…
Reuters: Bulgarian, Macedonian Orthodox Churches edge closer despite thorny history
The Bulgarian Orthodox Church has taken a step towards possible eventual recognition of Macedonia’s Orthodox Church, a rapprochement that echoes a warming of relations between the governments of the two Balkan neighbors, Reuters reported. However, the move is unlikely to be welcomed by other Orthodox Churches such as those of Serbia and Greece, in a region where religious identity is often closely tied up with nationalist passions and politics. The Macedonian Orthodox Church was formed when the country was part of communist Yugosl…
Traditional Macedonian ethno wedding in Novaci
Novaci municipality ended this year’s summer of culture with traditional event “Macedonian Ethno Wedding” over the weekend. Mogila residents Magda, 70, and Simon Pivkovski, 73, were married after 52 years of life as a couple. “The ceremony was held in church ‘St.Atanasij’ in Mogila village. Magda and Simon did not marry at the time, but now they are and Novaci municipality hosted their reception”, said the local authorities. The event also included a show of Macedonian folk costumes, a gastronomic contest and a music programme…
Roze Mojsovska: God changed my life
I was born with a physical disability in Skopje. The doctors suggested that I should be taken to a hospital in Belgrade, because the building was not made after the earthquake. My hands were operated at the age of seven, and I could not draw, and it was the Mother’s Day. All the children drew greeting cards, and I could not even make a move. With my desire and persistence, and succeeded to do something, I put the pencil in my mouth and I drew a flower with my mouth. That was my first drawing. Everyone was amazed. In this way I discovered my…
Macedonia: The Catholic Church is like a little family
Magda Kaczmarek, section head of the Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) for Macedonia, visited the south-east European country in June 2017. In the following interview she describes the first impressions that she was able to gain in the country’s sole Roman Catholic diocese and the Greek Catholic exarchate. Q) Mrs. Kaczmarek, You recently toured Macedonia on a working visit for ACN. The former Yugoslavian republic is a conglomerate of peoples… A) Yes, today the Republic of Macedonia has some two million inhabitan…
Serbian church again bans Macedonian delegation from observing 1944 ASNOM assembly
The Serbian Orthodox Church (SPC) informed the Macedonian Government that it will not allow a delegation led by Prime Minister Zoran Zaev to visit the St. Prohor Pcinjski monastery on Ilinden, to mark the anniversary of the 1944 ASNOM assembly in which Macedonian statehood was declared. The Serbian Church has continuously banned Macedonia from celebrating the greatest Macedonian national holiday - Ilinden - in the monastery where the ASNOM assembly took place. Serbian Patriarch Irinej cited alleged poor treatment of Serbian priests i…
The life and miracles of St. Naum of Ohrid
The feast of St. Naum of Ohrid, the Miracle Worker, is celebrated on July 3rd, to honor the medieval scholar and writer, who, together with St. Clement, is credited with building upon the work of the sainted brothers Cyril and Methodius to spread Christianity among the Slavic speaking peoples of Europe. Naum is known as the "living saint" for the numerous miracles that are attributed to him even today, centuries after his death in 910, at an age of 80 years. St. Naum was the youngest of the disciples of Ss. Cyril and Methodi…
Austrian Minister Warns of Balkans’ Islamization
Turkey and Saudi Arabia are spreading Islamic values more heavily into society in the Balkan states, Austrian Federal Minister of Defense Hans Peter Doskozil said in an interview to the German newspaper Die Welt published Tuesday. The minister added that Ankara continues to spread its influence in Albania, Kosovo and Serbia. “We can see the slow Islamization in the Balkans. The European Union is losing its influence in the Balkans. Turkey and Saudi Arabia, in contrast, are increasing their influence,” Doskozil said expressing “ser…
Russia's Patriarch Kirill Presents 'Alexi II' Award to Macedonian President
Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia presented Tuesday in the Cathedral of Christ the Savior in Moscow the 'Patriarch Alexy II' award to Macedonia's President Gjorge Ivanov for his efforts to strengthen the role of religion in society, promote Christian values and religious tolerance, as well as improve the ties between Orthodox nations. The prize of the International Foundation for the Unity of Orthodox Christian Nations (IFUOCN) are awarded annually to the heads of states, governments and parliaments, dignitaries of t…
Russian-Macedonian Post Stamps Promoted in Skopje
A joint edition of Russian-Macedonian postage stamps will be promoted in Skopje on Monday. The event is organized within observances of the 23rd anniversary from establishment of diplomatic ties. The stamps were released by the end of 2016, including traits from Ohrid and Saint Petersburg.
Ambassador of the Republic of Macedonia in Bucharest visits the Romanian Patriarchate at the end of mission
His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel welcomed Thursday, 26 January 2017, His Excellency Mr Pande Lazarevski, Ambassador of the Republic of Macedonia in Bucharest, at the end of his diplomatic mission in Romania. His Excellency thanked for the reception and recalled the good and steadfast ties between the two countries, united especially through Orthodox faith. His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel appreciated the relations between the two predominantly Orthodox peoples. His Beatitude stressed the opportunity for a better mutual knowledge and for…
Exhibit “Mother Teresa – Saint from Skopje, Saint of the World”
In the framework of the 4. World Conference on Dialogue among Religions and Civilizations in Bitola, Culture Minister Elizabeta Kanceska Milevska opened late Thursday exhibit “Mother Teresa – Saint from Skopje , Saint of the World”. The exhibit, which was promoted during Mother Teresa’s canonization in Rome, includes several themes presented by photos, documents and texts, accompanied by Mother Teresa’s thoughts. It also presents items from the saint’s childhood and youth, family and close friends. “Mother Teresa is the treasure of ou…
Spiritual serenity of 'Saint George' monastery near Skopje
Delved into the lush greenery of the nicely decorated yard surrounded by stone walls, just several kilometers above the village of Kuchkovo, near Skopje , is the “Saint George” monastery. Centrally located and yet hidden from plain sight is the eponymous church, filled by the joyous baby sounds of little Sara, who had just been baptized. This church, which has been a Christian sanctuary for the people of the western part of the Skopje valley since the XIV century, is a realm of piece and serenity. The monastery is open every day, b…
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