Archbishop Stephan: Let’s think about how to completely mend St. John the Baptist Monastery
(
1.10.2009
)
The Head of Macedonian Orthodox Church, Archbishop Stephan, the
President of the country Mr. George Ivanov and a number of members of the
Government of Macedonia, expressed their deep regret for the Church, historical
and cultural treasure lost in yesterday’s fire in St. John the Baptist Bigorski
Monastery during their visit of the site. In the same time, they confirmed their
solemn conviction that the burned complex will be quickly repaired and the
former glow of the Monastery will be returned back soon.
“A
big misfortune hit the Monastery of Bigorski in the early morning, yesterday.
The sleeping section of the monastery, well known to all of us, work of the
famous Debar masters suffered into fire, as well as the dinning room, the
library and the Icon gallery. Fortunately, no one of the Monastery personnel has
been hurt. The other big fortune is that the Church and the precious icon-stage
(iconostasis) remained untouched by the flame, thanks to the monks and the
people living nearby, who together with the fire brigade arrived very quickly at
the burning site” – stated Archbishop Stephan. “The sorrow for Bigorski will not
make any difference or burdens between the people of Macedonia, the cry over the
river of Radika will be heard far, the sorrow for Bigorski will last for long,
but I firmly believe that new masters like our famous Debar masters will arise,
and they will continue the masterwork of the old masters, and renew everything
what we’ve lost in one moment today. Let this terrible event, this disaster be a
warning for all of us, how little we care about the inheritance that our
ancestors left to us with so much faith, love and art in it. I appeal to the all
Macedonian community to understand this big misfortune as something that
happened because of our common carelessness and never in other manner” –
accented Archbishop Stephan.
