Bigorski Monastery welcomes three new monks — Teodosij, Hariton and Nikifor

During the monastery feast for the Beheading of St. John the Baptist, Bigorski Monastery received three new monks who took monastic names Teodosij, Hariton and Nikifor.

The ritual tonsure was performed by Metropolitan Georgij of Debar and Kičevo, while the candidates were brought to the altar by their spiritual father and the monastery's igumen, Bishop Partenij of Antanija. The three new monks had previously lived as Stefan, Vladimir and Jovan before taking their vows.

The celebration drew worshippers from across North Macedonia and neighboring countries. The service was enhanced by Byzantine chant from the visiting choir "Saint John Kukuzel" from Tirana, who joined the Bigorski brotherhood in singing in several languages.

On the monastery's official Facebook post, accompanied by photos and a recording of the rite, the brotherhood offered a blessing for the new monks: "Our new brothers, the monks: Teodosij, Hariton and Nikifor. May it be for the salvation of their souls, for the joy of the Angels, and the defeat of the demons! Lord have mercy!" the monastery wrote.

Bigorski — the spiritual heart on the Radika

Located on the rocky slopes of Mount Bistra along the Radika River, Bigorski Monastery "St. John the Baptist" traces its founding to 1020 by the monk John Debranin. The monastery is internationally known for its unique wooden iconostasis — a masterwork of woodcarving by Petre Filipovski, known as Garkata — and for the miraculous icon of St. John the Baptist that many faithful venerate.

Thanks to decades of work by Bishop Partenij, Bigorski has experienced a revival and today stands as one of the most active monastic centres in the country, noted for its guardianship of church traditions and for keeping its gates open to pilgrims.

Photo: press material from the event