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 On two kilometers from the village Rostuše, Debar
region, on altitude of 740 meters above the sea, elevates the monastery St.
Jovan Bigorski. It is set in the remarkable scale cliffs of the canyon valley of
the river Radika, embraced of vigorous woods planted on the northwest slopes of
the mountain Bistra. This amazingly magic landscape combines the monastery
mystics and the human ideality in one world that overcomes the borders of the
rational knowledge. The monastery complex is comprised of
monastery church, ossuary located next to the church, the seymen defense
tower, complex of monastery mansions as well as the newly built guest mansion.
The church most probably is built on the foundations of an older basilica from
the 11th century, more precisely from 1021. This is written in the
icon-painter’s record. There is a great probability that the icon of Sveti Jovan
Preteca (St. John Forerunner) was painted the same year when the old church was
built and fresco-painted.
The monastery seemed to suffer big damages and
devastation in the time under Turkish slavery. The new church is large, covered
with big dome. Within the church there is a belfry. It is built of scale blocks
and covered with roof tiles. Its rich interior is composed of frescoes, icons
with the iconostasis and its wooden inventory including pulpits, tables,
bishop’s throne, etc. Most of the frescoes of the large hemisphere (apse’s
semicircle) of the dome are work of the famous fresco-painter Dičo Zograph, who
is an author of many frescoes and icons in the churches all over Macedonia. The
rest of the frescoes in the smaller hemisphere are painted by some less skilled
fresco-painter.
In the porch of the church, from the left and the right
end, there are frescoes dating from 19th century, distributed in three zones. In
the first zone figures of Saints-eremites are presented, while the second zone
is filled with scenes of the life of the first Bible people, Adam and Eve and
the composition "Last Judgment."
 The
already mentioned iconostasis of the church St. Jovan Bigorski" is one of most
beautiful ones in our country. It is done in tiny woodcarving and together with
the one in the church "St.
Spas" (Holy Saviour) in
Skopje, presents an
extraordinary art achievement of the affirmed carvers-masters Petre
Filipovski-Garkata, his brother Marko and Makarie Frčkovski. They did not miss
to present in woodcarving their own figures through the scene of the master in
contemplation and his associates while working. This scene is present at the
iconostasis in both churches where these masters worked.
The wooden iconostasis is divided into six horizontal
belts. The first one in its base is comprised of rectangular fields on which
there are ornaments of flora and fauna. The second belt, where throne (big
and non-movable) icons are placed, finishes with a figure of an eagle
with spread wings. The third belt is divided into three smaller horizontal
compartments where symmetrically distributed angels, grapes and vineyard sprouts
are presented. Above them there are two rows of icons-festive (icons that are
being taken out for festivities) and ones with presentation of angels. In the
central part there is the large cross with the Crucifixion of Christ. From both
sides of the cross there are figures of dragon from whose mouth are lifted the
icons of St. Jovan and Holy Mother of God. The presentation of the dancer Salome
is particularly interesting, she is dressed in traditional Miyak costume.
The monastery ambient is redeemed with the old mansions
with the spacious wooden balconies and the dining room furnished with authentic
furniture from the time of construction, late 17th and early 19th century. The
special guest mansions offer possibility to each of the visitors, under certain
conditions, to stay longer and to enjoy the marvelous sunrise of this heavenly
site. |
