Saint John Bigorski Monastery
Sveti Jovan Bigorski Monastery - Saint John Bigorski Monastery is located on the road connecting Gostivar and Debar, in the vicinity of the Rostuse village. Sveti Jovan Bigorski Monastery /Saint John the Baptist Bigorski Monastery/ is the 19th century monastery standing on the slopes of Bistra Mountain, within the area of the Mavrovo National Park, above the banks of the gorgeous Radika River. The present day monastery of Saint Jovan Bigorski was constructed over the remains of an older church dating from 1021. It was heavily destroyed by Ottomans in the 16h century and only small church remained to be quickly restored afterward. The Saint Jovan Bigorski Monastery was restored in 1743 by the monk Ilarion, who also built several monk cells. In beginning of the 19th century, during the management of Abbot Arsenius, the Monastery of Saint John Bigorski - Sveti Jovan Bigorski was expanded and enjoyed a large number of benefactors. The ornamented wonderfully wood-carved iconostasis of the monastery church was elaborated in the 1830s which belongs to the most fascinating work of this monastery, among the iconostasis, archpriest's throne and the prior's chair, manufactured by the wood-carver's group of Petre Fylipovic-Garkata from Gari, with the help of his brother Marko and with active participation of a number of distinguished Miyak wood-carvers. The zographs Michail and his son Dimitar from Samarina, Epirus village, at that time painted the throne icons, the festive icons and the icons of the holy apostles for the iconostasis in the Bigorski monastery. With the accomplishment of the iconostasis Miyak wood carvers have acquired a reputation of the best and the most wanted wood carvers on the entire Balkan Peninsula. Many scenes, compositions and individual figures have been engraved, being presented in movement and with an expressed dramatics in some scenes, like the scene with Beheading of St John. The beauty of the iconostasis is enriched with many animals and birds, interwoven with floral ornaments with a realistic presentment of a grape vine, flowers of narcissus, garden roses, oriental fruits, as well as the favorite motif of the Miyak wood carvers, cracked pomegranates. It may be rightfully stated that the creation of the wood carvers on the iconostasis of the Bigorski monastery are unsuppressed either by the ones on the Holy Mountain or the works of the Epirus wood carvers, not to mention the Samokov and Treven wood carvers. Built on a steep slope surrounded by dense woods and rocky hills or serene West Macedonia, Sveti Jovan Bigorski Monastery is reminiscent of the cliff top monasteries of Mount Athos in Greece. Since the monastery is dedicated to Saint John the Baptist, the faithful believe that icons with his image are blessed with a miraculous healing power. The monastery of Sveti Jovan Bigorski also houses a small silver coffin containing alleged relics of Saint John and remarkable collection of handwritten manuscripts. The Sveti Jovan Bigorski Monastery complex includes a dining room and old monastic dormitory, a tower, a charnel house and two fountains spilling over with fresh water. St John Bigorski Monastery is one of the most beautiful monasteries in the Balkans and comprises the unique altar masterly wood-carved in deep carves. The chief master was Petar Filipov from then village of Gari, a representative of the Debar woodcarving school, who, in cooperation with his brother Marko and several other assistants, worked for six years on this masterpiece. The icons in the iconostasis of Sveti Jovan Bigorski Monastery were painted by icon- painter Michail and his son Dimitar. Besides the iconostasis, the wood-carvers also elaborated the prelate's throne and the abbot's chair in the church, whose northers features marvelous mural paintings of St. Clement of Ohrid, St. Naum, St. George and other Orthodox saints. Saint John Bigorski - Sveti Jovan Bigorski Monastery is the shrine frequented by numerous visitors to Macedonia and the Balkans. Macedonia Mountaineering and Trekking
