Greetings from Macedonia

OnceDust · #1 17th June 2008, 10:03 AM

Hello all,

Just thought I'd post a friendly greeting from beautiful and mountainous Macedonia. After doing a search, I think there's only 2 CF members from this country, but I have enjoyed living here these four years. People are very friendly and hospitable. Food has generally avoided the price hikes of other places in Europe, partly because it's all locally grown, and I'd say the food is the best part of living here! Such fresh vegetables. Happy summer everyone. Enjoy the sun and visit if you have the chance. Anyone ever passed through?

Blessings

Edmond89 · #2 4th October 2008, 05:58 AM

Hello my Dear Brother

),I'm christian arab from Israel,I would like to establish a friendship with you

OnceDust · #3 9th October 2008, 01:16 AM

Originally Posted by Edmond89

Hello my Dear Brother),I'm christian arab from Israel,I would like to establish a friendship with you

Sure, bro, no problem. PM anytime.

Blessings.

heron · #4 12th October 2008, 04:52 PM

Hi Once,
I'm not from Macedonia, but I'll be nearby soon, on a trip.

I've been wondering what the Christian situation is like over there. Where I'm going, most people are ethnic Muslim and Orthodox. But from what I read, they are more passionate about the ethnic associations with the religions than the beliefs themselves. Is that the sense you get in Macedonia?

I wonder, because if I visit churches, I don't want to make a major faux pas, a political statement by walking in controversial doors.

Feel free to PM... I think I'd rather not make public slip-ups.

OnceDust · #5 13th October 2008, 07:31 PM

Originally Posted by heron

Hi Once,
I'm not from Macedonia, but I'll be nearby soon, on a trip.

I've been wondering what the Christian situation is like over there. Where I'm going, most people are ethnic Muslim and Orthodox. But from what I read, they are more passionate about the ethnic associations with the religions than the beliefs themselves. Is that the sense you get in Macedonia?

I wonder, because if I visit churches, I don't want to make a major faux pas, a political statement by walking in controversial doors.

Feel free to PM... I think I'd rather not make public slip-ups.

Dear heron,

I don't think you have anything to worry about. The only thing about walking into a religious building, no matter what it is, keep your shoulders covered and wear long pants. Mosques sometimes require head covering, and you have to remove your shoes, but I don't see many women in the mosque or wearing head scarves for that matter. I have been invited to several prayer meetings at the mosque and have been inside many churches during thier Sunday liturgy.

About the churches, you don't have to worry about making a political statement by going inside one. Indeed, I had several muslim students come with me on a field trip to visit a Monestary, and, technically, a muslim is forbidden to enter a Christain establishment of anytime. I think you'll find the religious beliefs are fairly relaxed, and although many identify themselves as Muslim or Orthodox, the only practice they adhere to is the holiday celebrations and fastings. As a tourist, they welcome you inside, and if you want to see a liturgy service, feel free to go on a Sunday. Some churches have liturgy for several hours, and you must stand, not sit. Others have several services every half hour from 7:30 to 9:30 AM. Most churches are open all day Sunday, and if you want to avoid the croud, go later in the day. No pictures inside please--or ASK first, but take all you want outside. The more famous churches and monestaries are open all week.

A good website for churches with historic and beatiful Frescos is here:

http://www.exploringmacedonia.com/

Go to Arts and culture at the left menu. The Painted Mosque in Tetovo is not listed, but is very nice, if you want to visit one. Have fun, and let me know if you have any other questions.

Blessings.

Remco · #6 17th October 2008, 03:49 PM

Originally Posted by OnceDust

Hello all,

Just thought I'd post a friendly greeting from beautiful and mountainous Macedonia. After doing a search, I think there's only 2 CF members from this country, but I have enjoyed living here these four years. People are very friendly and hospitable. Food has generally avoided the price hikes of other places in Europe, partly because it's all locally grown, and I'd say the food is the best part of living here! Such fresh vegetables. Happy summer everyone. Enjoy the sun and visit if you have the chance. Anyone ever passed through?

Blessings

Summer? What is that? We have had no summer here in the Netherlands this year! (Always cloudy, not really warm, often raining.)

Only because I have been in the south of Spain in september of this year, I got an impression of what summer is. A short impression: only one small week.

heron · #7 17th October 2008, 08:08 PM

OnceDust, thank you for all the tips! Especially the timing of services.

The site-- the Rosetta Stone was Macedonian! That's monumental.
People suggested I visit Skopje -- now I see why. It's beautiful, and offers so much to see and explore.

Hoi Remco, I hope the Netherlands makes up for all that rain with a warm winter.

OnceDust · #8 20th October 2008, 01:15 AM

Originally Posted by heron

The site-- the Rosetta Stone was Macedonian! That's monumental.

Well, jury's still out on that. More research in linguistics is needed. But, for the origin of the modern Macedonian language, might I suggest Ohrid, the city of 365 churches, one for every day of the year, along the beautiful lake of the same name. There, scholars and missionaries St. Cyril and Methodius from Thessaloniki created the written language of the Macedonian people so a translation of the Bible into Slavic was possible. Later, students to the Saints adapted the alphabet into the modern Cyrillic, nammed after thier teacher. The Cyrillic alphabet is used today by most modern Slavic langauges, including Belarusian, Bulgarian, Macedonian, Russian, Serbian and Ukrainian.

Originally Posted by Remco

Summer? What is that? We have had no summer here in the Netherlands this year! (Always cloudy, not really warm, often raining.)
Only because I have been in the south of Spain in september of this year, I got an impression of what summer is. A short impression: only one small week.

Wow, and when I went to Denmark and Sweden in May/June it was so warm and sunny. They were telling me how rare that is. I'm sorry summer didn't make it to the Netherlands either. The beauty of the fall is one of my favorite times of the year, though.

heron · #9 22nd October 2008, 12:20 PM

Well, jury's still out on that. More research in linguistics is needed. But, for the origin of the modern Macedonian language, might I suggest Ohrid, the city of 365 churches, one for every day of the year, along the beautiful lake of the same name. There, scholars and missionaries St. Cyril and Methodius from Thessaloniki created the written language of the Macedonian people so a translation of the Bible into Slavic was possible. Later, students to the Saints adapted the alphabet into the modern Cyrillic, nammed after thier teacher. The Cyrillic alphabet is used today by most modern Slavic langauges, including Belarusian, Bulgarian, Macedonian, Russian, Serbian and Ukrainian.

Thank you for the history! I noticed that Thessalonika has several good museums... it is useful to know now a little more of what to expect.

OnceDust · #10 22nd October 2008, 11:18 PM

Originally Posted by heron

Thank you for the history! I noticed that Thessalonika has several good museums... it is useful to know now a little more of what to expect.

No problem. Thanks for being interested. By all means, enjoy your visits to Greece and Macedonia. Both have a lot to see and enjoy. There's a daily van that goes to Thessaoniki early in the morning and returns in the evening from the Holiday Inn in Skopje. I think it's about 40ish Euros. Not bad for a round trip, one day excursion.

Blessings.