Bigorski Monastery to host feast day and monk tonsures

The Bigorski Monastery, also known as the Monastery of Saint John the Baptist, is hosting its traditional main feast day to commemorate the Beheading of Saint John the Baptist.

A central spiritual event of the celebration will be the tonsure of three new monks. The ceremony will be presided over by Metropolitan Georgi of Debar and Kičevo during the festive vigil.

The celebration will feature a collaborative musical performance by the monastery's brotherhood and the ‘Saint John Kukuzel’ choir from Tirana, Albania. The participation of the Albanian Orthodox choir is intended to serve as a “brotherly testimony that the Orthodox faith, prayer, and sacred tradition transcend all borders and unite peoples in one Christ's Church.” The festivities include a festive vigil and the Holy Hierarchical Chrysostom Liturgy.