Where is the cross? or celebration of Baptism of Jesus Christ – Vodici

On the 19th of January Orthodoxes celebrated the Baptism of Jesus Christ, Vodici, called also “Bogojavlenie” which is celebrated for more than 2000 years. Celebration of this day is performed by a unique (and funny) ceremony of throwing the cross into the waters of a lake or river, what symbolizes an unification of the human with Jesus Christ.  In Struga to the river of Crn Drim (Black Drim).

During this unique event, the waters of the lake are being baptized by the high priest (Archbishop of Ohrid – Stefan) by throwing the cross into the water, but the real attraction is the people jumping into the cold waters of the lake trying to find the cross! The dare-devil who finds it is believed to be blessed for the whole of next year and becomes a kind of local hero.
This year the winner won also a laptop. After all, all the shaking because of coldness, freezed competitors are served with hot rakija to warm them up (and all the others too).
Reportedly, last years in Struga, the cross once got lost in the water depths, other time was broken…fortunately this year nothing bad happened.

 

Duvalo - the last active volcano in the Balkans

Kosel, a Macedonian village located 7km north from Ohrid, inhabited with about 600 people. The place resembles dozens of villages in the region, but in the one respect is special. Here, there is the only one active volcano in the Balkans – Duvalo. Going there to check how this place looks like, I imagined a big crater releasing loads of smoke, but on the spot it turned out that this is only small hill and several small holes in the ground, 50 cm diameter and 30 cm deep. Nevertheless, it’s enough to guarantee unbelievable stench of rotten eggs. How the people can live there?

On the place I found a lot of dead animals – foxes, hedgehogs, birds and snakes. Well, it’s not a surprise because the stink is unbearable.

The last time when hot water was found here was in 1973 in the depth of 80 m - 35ºC, and 400 m deep - 95ºC. Volcanic fumes kill local animals but the volcano has simultaneously curing attributes. People suffering from various skin illnesses come here and apply mixture from sulphur and volcanic mud on the ill places on their bodies. However, staying next to one of the craters more than 15 minutes can end with suffocation.

Below, the material of Macedonian television and photoreportage.