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.

 

The Albanian culture and dance festival - Këngë Jeho

15-17 July on the main square of Struga took place the Albanian culture and dance festival – Këngë Jeho. During three evenings participated 20 groups from Macedonia, Kosovo, Albania, Montenegro and Italy. The festival started traditionally with a street parade of all of the participants. 

Below few photos from this energetic and ear-splitting event:

 

The abandoned Hotel Izgrev

The abandoned Hotel Izgrev (Sunrise) in the village of Kalishta, next to Struga in Macedonia is simultaneously a miserable and fascinating place. Exploring the village, looking for the cave church, I change a little bit my previously planned way and spent in this place about 3 hours, searching floor by floor. I didn’t manage to reach the cave church that day, though it turned out, it was only 100 m farther. 

About 8 years ago the hotel bankrupted and the trial against its owners, who were accused for financial crimes, haven’t still finished. Izgrev came into total ruin and the first impression after entering inside is abandoned building in the city of Prypiat in Ukraine after the Chernobyl disaster. The interior looks like after a bomb blast. Broken glass, lack on any door in hundreds rooms, a mess, a total chaos.