SkopjeDiem Macedonia in English
A governmental delegation headed by PM Dimitar Kovacevski attended on Wednesday the central ceremony for celebration of the Orthodox Christian holiday of Epiphany in Skopje. Kovacevski extended his greetings over the holiday to Archbishop of the Macedonian Orthodox Church – Ohrid Archbishopric (MOC-OA) Stephen, as well as to the citizens that participated in the ritual in which a priest tosses a cross in a river or lake or other body of water that has been previously consecrated, and the participants, generally men, try to catch the cross, guided by the belief that the one that catches it first will have a happy and prosperous year. This year, instead of having open call for participation, MOC-OA only sent invites to 30 men that have participated in previous ceremonies for Epiphany, and instead of competing who to catch the cross first, the men decided to join hands and dedicate the catching of the cross to all current and former participants throughout the years. As representative of the group, i.e. “catcher of the Holy Cross” the group appointed Igor Jakimovski, who received gifts from MOC-OA Archbishop Stephen and Skopje Mayor Danela Arsovska.
