Rajčica Monastery, Orthodox monastery in Debar Municipality, North Macedonia
Rajčica Monastery is an Orthodox monastery in Debar Municipality, North Macedonia, featuring two churches dedicated to Saint George and Saint John Bigorski. The site sits in rural surroundings near the Albanian border and displays Byzantine architectural design.
The monastery was built in 1835 on the site of a 16th-century structure. This reconstruction made it an important center of Byzantine architecture in the Debar region.
The monastery's nuns create ornate bishops' hats called miters, decorating them with precious stones and small icons in the Byzantine style. This skilled craft shapes the daily rhythm of life at the site and connects the community to Orthodox traditions worldwide.
The monastery can be reached by local transportation from Debar or via hiking paths from nearby villages. The rural setting means visitors should plan for travel time and check on basic facilities before visiting.
The workshop has produced over 1,600 miters worn by Orthodox bishops worldwide, including in Russia, the United States, and the Greek Orthodox Church. This global reach transformed the monastery into an unexpected spiritual center of skilled craftsmanship.
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