Monastery Rajchica

Rajčica Monastery (Рајчки манастир). The convent counterpart to the Monastery of St John Bigorski in Mavrovo. Established in the 14th century, it is above Lake Debar 2 km (1.2 mi) from Debar. The main church at the monastery, dedicated to St George, was built in 1852. The convent was in rough shape until 1999 when it was restored and cooperation was established with a convent in Boston. A chapel was added to the grounds in 2006

The Rajchica Monastery is located at around 15 km from the monastery of St. Jovan Bigorski, in the vicinity of the city of Debar. This women’s monastery is one of the most beautiful Macedonian monasteries, set in astonishing natural surroundings. It is assumed to have been founded in the early 14th century. Some of the frescoes and icons have been painted by the famous Dicho Zograf. For 179 years the monastery has been guarding important religious relics – part of the cross on which Jesus Christ was crucified, and part of the hand of Saint George, which has been in the possession of the monastery since November 2003 and was brought from Mount Athos.

The monastery also possesses preserved parts of the relics of St. John Kukuzel. It is interesting to note that the nuns living in the monastery make “mithras” (the crown, part of the Orthodox bishops’ garments) worn by the bishops of the Macedonian Orthodox Church, but also by the bishops of Bulgaria, Serbia, Greece, Romania and the Ecumenical Patriarchate in Constantinople.