PART OF THE MONOGRAPH “GOJKO JAKOVLEVSKI” BY SLAVE KATIN
Christianity began to be preached in Macedonia ever since the period of the Holy Apostles. To spread Chris tianity, the apostle Paul made many blessed journeys during which he preached the word of Christ.
Christianity then began to take a swing when the Roman Emperor Constan tine the Great in 313 accepted it as a state re ligion, thereby enabling Christians to free ly confess and preach their faith. Episcopal seats in Thessaloniki, Stobi, Skupi, Astibo, Heraclea and other sites in Macedonia have been known since that time.
It means that Christianity in Polog also dates back to those ancient times. In Polog, Christianity and its history are especially marked by its wealth of cultural and histori cal monuments, especially the churches and monasteries, which have contributed to the survival of Christianity in those Macedoni an territories.
Zubovce is one of the Christian centers in Gostivar. During our visit we realized that this very characteristic Macedonian settle ment is one of the most beautiful locations in Polog. It is just five kilometers away from Gostivar. Zubovce is located at the foot of Shara Mountain, between the villages of Debreshe (on the south) and Vrapchishte (on the north), which municipality also includes Zubovce. It seems that due to the increased expansion of the Albanian population, these two villages are almost merged. A small population of Turkish and Macedonian pop ulation lives in Vrapchishte. Unlike Vrap chishte, in Zubovce lives Macedonian popu lation.
Zubovce is one of the Christian centers in Gostivar. This very characteristic Mace donian settlement is one of the most beau tiful locations in Polog, only five kilometers away from Gostivar, located at the foot of the Shar Mountain. In Zubovce there are three Macedonian Orthodox temples of God and one chapel: the churches of “Saint Blessed Mary”, “Saint Nicholas” and “Saint Thomas Apostle”, as well as the chapel of “The Holy Mother of God and the Savior Jesus Christ”. All of these religious temples have their own special function in the church, national and spiritual life.
The mitropolit Josif in Zubovce
The inhabitants of Zubovce have long been devoted believers and adherents of the Christian Orthodox faith. Therefore, since time immemorial, the inhabitants of Zubovce have begun to build churches, which have served and serve as the largest gathering places for their national and reli gious unity.
However, Christian monuments in Zubovce are the work of its builders and icon painters; they are owned by all inhabitants of the village, and devotees of their spiritual and artistic value are all well-meaning peo ple who believe in human values of faith, love and peace among all people. Church monuments in the village of Zubovce, in deed, have been and are sacred places of rap prochement among Christians.
In Zubovce there are three Macedonian Orthodox temples of God and one chapel: the churches of “St. Blessed Mary” “St. Nich olas” and “St. Thomas Apostle”, as well as the chapel of “The Holy Mother of God and the Savior Jesus Christ”. All of these religious temples have their own specific function.
Thus, in the Church of “St. Mary” the di vine liturgies are dedicated to the Orthodox holidays and to the saints, and all world ly joys are celebrated. In the church of “St. Nicholas” services are held for the rest of the souls of the dead. The church organizes the funerals, requiem services and services for the four all souls’ days in the year. In the new temple of God, “St. Apostle Thomas”, the happiest moments in human life are cel ebrated: baptizing newborns and marrying young couples.
The chapel of “The Holy Mother of God and the Savior Jesus Christ” is dedicated to the memory and rest of the souls of the Yak ovleski family.
To be continue
By SLAVE KATIN
