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Magnificent Vigil of the Dormition of the Virgin at the Holy Monastery of Panagia Prechistatranslated

September 3, 2026 · 1 min read

There are nights when time seems to cease to be measured by hours and to begin to be measured by prayer; nights when the earthly gives way before the heavenly, and the human heart, freed even for a moment from the noise of the passing, feels that it stands before another, higher and sweeter reality. Such was this blessed night of the Dormition in the ancient holy monastery of the Mother of God - the Holy Monastery "Theotokos - Prechista" of the Archdiocese of Ahridos near Kitsevo. Under Her mother's roof, in the church that has been sanctified by centuries of prayers, tears and hopes, that silent and inexpressible presence of the Queen Mother was felt, Who even during Her solemn Dormition does not abandon the world, but embraces it even more strongly with Her embassies before the throne of Her Son and God.

With the blessing of the Professor of the Holy Monastery of the Holy Forerunner of Bigorski Theophilus, Bishop of Antania, Mr. Parthenios, the entire monastic family of Bigorski, Raichitsa and Precista gathered in Precista, together with a multitude of pious believers from various places,...

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💬 Comments (11) 🌐 Show original

Петя Костова

I heard that in Pretsista, the monks from the entire Bigor monastery gathered together with the people. Sounds like a real family night of prayer. I am glad that there too they felt the motherly protection of the Mother of God, especially of the Assumption.

Timothy Parker

The part about the whole monastic family from Bigorski, Raitchitsa, and Pretsista gathering together really stood out. Sounds like a proper family vigil, the kind where you lose track of time in the prayers. Glad the faithful felt that motherly protection on the feast.

Десислава Николова

Yes, Petya, that's right – the monks from Bigorski, Rajchitsa and Pretsista gathered as one big monastic family. I imagine how after midnight everything quiets down and only "Holy Mother of God, save us" is heard. I wonder if you ever went there for Assumption?

Peter Clark

I liked how the article mentioned the whole monastic family from Bigorski, Raitchitsa, and Pretsista gathering like one big household for the vigil. Sounds like the kind of night where the prayers just carry you and the hours disappear. Have any of you been to Pretsista for the Dormition?

Elena Florea

I'm glad that they gathered the whole monastic family from Bigorski, Raițita and Precisista, like at a night of prayer at home. I remembered how the article says that time is measured by prayer, not by the clock - that's exactly how it is at vigils. Have you ever been there at Assumption, Petia?

Светлана Кузнецова

Интересно, как в статье подчеркнули, что монахи из Бигоровского, Райчицы и Претсисты собрались всей семьёй. У нас в Ростове на Успение тоже стараемся в храм всей семьёй прийти, но там, наверное, совсем особая тишина после полуночи. Has anyone been to this monastery?

Красимира Маркова

Yes, Desislava, just like a big family - and I imagine how after midnight only this quiet "Holy Mother of God, save us" remains. I have never been to Assumption in Pretsista, but last year I went to the celebration in Bigorski and it was very peaceful. did you go

Росица Петрова

Yes, Petya, I heard the same thing too – the monks from Bigorski, Raichitsa and Pretsista really got together as one big family. Last year I was there with the children right on Assumption and after midnight you could feel that warm motherly protection, as if the Mother of God was really standing next to you. Have you ever been to Pretsista?

Gregory Mitchell

The gathering of all three monasteries really does make it feel like one big family pulling an all-nighter in prayer. I’ve been to a few vigils where the hours just disappear like that, especially on the Dormition. Did you ever make it up to Bigorski yourself, Timothy?

Мариана Тодорова

Yes, Krasimira, that's right – like a big family, where after midnight only the whisper of prayer remains. Last year I was also at Assumption in Bigorski with the children, it was very peaceful, but in Pretsista it is even more special because of the old church. At what point in the service did you most feel as if time stood still?

Ирина Голубева

It’s interesting that you noticed about “the whole family” - they really sound like one big monastic family. In Novosibirsk, for the Assumption, my son and I also try to go to church together, but after midnight the silence is completely different, urban. And in Pretsist, they say, even the air is different from these ancient walls. Would you like to visit there yourself?