The National Park Galicica is situated on Mount Galicica, that is a part of the mountain range of Sara-Pind. The National Park Galicica, situated in the furthest south-eastern part of the Republic of Macedonia, is characteristic for its positioning between the two lakes – Ohrid and Prespa Lake. Galicica National Park encloses area of 25 000 ha.

 Right between ocean blue coloured waters of Lake Ohrid and lake Prespa, mountain of Galicica is imposed with its towering limestone ridge. From Goga, the highest peak of the mountain, both lakes are simultaneously visible – a unique and extraordinary sight, especially at sunset.

The main geological surface on the major part of Mount Galicica are Paleozoic metamorphic silicates covered with 500-550 m horizons of massive limestone that have spongy structure and are highly porous.

The Park is especially distinguished with the abundance of floristic wealth. 31 vegetation communities are registered in Galicica, 19 of which are forests and the rest grass.

On both sides of the slopes there are magnificent sights of the lakes and the nearby mountains. Galicica is known for its exceptional abundant and beautiful nature.

The Monastery is situated along Lake Ohrid, 29 km south of the city of Ohrid. St. Nahum of Ohrid was the yongest student of St. Cyril and St. Methodius and preached Christianity and helped people in the town of Devol, Republic of Macedonia. The Orthodox Christians believed that his relics were healing. It is not known at what time the monastery took his name but probably in the Middle Ages.

In 18 century the monastery buildings were demolished. The Abbot Stefan from Plovdiv reconstructed the monastery and erected a chapel above the grave of St. Nahum. An inscription located above the church entrance shows that the artistic images inside it and inside the chapel were elaborated by Master Tarpo after 1806. There are exquisite mural paintings like the church – founder portrait of King Boris-1 with an inscription in greek “Michail -Boris”, St. Elias and the Seven Apostles of Bulgaria. The chapel features scenes depicting the deeds of St. Nahum- baptizing of  Ana- the daughter of King Boris-1 in Pliska, a portrait of St. Nahum, Assumption of St. Nahum and St. Euthymius, Patriarch of Tarnovo, as well as a portrait of the Abbot Stefan from Plovdiv and others. The monastery also hosts a school for children and young people from the surrounding areas.

The Bigorski monastery is a Bulgarian Orthodox monastery in the western part of Macedonia in the valley of the radika River between the towns of Debar and Gostivar. The monastery is famous for its elegant wooden iconostasis and it amazing icons and mural paintings.
 

It was established in 1020 by Archbishop John and bears the name of St. John the baptist. “Bigirski” originates from the bigor stone- the main type of rock in the region. The monastery was demolished by the Turks in 16 century and quickly recovered afterwards. In beginning of 19 century, during the management of Abbot Arsenius, the monastery was expanded and enjoyed a large number of benefactors. The ornamented wooden iconostasis of the monastery church was elaborated in the 1830s.

The chief master was Petar Filipov from then village of gari, a representative of the Debar woodcarving school, who, in cooperation with his brother Marko and several other assistent, worked for six years on this masterpiece. The icons in the iconostasis were painted by icon- painter Michail and his son Dimitar. Besides the iconostasis, the wood- carvers also elaborated the prelate’s throne and the abbot’s chair in the church, whose northers features marvelous mural paintings of St. Clement of Ohrid, St. Nahum, St. George and other Bulgarian saints.

The monastery of St. Joachim Osogovski, set amongst verdant green woods near the northeastern town of Kriva Palanka. The nowadays monastery has two churches – the old one, Holy Mother of God, and the new one, St. Joachim Ossogovski. In the summer it has been used for an architecture summer school – at any time travelers can stay here and enjoy the peace and the beauty.

History: St. Joachim a disciple of our saint John of Rila- the Wonderworker, found monastic solitude in a cave near the Kriva River. Here he lived a life of fast and prayers, honored by the people as a holy person. He died in 1105 and two hunters buried him near the cave.
At first the saint’s relics were places in a small church devoted to Virgin Mary. When in 12 century St. joacim became extremely popular and respected in the region , the people constructed the monastery, bearing his name.
The monastery suffered severe damage from an earthquake in 16 centery. The construction of the large church bearing the name of St. Joachim was completed in 1851.

Its frescoes are especially characteristic of the 19th century. The monastery complex had always been an important cultural, religious, and educational center.

Joachim means “Yahweh prepares” and Anna means “graciousness”. Tradition holds that while Joachim was away from home, both he and Anna each received angelic messages that St. Anna was pregnant at an elderly age.

The monastery of St. Naum is located on the southeast side of Lake Ohrid, in the immediate vicinity of the Macedonian-Albanian border. The original Naum’s church was dedicated to the Holy Archangels Michael and Gabriel. Archaeological excavations and surveys of Naum’s monastery revealed that the present church was built on the foundations of the original church in the period between the XVI and XVII centuries.

The monastery has been renewed and enlarged several times over the centuries. In the church there are no preserved frescoes from the time of St. Naum, nor have the excavations prove that there were any paintings in the beginning of X century. St. Naum had chosen this noble wilderness to continue his mission that served to the enlightenment of the people. The grave of Naum was constructed on the southeast part of the narthex, on the same place as the grave of Clement in Ohrid. Entrance fee 100 MKD. No photos allowed inside, no english spoken guide.