Another slow morning- a great way to start a weekend day :) At noon we went to meet Vesna for coffee. She picked up Lizzie and I at the gate and said she would take us up to a Monastery just outside of Tetovo if we wanted to go! Um, of course we wanted to go!!!
The monastery was in the village of Leshok, to the north of Tetovo. It was an entire grounds with a restaurant, monastery, area to bring animal/livestock offerings to the church, and 2 orthodox churches. The newer of the two churches was destroyed during the 2001 conflict. Following the conflict many people both ethnic Macedonians and ethnic Albanians donated to have it restored. Since it was just restored, the paint inside of the church was very bright and fresh looking. We then walked down to the Church Saint Madonna, also on the Leshok Monastery grounds. This church was first written about in 1326… it was absolutely amazing to stand inside of a place of worship where people have gone for hundreds of years! Vesna mentioned that several of the paintings on the walls were not ones she has seen in Orthodox churches before.
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| Vesna, Lizzie and I |
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| Inside the newer of the two churches |
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| Part of the church they did not remodel |
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| Up close |
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| The Church of Madonna |
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| Inside The Church of Madonna |
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| Inside The Church of Madonna |
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| Inside The Church of Madonna |
Lesson: Wars, conflicts, and tragedies like this week at Penn State and here at Leshok Monastary, can be terrible things, but it is what comes after them that can define who we are.
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