The President of the Republic of Macedonia, Dr. Gjorge Ivanov, on the occasion of the religious holiday Assumption of the Holy Mother of God visited the "Trekavec" monastery and urged all believers and Orthodox Christians to respect the traditions and cherish what is left to us by our ancestors.

"To be in solidarity, to be helping people, because this holiday is a symbol of giving and protecting", President Ivanov said.

The Macedonian President expressed hope that, as a generation, we will help rebuild the monastery.

"As people who sense all the beauty of all this tradition and culture, we will make sure to leave all that is left to us as legacy to the future generations – a monastery befitting its history so far, all that affected this region, and for all our people", President Ivanov said.

Marjan Ristevski, Mayor of Prilep, said that it is his pleasure, on this great Christian holiday, to be in one of the most beautiful monasteries, in the presence of the Head of State and the Minister of Internal Affairs.

Congratulating the great holiday to the believers, Ristevski wished the dormitories of this monastery, which is one of the most beautiful in Macedonia and in the Balkans, with the efforts of the Government and the Ministry of Culture, to be restored as soon as possible.

Responding to a journalist's question, he said that the projects are nearing completion and that it is expected the bids to be soon announced, and, following the selection of companies, the reconstruction of the new dormitories to start.

"Two years ago, one of the most important works was done along with the Ministry of Transport and Communications and the Government of the Republic of Macedonia - the construction of an asphalt access road to the monastery, for the first time in history, that much helps large number of tourists, Orthodox Christians and believers, to visit the monastery", Ristevski said. In this context, he added, this will help a lot in the future to bring the machinery and building materials for the construction of the dormitories of the monastery.