Bishop Parthenius of Antania
Parthenius, Bishop of Antania and Abbot of Bigorski (Fidanovski) — born on October 29, 1970, in Bitola. He is the current abbot of the Bigorski Monastery, and in 2020, he was declared the vicar bishop of the Debar-Kičevo Diocese, with the title of Antania.
Biography
Parthenius (secular name Zorancho Fidanovski) was born on October 29, 1970, in Bitola, into a Macedonian Orthodox family that strongly valued traditional Christian beliefs, as well as patriotism and love for freedom. His great-grandfather on his father's side, Stojan Vojvodata Virovcheto, from the village of Virovo, Demir Hisar, was a member of the Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization (IMRO) who gave his life for the freedom of Macedonia.
From a very young age, filled with a strong love for God, Zoran began his spiritual path at the Secondary Theological School in Dračevo, Skopje. Later, driven by a thirst for spiritual knowledge, he graduated from the Orthodox Theological Faculty "St. Clement of Ohrid" in Skopje, where he wrote his thesis about the figure of St. John the Baptist.
God's guidance, however, led him even more deeply into Orthodox spiritual and monastic life, taking him to the Gregoriou Monastery on Mount Athos, where he stayed for some time under the wise guidance of the now-late Elder Georgios Kapsanis, the abbot of Gregoriou. After receiving his blessing, Zoran returned to Macedonia in late July 1995. At the age of 24, he began his important and challenging mission to restore and continue the centuries-old spiritual tradition at Bigorski Monastery, with the blessing of the diocesan bishop, Metropolitan Timothy of Debar and Kičevo.
This spiritual renewal was urgently needed because, after the death of the last monk and abbot, Spiridon, in 1948, monastic life at Bigorski had completely stopped, and the services were interrupted. The church of St. John the Baptist was in a state of neglect, the lower building was in ruins, the upper building was falling apart, and there were no electricity or water supply, and no basic living conditions for monks. The spiritual life had almost disappeared.
Parthenius on Mount Athos
Father Parthenius spent a significant part of his monastic life at Gregoriou Monastery on Mount Athos, one of the most revered monasteries in the Orthodox Christian world. There, he was under the spiritual guidance of Elder Georgios Kapsanis, a well-respected ascetic and abbot.
During his time on Mount Athos, Father Parthenius immersed himself in the rigorous and ascetic monastic lifestyle, which included daily prayer, fasting, and manual labor. The monastic life on Mount Athos is centered around prayer, with the Jesus Prayer being a core practice. The monks live in deep silence and humility, focusing on detaching from worldly distractions to foster a closer relationship with God.
Father Parthenius learned from Elder Georgios the importance of obedience and humility, two key principles of the Athonite monastic tradition. His time on Mount Athos deeply shaped his spiritual path and prepared him for the significant role he would later assume as abbot of Bigorski Monastery, where he would revive the monastic community and restore the monastery’s spiritual life.
Spiritual and Material Renewal
The task before the young but hardworking Archimandrite Parthenius, the new abbot of Bigorski Monastery, was immense. The monastery's church was thoroughly cleaned, restored, and beautifully decorated. Then, on the old foundations that survived the 1912 fire, Father Parthenius, along with his brethren, authentically restored and expanded the Lower Monastery in 2006. After the 2009 fire, the brotherhood completely restored the Upper Monastery and built the previously non-existent Eastern Monastery from the ground up.
Regarding the metochions, the St. George the Victorious Monastery was built in the village of Rajčica in 2001, turning a livestock shed into a jewel of modern Macedonian monastic architecture. In 2012, the village of Roštuše was blessed with the beautifully constructed Church of the Holy Virgin. The construction of the Bigorski Skete “St. Cyril and Methodius” in Bitushe is also underway, with Father Parthenius planning a suitable space for summer religious education camps for youth, which have been held at Bigorski and Rajčica monasteries for years.
Father Parthenius is also known for his work revitalizing the region by providing both material and spiritual help to the local residents and promoting the unique Mijak culture in this culturally and historically significant area of Macedonia.
Spiritual and Social Mission
More significant than the many construction projects of Archimandrite Parthenius is his spiritual and social mission, which he has carried out with relentless intensity over the past two decades. Understanding that the spiritual renewal of any monastery begins with the renewal of its liturgical life, Father Parthenius introduced the regular Orthodox liturgical cycle at Bigorski Monastery. This contributed to the monastery becoming a spiritual refuge for the faithful, with many newly baptized believers and the revived monastic community being part of a spiritual revival that spread throughout Macedonia.
As an experienced and well-educated spiritual leader, Father Parthenius, with his utmost selflessness and dedication to others and his homeland, has taken thousands of souls under his care, helping them find comfort, peace, and solutions to life’s problems in an era of spiritual crisis and moral decline. His support extends beyond spiritual guidance, as he is widely known for his humanitarian work, providing material and financial assistance to those most in need, both individuals and families. Particularly notable is his mission to rehabilitate and reintegrate young people suffering from addiction, alcoholism, gambling, and other vices. Hundreds of young souls, under Father Parthenius’ spiritual care, have not only broken free from the dangers of destruction but have been fully rehabilitated and become productive members of society.
Advocacy for Macedonian History and Culture
A great lover and scholar of Macedonian history and cultural heritage, Archimandrite Parthenius continuously advocates for their promotion and preservation. He played a key role in reintroducing the ancient Eastern Orthodox church singing tradition to the Macedonian Orthodox Church (MOC-OA) and its educational institutions. Father Parthenius has organized numerous public lectures on contemporary spiritual and societal issues, and his efforts to publish spiritual literature, manage the monastery’s website, and promote prominent figures from church history are equally significant.
As a man of peace and love for all people, regardless of their religious, ethnic, or racial background, Father Parthenius has elevated Bigorski Monastery and the Rajčica Monastery into true centers of coexistence in the Mijak-Rekan region of Macedonia. Through his philanthropic nature, he has turned Bigorski Monastery into a key factor in the security, stability, and coexistence of the region, making it a spiritual oasis and cultural landmark not only for Orthodox Christians but also for Macedonians of Muslim faith and ethnic Albanians, who hold deep respect for the monastery and its abbot.
Contribution to Regional Peace and Neighbor Relations
Father Parthenius’ contribution to building good and peaceful neighborly relations between Balkan countries, as well as overcoming historical propaganda and misconceptions within Macedonian society, is especially important.
Additional Monastic Leadership
For more than a year, Father Parthenius has also been the spiritual leader of the "Annunciation of the Most Holy Theotokos" Monastery – Prečista and the "St. George the Victorious" Monastery in Knežino, Kičevo, whose monastic continuity was continued through his efforts, at the request of Metropolitan Timothy.
Recognition and Awards
The overall work of His Eminence Archimandrite Parthenius has infused Macedonian society with a strong positive spirit and forward-thinking ideas. His contributions have been recognized by numerous individuals, organizations, and institutions, awarding him several honors, including:
- The City of Bitola Lifetime Achievement Award ("4 November", 2011).
- "Person of the Year" award from the Nova Makedonija newspaper (2012).
- Humanitarian Award from the MaBiH Association and the Embassy of Bosnia and Herzegovina in Macedonia (2014).
- The Order of St. Naum of Ohrid from the Debar-Kičevo Diocese (2015).
- Multiple diplomas from the Good Samaritan Society.
- Person of the Year awards from several weeklies and online portals.
- Award for Permanent Values – the highest award from the Bitolski Vesnik newspaper (2018).