Zrze Monastery
This cache will introduce you to Zrze Monastery, located near the village Zrze, approx. 25km north-west of the city Prilep. On the way to this cache, three more “bonus” caches wait for you, just to make your long journey more exciting and pleasent!
The monastery complex Zrze is situated at an altitude of 1000 meters, near the village Zrze, about 25 km northwest of Prilep, on the slopes of beautiful mountains Dautica, which dominates the Pelagonia plain in central - western Macedonia. The Zrze monastery complex includes several medieval churches under one roof - Church of the Holy Transfiguration, St. Peter and Paul's Church, the Chapel of St. George and St. Nicholas. They all together, along with the remains of an early Christian basilica from the 5th or 6 century, show the rich cultural-religous tradition of the region.
Zrze monastery on a limestone rock
The Monastery was built on a high limestone rock. When approach near, one can see hermit caves carved in the rock. They origin from the 14-th century and consist of 12 caves. Four of them are still used by the monks. In solitery of the caves they fight "against stupidity and hatred, against the force of nothingness and dissolution, in the joy of the resurrection and suffering of the cross..."
The monastery Zrze was and remains an important religious center, where rich spiritual life of monks, which historically belong to the highest monastic order, is practiced. A brotherhood of 5 monks lives here and prays in the silence of the mountains…
Monks in the hermit caves
Last year massive construction works started at the monastery, there fore right now is might seem to the visitors rather rush and crowded. Brothers, however, say that the works will finished during 2914, when the approaching road would be covered with asphalt.
In the front of the church
How to get there: From Prilep follow the marks toward the city of Makedonski Brod (you can turn right at R1, from the blv. Goce Delchev, when driving from east to west). From the R1 drive about 20 km to the R2 at the crossroad in the village Ropotovo; here turn right. From the R2 drive 7.7 km to the point R3, which lies on the cross at the village Kostinci. From R3 turn left a dirt road (filed, no asphalt). Drive about 150 meters and take the path west, to the village Zrze (5.5 km). This cache lies on the half way to the monastery Zrze. The road is fully reconstructed, however you must leave the car at the parking place (R4) few hundreds meters below the Monastery.
The cache is a small white plastic container.
Sources: Internet sources. Photos: Internet and original (by Galejnik)