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The Wednesday in the middle Traditional Cache

Hidden : 4/1/2014
Difficulty:
1.5 out of 5
Terrain:
2 out of 5

Size: Size:   small (small)

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Geocache Description:


The Wednesday in the middle


I know, you wonder what does this cache strange name mean? I wondered too, but now I found out and I have an explanation…


This cache will bring you to “Pelenitsa”, a picnic place near Drachevo, a settlement near Skopje. The main objects within Pelenitsa area are the church and monastic dormitory. They bear the name: Sveto Prepolovenie Rusa Sreda, (translated as: St. Halve Wednesday).

Pelenitsa



This strange name of a church is quite rare in Macedonia. According to sources from Internet, this name refers to one particural day – Wednesday (always this day) in the middle of “Pentecost” (the fifty days). “Pentecost is celebrated seven weeks (50 days) after Easter Sunday. The fiftieth day after resurrection of Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit descents upon the apostles. From that moment, the church of Christ began to live a full life and to grow. So this holiday is considered the birthday of the Church of Christ.”


The church St. Halve Wednesday


For those who want to know more about Pentecost: “Fiftieth day after Easter of our Lord Jesus Christ, the tenth day after Ascension Day, Orthodox Church celebrates Pentecost or Holy Trinity. On that day the apostles were all gathered together in one place. Suddenly there was a sound from heaven that filled the house where they were sitting. Flaming tongues filled with the Holy Spirit are set to each of them. Now the apostles received the Holy Spirit and became a living soul. The apostles then began to speak in other languages - to them the Holy Spirit is given to speak. Descent of the Holy Spirit upon the apostles completed the establishment of the Church of Christ and the kingdom of God on earth of the Lord Jesus Christ. From that moment, the church of Christ began to live a full life and to grow. This holiday is considered the birthday of the Church of Christ.”


The fiftieth day


Celebration of St. Halve Wednesday is held on Wednesday of the fourth week after Pasha (Easter). On this day we remember one event in the life of Jesus Christ, when he taught in the temple of his divine mission and of mystery of water.



Speaking about water: find about 1 hour of your time to watch an amazing documentary film about secrets of the water. You will be astonished (as I was)! Top Secret Water - 2005 Documentary: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mJhogR7YLps


Springtime around Pelenitsa


There are various traditions in Macedonia connected with the St. Halve Wednesday. Since this day is related to upcoming spring when the nature turns green, in some regions that day is prohibited to work and to eat anything “green” (spinach, nettle, for example). In other regions, a ritual of invoking rain, called “Dodole”, was performed.



Let’s resume: if you decide to visit this place, remember that 25 days after Easter, on Wednesday, on this place is held a big celebration. Also, Easter is celebrated here, and many other festivals. Since 2010, an interesting event is held here – an “Onion Olympiad”, called “Kromidiada” (the village Drachevo is well known for its high quality onion - kromid - production). During this celebration plenty dishes with onion are prepared.



How to get there
: From Skopje drive toward Drachevo (about 9 km). At R1 point turn right and drive uphill about 4 km.



Here is one tip for you: if you prefer a pleasant walk on the hills, leave your car in the village Drachevo (R2) and take a taxi to get you to “Pelenitsa”. It should cost no more than 200 denars. (You can find taxi in the center of Drachevo settlement. Near the R1 is a gas station (about 30 meters), here turn left and drive toward the Market place (Mac.: “Pazar”), about 200 meters. Here is a taxi station. Ask the taxi driver to follow you, or to lead you, toward the parking place at R2 which lies at the Center of the village Drachevo (Mac.: “Centar na selo Drachevo”), which is about 1 km far. Here you leave your car and take taxi. The price for taxi would not be more than 200 denars. After sightseeing Pelenitsa take a walk on the hills, about 4.5 km long, toward Drachevo village. From Pelenitsa continue walking on the asphalt road uphill about 0.5 km, and at the point R3 turn left and follow the field path north-east. On the way you can hunt the cache “The fox” and “Three pears, but a fish”. At the point R4, north-east, on the hill across the valley, the you will see the place “Three pears, but a fish”. You can either descent down the village and go to the “Three pears, but a fish” on the asphalt road, or across the valley. From “Three pears, but a fish” it takes some 10 min. walk downhill thru Drachevo village to reach your car.


The cache is a small white plastic tube. Bring a pen! Please, be aware of snakes, especially in summer! Check the cache place with some branch or a stick first!

Sources: Internet sources. Photos: Internet, original (by Galejnik)

Additional Hints (Decrypt)

Evtug pbeare bs gur fgbar jnyy. Bhgfvqr.

Decryption Key

A|B|C|D|E|F|G|H|I|J|K|L|M
-------------------------
N|O|P|Q|R|S|T|U|V|W|X|Y|Z

(letter above equals below, and vice versa)