Tearce Municipality
North Macedonia · Europe
About Tearce Municipality
Tearce is a municipality in western North Macedonia, located east of Tetovo. Part of the Polog region, it has over 22,000 residents spread across 13 villages. Jegunovce is east of Tearce, bordering Kosovo. It has under 11,000 residents in its 17 villages.
Tearce Municipality travel guide
Understand
Tearce is home to a population of Albanians, ethnic Macedonians and other ethnic minorities. Over the past several decades, however, Tearce has become less diverse. In 1953, the population was 57% Albanian and 38% Macedonian. As of the last census in 2002, Tearce is 84% Albanian and 12% Macedonian. Jegunovce has an ethnic Macedonian majority with a large Albanian minority. This area was among the parts of the country particularly affected by the 2001 ethnic Albanian insurgency.
See
1 Lešok Monastery (Лешочки манастир), village of Lešok. The most significant Christian spiritual site in the Tetovo area is this monastery established in 1321. The grounds contains multiple active churches as well as remains of older ones. The Church of the Virgin Mary is the oldest of the monastery churches dating to 1326. It is an excellent example of the Byzantine style, containing three layers of frescoes. The main church of monastery is dedicated to Saint Athanasius. It was built between the world wars and then rebuilt following its destruction in 2001. The monastery dormitories got their present appearance in 1818, which is when its library was founded, which made Lešok an important literary center. Kiril Pejčinovik, a cleric considered one of the earliest contributors to the Macedonian language, revived the monastery in 1818 and was hegumen of the monastery until his death in 1845. He is buried on the grounds of the monastery. The monastery is also said to contain buried treasure on its grounds. Lešok Monastery has been severely damaged multiple times in its history - there is even an old song about these misfortunes. The first occurred in 1710 when Ottoman janissaries attacked the monastery; it became abandoned until 1818 when Pejčinovik restored it. The second occurred in 1905 by Albanians as retaliation for the killing of two Albanians in a nearby village, though the damage was not as major. In 2001 for the third time, the monastery was destroyed by Albanian insurgents. This attack caused widespread condemnation and EU funds were provided to restore the monastery which was completed in 2007. Monastic life has been continuous at the monastery since it was revived by Pejčinovik in 1818. There is a popular restaurant at the monastery and the dormitories are open for lodging to visitors. (updated Jan 2020) 2 Church of Saint John the Baptist (Црква „Св. Јован Богослов“), village of Tearce. Located in Otušište, which historically was a separate village but is no
Do
1 Tetovo Folk Fest (Тетовски фолк фест). Held every August on the holiday of the Dormition of the Holy Mother of God at Lešok Monastery is this festival which brings out the best Macedonian folk musicians. (updated Feb 2020)
Eat
1 Restaurant Gryka, ☏ +389 70 348 025. Traditional food, grill, seafood, garden, terrace, private parking, (updated Feb 2020)
Overview adapted from Wikipedia, travel guide fromWikivoyage (CC BY-SA)。Photography via Wikimedia Commons.