Speeches, Remarks & Statements in 2009

Ambassador Reeker and Minister of Culture Elizabeta Kanceska Milevska sign the grant agreement. (LP) - MTV 1 (WMV - size 4.21 MB) A1 TV (WMV - size 3.06 MB) -

Remarks by Ambassador Philip T. Reeker at the signing of Grant Agreement for restoration of the Holy Mother of God – Peribleptos Church in Ohrid

Ambassador’s Fund for Cultural Preservation 2009-2012 Project

Thursday, October 29, 2009 | 1:30 pm, House of Robevci - Ohrid

◊ View the local coverage of this event on [(MTV1 - video WMV file, size 4.21 BM) & (A1 TV - video WMV file, size 3.06 MB)].

◊ To see more photos from the event, please click here.

President Ivanov, Minister Kancheska-Milevska, Municipality of Ohrid Council President Dusko Jakocevski, Metropolitan Timotej, Director Paskali Buntasheska, distinguished guests. It is an honor for me to be here this afternoon to sign this Grant for the renovation of the Church of the Holy Mother of God – Peribleptos through the Ambassador’s Fund for Cultural Preservation.

The Peribleptos Church is an architectural and cultural treasure, a touchstone for the rich history of Macedonia and the centuries of European civilization that have passed here before us. This historic site is at the crossroads of the history of all of us. The Roman Via Egnatia, tying Rome to Byzantium and Europe to Asia, passed through the streets of this town.

For two millennia, the road served the Byzantine Empire and Ottoman Empires and all the diverse people who lived in these lands. And the Peribleptos Church has watched for centuries over the many cultures that have lived beneath its walls.

As we know, Ohrid was home to the scholar, Saint Kliment, who adapted the work of Cyril and Methodius. This city has been a center of scholarly learning for more than a thousand years. And the Peribleptos Church has stood for centuries in this striking setting, holding to the side of the mountain, standing watch over the natural wonder that is Lake Ohrid.

Restoring the Church and its frescoes will recall the glory of the work of the fresco painters Michael and Eutychius and Orthodox cultural expression.

Restoration will also provide Ohrid with a world class attraction for international guest and travelers. And it will be wonderful to see more people coming to Macedonia, to see its treasures, to meet its people and to build its economy. Preserving Macedonia’s cultural heritage makes Macedonia a more attractive travel destination. In this way, cultural preservation projects bring attention to Macedonia: its European past and its European future.

Since the Ambassadors’ Fund for Cultural Preservation began in 2001, the American Embassy in Macedonia has supported:

- Conservation of the “Stoa” Public Building in Vardarski Rid.
- Archeological excavation of the pre-Roman Forum in Stobi.
- Restoration of the Church of the Holy Savior (Sveti Spas) in Skopje.
- Preservation of the Megalithic observatory in Kokino.
- Restoration of the Hamm an Baths in Tetovo.
- Conservation of 12th century Slavic and Greek manuscripts.  
- Restoration the Daut Pasha Hamam in Skopje.

In closing, I want to thank you for welcoming us here today to Ohrid and for joining us to work together on this project. Thank you to my colleagues in the Public Affairs Section. Every one of the projects funded by the Ambassador’s Fund for Cultural Heritage contributes to the close ties and the Strategic Partnership between our two countries. And they reflect America's deep respect for Macedonia and its cultural heritage.

Thank you.