The Rev. Rodovan Cekovski, the spiritual leader of the Macedonian Church today, speaking from the podium from where the word of God is read. The dove in front of him symbolizes the Holy Spririt. and they never let it go. They held on to customs, icons, culture, and when they came to the church, they brought those values with them so that they felt like one people. You cannot rely on words to Reynoldsburg Magazine Photo describe the journey through the Bible in this church. You have to see it to believe it and to be moved by it. Everywhere you look is a different story - a story not told but shown. The church’s beauty has deep meaning for the Macedonians. And if you’re like me, gasping for air is about the only human way to react to all of this. So, who did this magnificent painting of the bible? History the turn of the century, the new church in Reynoldsburg was built. But the parishoners never forgot where they came from. Macedonia is a small country of about two million people and there are more than 2,500 churches. Christianity is and has been a way of life there. So when the immigrants settled here, they brought with them their love of beauty for the church and the relentless commitment to their religion. “I’m here with my people,” said the The Rev. Cekovski, , a soft-spoken Priest who speaks with a heavy Macedonian accent. Occasionally, he can’t find the right English words to describe what he wants to say but visitors will pick up easily on what those feelings are. “We are like a small flower in the village,” he said. “We are so different, we have different lifestyles. But when we are in here, we are all one, one soul. This church represents what we are all about.” More than four generations of Macedonians packed what they believe in into this church. They had their baptisms, weddings, funerals, and other life-cycle events here. Many of them bring the beauty from their homes right into the church. Walking into the church is like taking a stroll through the bible. In fact, the story goes, that hundreds of years ago, when being literate was highly unusual, most people connected with the Bible through graphic renditions of it. They brought it into their homes in various forms of art work Reynoldsburg Magazine • Fall, 2020 shows that the work was done by Very Rev. Theodore Jurewicz, a priest from Erie, Pa. who spent twelve years, on and off, working the frescos with the help of many local devotees. The work was just recently completed and anyone belonging to this church is proud of it. How could you not be? This congregation of nearly 500 families has made this church their second home. They lived through tougher times organizing in Whitehall back in the 60s, had seen their church burn down in 2006, wept and mourned, but resiliently rebuilt. And never, ever, during the rebuilding years have they forgotten to bring the beauty of the old country, a small country, but rich in tradition, devotion, to the focal point of their lives. I have met many Macedonian families in the past years and their love for the old country never leaves them. They are Americans. But they are European Americans. Some still speak the language, others moved on with sweet memories of the past. Either way, the focal point of their culture and religion - the Macedonian Church - thankfully remains a gem of Reynoldsburg. The Very Rev. Theodore Jurewicz, from Erie, Pa., spent almost two months working on frescos at the Reynoldsburg Macedonian Church with the help of many local and national groups. He is responsible for bringing this beauty to our city. Reynoldsburg Magazine Photo The fresco on the west side of the church, as photographed by Reynoldsburg Magazine, is a depiction of the Dormition of the Virgin Mary, which was completed about 10 years ago. The Virgin Mary’s story is woven into most every aspects of the church’s art work and its way of conducting their religion. 7 Reynoldsburg Magazine Photo
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