Gari is located deep in the flanks of the Stogovo Mountains at 1.100 meters a.s.l. If somebody does not tell you where Gary lies, it's hard to find it. It is hidden deep between mountain massifs, in a narrow valley which arises from a glacial lake on Stogovo.
Today in Gari are about 180 houses, but only some 10 inhabitants, mostly elder people. Only in the time of holidays and during the summer vacations to Gari come residents, who left the village in search of work.
Dnes je v Gari asi 180 domků, ale jen asi 10 obyvatel, vesmĕs starých lidí. Pouze na svátky a prázdniny přijíždĕjí do Gari obyvatelé, kteří opustili vesnici kvůli práci.
This village is well known for its wood carving masters. The best known among them is Petre Filipovski – Garkata. His works decorate the village church of “Sv. Bogorodica” (Holy Mother of God) in Gari, and many monasteries in Macedonia, for example at "St. Jovan Bigorski" (some 20 km from Gari), “St. Spas” in Skopje, “St. Gavril” in Lesnovo monastery (near the city of Probishtip), "St. Joakim Osogovski” (near the city of Kriva Palanka) etc. He also wood carved many other churches and monasteries in the Balkans.
Vesnice je známá hlavnĕ svými vĕhlasnými řezbáři dřeva. Nejznámĕjší z nich je Petre Filipovski – Garkata. Jeho díla zdobí vesnický kostel “Sv. Bogorodica” (Sv. Bohorodička) v Gari a mnoho kostelů a klášterů v Makedonii, na příklad "Sv. Jovan Bigorski" (asi 20 km od Gari), “Sv. Spas” ve Skopje, “Sv. Gavril” v Lesnovském klášteře (nedaleko mĕsta Probištip), "Sv. Joakim Osogovski” (poblíž mĕsta Kriva Palanka) atd. Vyřezávané oltáře a ikony mistrů z Gari lze vidĕt i v mnoha kostelích a klášterech na Balkánu.
Garska River near the cache
The village church, “Sv. Bogorodica” (Holy Mother) is restored in 1988, but is almost 400 years old. Among the old icons in the dome there is the Freemasons all-seeing eye. How did this rarity get into the church? Was Petre Filipovski Garkata a free mason? Was there more than one of them? There are no details about the story …
Vesnický kostel “Sv. Bogorodica” (Sv. Bohorodička) v Gari je restaurován v r. 1988, ale je starý témĕř 400 let. Mezi ikonami, které jsou namalované v klenbĕ kostela, na vás shůry shlíží i vševidoucí oko, symbol svobodných zednářů. Jak se tato rarita dostala do tohoto kostela? Byl snad Petre Filipovski Garkata svobodný zednář? Bylo jich více? Na tyto otázky neznáme odpovĕď…
In the centre of the village there is a little store and few rooms for travelers who wish to spend few days there. Here you ask for somebody to open the church for you. You must taste the most famous product in Gari– sheep cheese. Gari is surrounded by pastured and sheepfolds, where cheese is prepared by the old fashion way.
Uprostřed vesnice se nachází obchod a nad ním je nĕkolik pokojů, kde mohou přespat ti, kdo chtĕjí pobýt v tomto kraji nĕkolik dnů. Tady požádejte, aby vám nĕkdo otevřel kostel. Nezapomeňte ochutnat specialitu z Gari - vĕhlasný ovčí sýr. Gari je obklopeno pastvinami a salaši, kde se vyrábí sýr tradiční metodou.
The cache is a small juice glass jar.
Cache je malá sklenka z džusu.
Sources: Wikipedia, other internet sources. Photos: Internet and original (by Galejnik)