Praying in the BalkansScot Bower - 11 Jun 2010

This weekend over 50 people from 12 nations will be gathering in the historic town of Ohrid, Macedonia for a 24-7 Prayer gathering focused on the Balkan region of Europe.

The Balkans are a region that in the last few decades has become synonymous with conflict. A series of wars which marked the breakup of Yugoslavia in the 90’s left the landscape as well as the people scarred. Yet in this war torn area Ohrid is an ancient and spiritually significant place of almost perfect peace. At the end of the first millennium under the tutelage of Sts Clement (of Ohrid) and Naum centres of discipleship were established which sent over 2,500 missionaries through the Balkan countries and beyond playing a significant part in the evanglisation of the Region reaching east as far as Kiev in present day Ukraine. It’s legacy looms large in this proud town.

Today whilst the majority of the 364 monastaries which ring the lake are silent and empty you can feel the Spirit of God still brooding over the still waters of the lake. It’s as if the Sprit is waiting for prayer to set alight the passion embedded in the dusty earth of the town, as if God himself waits for history to be repeated here and you can almost hear the cheers of encouragement from ancient Orthdox saints who blazed a trail so long ago.

And so in this place of peace representatives from nearly all the Balkan nations as well as many from beyond these lands will be joining together crying out for the Kingdom of Heaven to come. They’ll be dreaming and scheming of prayer and prayerful communities in this often forgotten corner of Europe where East meets West.

Please pray for all those organising and attending the gathering this weekend we already have the feeling that this will be a significant time for many people as well as 24-7 Prayer in this part of the world.