1762

In the one thousand seven hundred and sixty second year
From the Tsar’s City in Ohrid - a messenger came
He presented himself to Arsenius - our honorable Patriarch
And he said to him a bitter word, a word of sadness:
“The tsar's wish* is for you to go to the Tsar’s City** at once
There are big complaints from the cunning Greeks”.
The Patriarch called his flock in the Church of Saint Clement
The last blessing he gave them, he tangled his hands in pain.
Long time the old man cried in absolute silence
His tears dripping on his white beard:
“Listen to me my children, I must go to the Tsar’s City
For there are big complaints from the cunning Greeks
The Greek Patriarch will crumble our famous Ohrid See
And I will die there in prison.
He will send Greek bishops - saints by face, wolfs by heart
They will strangle you; they will suck your blood,
They will plant among you disagreements and dissension,
They will make a son to hate his father and brother to hate his brother,
And you will cry up to God, and you will not find a safe harbor,
So you will bow your heads low,
You will be orphans - that is your destiny now.
But, come now, come all, to give you a hug for the last time.
Black sorrow covered them all: old, young, men, and women
All with the hands tangled they cried
He was hugging them, as they kissed his right hand
And from the hand as from the spring-tears were dripping.
He mounted a fast horse and he went unwillingly
Thunderous cry of the people tear the sky
When the Patriarch heard the cry, he stopped, took down his ornate hat
He looked up to the sky, and he madly cursed:
Oh dear Lord, listen! May there never be any good
For Stamche Bey and Bouyar Logdo, Peyko Chelleby!***
The merciful God heard his bitter curse,
And He dissolved their glory and their seed forever
Even now their houses are full with cobweb
And on their deserted porches ghostly sound of the owls can be heard.

*Tsar - The Monarch of the Turkish Empire, Sultan Mustafa III. Persuaded by the Greek clergy, he signed a decree for ceasing the existance of the Ohrid Arcbishopry.
**Tsar's City (Carigrad) - Constantinopole, the seat of the Universe Patriarch and of the Sultan
***Rich and influential Macedonians who were Greek oriented for personal inetersts, and worked against the Macedonian nation and the Macedonian Church.