BYZANTINE HERITAGE

The church St. Nikita in the village Banjani, near Skopje, placed within the monastery was built in the 14th century with two layers of fresco paintings from 16th and 19thcentury.

The church St. Andrea in the village Matka was built in 1389 with the fresco painting dating from the time of its foundation.

The Church of St Dimitrija or known by the natives as Marko Monastery, originaly was built in the 14th century. Later it was restored by King Volkashin and his son Marko in 1376/77, when it was completely painted with highly unique frescoes, important for Byzantine art. The church is dedicated to the martyr St Demetrius and the monastery complex is named after Marko, one of its founders.

The church of St. Archangel Michael is the church dedicated to St. Archangel Michael (Fitija) situated on the west slopes of the Isar Fortress, was built in 1332 and it is considered as one of the most important medieval monuments in Stip. The base of the church has a cross shape and sandstones and brick were used for the walls.

The church of St. Sofia is one of the largest medieval churches in Macedonia. The church was originally built in the 10th century with the fresco paintings from the time of its foundation. Later the church was either built or restored during the period of the Archbishop Leo who was on the throne of the Church in the period from 1035-1056. For a long time it was the cathedral church ("Great Church") of the Ohrid Archiepiscopate. With the arrival of the Turks, the church was converted into a mosque. After the extensive conservatory and restoration activities the fresco paintings were offered to the light of the day. These preserved frescoes from XI, XII, and XIV century are amongst the highest achievements in medieval painting in Macedonia and the most important works of Byzantine monumental painting.

The archaeological site settled in the center of the city in one of its phases witnesses the situation and state of Strumica in the Late Ancient period. A complex of ecclesiastical buildings was unearthed on the site, in the center of which there is a big vaulted tomb. The churches were constructed above the older church, an Early Christian basilica with the floor decorated with a polychrome mosaic. The original church dedicated to the Fifteen Tiberiopolis Martyrs contains fresco portray of the faces of the 15 martyrs, and it is the oldest discovered fresco in Macedonia dating from 9thor beginning of 10th century.

The churches of St. Spas (Ascension) is the church which is located on a rocky plateau of the river Otinja and the oldest mention about it is the charter of Konstantin Dejanovik. According to the document, the church was built by the duke Dimitar before 1388, and the inscription on the walls suggests that it was painted in 1601.

The church dedicated to St. George, located in the village of Staro Nagoricane, was built on the foundations of an older temple from 11th century. Later it was reconstructed between 1313-1318 by the Serbian king Stefan Milutin. The frescoes were painted in 1318 by Mihailo and Evtihie, among there are depictions of him and his queen, Simonida. The original iconostas is made of stone pillars, parapet walls and ornamental architrave.

The exact date of construction of the church and the Monastery of St. Stefan in the village of Konche is unknown. However, the fact remains that it has been built prior to the year 1366, since that was the year when the monastery was contributed to Hilandar, as a result of a hrisovulja (instrument) issued by the emperor Dusan. Later it was renewed in 1371. Today, the largest portion of the interior of this church, shaped as an inscribed cross with a dome on top of an octagonal drum, is covered with mortar and whitewashed, and only a small part of the original fresco-art has been preserved. The author of all icons on the iconostas is fresco-artist Dimitar Andonov Papradiski. The original frescoes were painted in the period between 1366/71.

Varosh is a part of the city where middle-age Prilep in the 10th and 11th century was located, rich with many monuments and abundant archaeological materials. There were 77 churches in this area known as a ‘little Jerusalem’. The most important for the Byzantine fresco painting is St. Dimitrija (1299), also St. Atanasius, St. Petar and the Holy Mother, as well as the monastery church of St. Archangel Michael, which are well preserved and opened for the visitors. Each year, Varosh is the host of the oldest traditional fine art colony in Macedonia, with international participation.

This church dedicated to St. Nikola located in the village Psaca, was built in 1358 and the frescoes which are still preserved, were painted in the period of 1366-1371. The frescoes belong to the best work of Macedonian medieval painting.

The church of Virgin Mary Perivleptos (also called St.Kliment) dedicated to the Mother of God, was erected in 1295, and the frescoes painted by Mihailo and Evtihij represent the earliest example of Renaissance art in Europe. The temple is known also as St. Clement church, because in the time of the Ottoman Empire the bones and relicts of this saint were transferred within the church. They were kept here until 2002 when they have been brought back to the original church of St. Clement at Plaoshnik. In the courtyard of the church the masterpieces of Ohrid icons collections are settled.

The church dedicated to St. Virgin Mary, is located in the village Matejce. Some historical records say that Czar Dusan began its construction on the foundation of an old church dedicated to St. Mary Mother of God of Monte Negro. After his death his wife Elena and his son Uros had the church finished and painted inside. The church was built in the 14th century and the frescoes date from the time of its foundation. Particularly glorious are the frescoes depicting scenes from the life of Jesus Christ and the Holy Mother Mary.

Located 8 km out of Prilep, this monastery is situated under the highest point of the Golden peak and it offers a view of the three cities in the Pelagon valley. The church within the monastery dedicated to ‘Assumption of the Holy Mother’ with frescos that date from the time of its foundation was built in the 13th century, on a remain of an old basilica. Also there are a lot of fresco paintings which date from different periods. In the 14th century the monastery was renovated, and today the complex consists of a lot architectural structures, in which except the church, there are inns that offer accommodation

The monastery is located in the village of Vodoca and the church within the complex originally built in devoted to the St. Leonhtius is mentioned for the first time in 1096. The complex consists of three churches which nowadays comprise of one – that of St. Leonhtius, two monastery baths, a building which probably served as lodgings with commercially accompanying facilities of the monastic fraternity and a tremendous medieval necropolis with more than 1000 tombs which are the aim of long-term excavations and exploring.

This monastery which can only be reached by boat is known by the church St.Gjorgija built in the 14th century and richly adorned with fresco painting from the same period. It is important, because it is believed to contain Dragutin's (King Dusan's brother) relics. The monastery yard has no inns, but there are about thirty villas around it used by the local fishermen.

The monastery is located in the village of Veljusa within the complex originally built in devoted to the Holy Mother of God - Eleusa in 1080, although the exonarthex was built in the 14th century. The church is important because of its authentic preserved architecture, the mosaic floor, the icon-painting and the iconostasis. A 1958 research revealed that the original marble iconostasis was still preserved beneath the wooden iconostasis.

The monastery of St. Nikola is located in the village Manastir in the region of Mariovo, and the church within the complex was built in 1095, with the fresco painting dating from 1271. The monastery is characteristic for its three-nave basilica, which is dedicated to three saints: to the Holly Mother, to Saint Archangel Michael and to Saint Nikola.

The church dedicated to Sts. Petar and Pavle, within the monastery near the village of Zrze, was built in the 14th century. In 1535 the architecture and the fresco painting were renewed. The monastery inns and the church are built on the site of an earlier Christian basilica, whose foundation can still be see, along with a marble pillars, other artefacts as well as the monks’ cells built into the cliff walls under the monastery

The church of St. John - Kaneo is the church dedicated to St. John the Theologian - Kaneo is located on the south-western side, on a cliff hill surmounting Lake Ohrid. This temple has become one of the symbols of Ohrid, thanks to its marvellous location. The original church was built in the 10th century, but today the church has preserved fresco-paintings from the 13th century.

Monastery of St. Naum of Ohrid is the monastery which Saint Naum was built on a rock, with a wonderful view of Lake Ohrid and of the surrounding mountains from Galicica National Park. The original church dedicated to the Holy Archangels Michael and Gabriel was erected by St. Naum himself in 900 A.D. The pupil of St Cyril and Methodius died in 910 and he was buried in the monastery within the church. There is one interesting legend connected to this church, a popular belief that if a visitor puts his ear on St.Naum’s grave he could hear his heart beating. The church was demolished in the Ottoman period and was renovated and reconstructed several times

A number of cave churches built into the cliffs along the shore of the Ohrid Lake, near Struga, are the specific cultural heritage from the Byzantine period. The four cave churches from Struga side of the coast of Ohrid Lake, St. Archangel Mihail in Radozda, St Atanasios and Nativity of Virgin Mary in Kalishta and St. Saviour in Visni, are built in the end of 13th century and in the beginning of the 14th century. They all contain fresco paintings from the period of their foundation. Their genesis coincides with the great spiritual and intellectual movement of orthodox Balkan known as isihasam. Consequently these four churches were centers of little anachorite-isaistic monk communities, and functioned as small university centers. Some of the monks’ cells can still be seen around the cave churches.

The church of St. Gavril Lesnovski in the village Lesnovo known as the Lesnovski Monastery is settled 9 km south of Kratovo on the mountain Bukovec. The Church St. Arhangel Mihail within this complex was built in 1341 by the ruler Oliver I, probably on the remains of an older church built by Gavril Lesnovski, a saint who lived at the end of 11th century and the beginning of the 12th century. The nave was decorated with frescoes in 1345/46 and the narthex in 1349. The monastery is known for its manuscript-writing school and the wood-carved iconostasis from 1811, a work of art performed by the Mijak craftsman.

The church St. Virgin Zaumska originally dates from 1361. It is built in a vibrant style, with preserved fresco painting from the period of foundation. The restoration work has been done to the church and it is in good condition, attracting visitors, both by lake and from the trails in the mountain.

The Church of St. Gjorgi in the village of Gorni Kozjak, was built in the 10th century and fresco painted in 14th century. According to some assumptions the time of its construction is in the period of the 11th -12th century, but large number of scientists places it in the period of the 9th-10th century. The research shows that during the 14thcentury the church was renovated. From the original layer of fresco-art at the two half-rounded arcs, only the southern one has a fresco fragment that still remains and it represents a visage of a saint. In Novo Selo, some houses built in the Old Macedonian style of architecture can still be found.

The church St. Andrea in the village Matka was built in 1389 with the fresco painting dating from the time of its foundation.

The church of St. Sofia is one of the largest medieval churches in Macedonia. The church was originally built in the 10th century with the fresco paintings from the time of its foundation. Later the church was either built or restored during the period of the Archbishop Leo who was on the throne of the Church in the period from 1035-1056. For a long time it was the cathedral church ("Great Church") of the Ohrid Archiepiscopate. With the arrival of the Turks, the church was converted into a mosque. After the extensive conservatory and restoration activities the fresco paintings were offered to the light of the day. These preserved frescoes from XI, XII, and XIV century are amongst the highest achievements in medieval painting in Macedonia and the most important works of Byzantine monumental painting.

The church of St. Archangel Michael is the church dedicated to St. Archangel Michael (Fitija) situated on the west slopes of the Isar Fortress, was built in 1332 and it is considered as one of the most important medieval monuments in Stip. The base of the church has a cross shape and sandstones and brick were used for the walls.

The archaeological site settled in the center of the city in one of its phases witnesses the situation and state of Strumica in the Late Ancient period. A complex of ecclesiastical buildings was unearthed on the site, in the center of which there is a big vaulted tomb. The churches were constructed above the older church, an Early Christian basilica with the floor decorated with a polychrome mosaic. The original church dedicated to the Fifteen Tiberiopolis Martyrs contains fresco portray of the faces of the 15 martyrs, and it is the oldest discovered fresco in Macedonia dating from 9thor beginning of 10th century.

The churches of St. Spas (Ascension) is the church which is located on a rocky plateau of the river Otinja and the oldest mention about it is the charter of Konstantin Dejanovik. According to the document, the church was built by the duke Dimitar before 1388, and the inscription on the walls suggests that it was painted in 1601.

The church dedicated to St. George, located in the village of Staro Nagoricane, was built on the foundations of an older temple from 11th century. Later it was reconstructed between 1313-1318 by the Serbian king Stefan Milutin. The frescoes were painted in 1318 by Mihailo and Evtihie, among there are depictions of him and his queen, Simonida. The original iconostas is made of stone pillars, parapet walls and ornamental architrave.

The village Kurbinovo is situated on the slopes of the beautiful Mount Pelister near the blue waters of Lake Prespa with the small, but charming single-nave church of St. George, dating from 1191. Three unknown artists painted the gallery of this church with saints and compositions that describe the 12 big holidays and the life and miracles of Christ. The fresco-painting is from the period of its foundation and represents a true masterpiece of Macedonian painting from the 12th century.