Ohrid

Ohrid is marvelous city in the beautiful south-western part of Macedonia with some 42000 inhabitants. Ohrid is often considered as the “Balkan soul” and the cradle of the Slavic literacy – the birthplace of the Cyrillic script, being also the leading summer tourist center of North Macedonia. The town of Ohrid situated on the shore of the wonderful Ohrid Lake, some 170 km south-west of Skopje – the Macedonian capital, and features outstanding natural beauties, uniquely rich historical and cultural heritage, and since 1979 enjoys the protection of UNESCO.

The wonderful Ohrid Lake covers picturesque area of about 350 sq km and is known for its crystal clear water, which is visible down to 22 meters, of a total maximum depth of 286 meters. The astonishingly clean and clear waters of the Ohrid Lake, along with the serene stillness of its surrounding mountainous settings have captivated visitors since prehistoric times. Above the valley of Ohrid lake rises Mount Galičica with the Galičica National Park, recognized by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) as an extremely important region and protected by law since 1958. Thanks to the several hundred original rarities and the protected plant and animal species, Galičica has been internationally recognized as an Important Plant Area, a Primary Butterfly Area, as well as an Emerald Site (future part of the European Natura 2000 network). Thanks to the extraordinary biodiversity and international significance, Galičica National Park in 2014 became part of the UNESCO World Network of Biosphere Reserves.

Wanderlust named Ohrid Lake as one of the most incredible lakes in the world. While the Ohrid lake is filled up by water from three rivers, most of Ohrid’s water comes from another lake – Prespa Lake which is located on the other side of Galicica Mountain-National Park. Due to the high elevation, the Prespa Lake spills its water down to Ohrid through mountain springs, the most important ones being Ostrovo and Biljana, located the Saint Naum Monastery and Ohrid town.

With its ancient necropolis, fortress, amphitheaters, baths, arenas, remains of ancient villas, temples and Byzantine basilicas, Ohrid is considered as one of the most ancient towns in the Balkans, a living testimony of the cultural competition of the civilizations and the everlasting mark of their residence in the area. Ohrid abounds with a large number of archaeological sites dating from the Neolithic, antique and medieval periods, as well as numerous early Christian and Medieval Churches with marvelous mosaics, frescoes and icons, lovely beaches, and variety of accommodation facilities.

The Ohrid Kale fortress – Samuil’s Fortress – Samoilova Tvrdina is onsidered one of the oldest preserved fortifications of Macedonia whose earliest remains of a settlement at this spot date back to the Early Copper Age. The Kale fortress in Ohrid is one of the most popular destinations of Ohrid. The Kale fortress has been re-built in the 10th century during the reign of Tsar Samuil of Ohrid which was the political and ecclesiastical capital of the first Bulgarian Empire (681–1018). Through history Ohrid was such an important religious settlement that it was claimed to had 365 churches – one church for every day of the year.

Name of Ohrid comes from its location – built “on a hill” /”vo hrid”/. The whole old town of Ohrid is surrounded by strong walls and is crowned by the King Samoil’s Citadel – the Ohrid Fortress which is considered to be the oldest and best-preserved fortress in Macedonia. The ancient Ohrid is built in the shape of amphitheater with numerous tiny traditional houses looking towards the lake. Those interesting houses of Ohrid were built in past centuries in genuine Oriental style of building – authentic Balkan architecture characterized by the beautiful balconies and houses with upper floors more spacious than the ground floor. The old part of Ohrid includes impressive bazaar with market, fountain, hammam and numerous handcraft workshops and various tiny shops and workshops that sell unique handwork items /Ohridski biser, jewelry, leather products, sweets, wood-carved items, Byzantine painting workshop and old Macedonian musical instruments and the famous Macedonian embroidery, outstanding Macedonian music CD…../ and take you back to the past Oriental times. The famous Ohrid pearls are made with usage of the scales of the endemic Ohrid Lake Plasica fish which makes them the unique in the world. Ohrid pearl is probably the best souvenir from Ohrid, as well as the most appropriate gift for a lady. Risteski Family in Ohrid is one of the original pearl-making families here, handcrafting and selling Ohrid pearls of the finest quality. “It might be because of the pleasant climate, or the lake, or the strong fort of Samuil, or for the flat and fruitful field, that have attracted blacksmiths, woodcarvers and craftsman of all arts and masters to make miracles in wood, stone, silver, copper and gold to settle here”. Source Camil Sijaric

Icons of the Ohrid Icon Gallery comprising period of almost a millennium, from the middle of the 11th till the end of the 19th century are a remarkable and an indivisible segment of the rich cultural and historical heritage of Ohrid, the city where the Slavic literacy and culture have sprouted. Created in the Constantinople and Salonika icon workshops, or in the local icon workshops in Ohrid, these icons have been an inseparable part of the iconostasis in the churches they have been ordered and painted for and some of them best accomplishments of the Byzantine icon painting in whole. The Icon of Jesus Christ, dimension of 135 x 93 cm is kept, among the other precious art works, in the Gallery of Icons in Ohrid, set in the complex of the Holy Virgin of Peribleptos. Ohrid and the gorgeous Macedonia is our favorite destination of unrepeatable beauty.

Interesting facts on Ohrid Medieval history: “Branko Mladenovic was the Serb nobleman and sebastocrator from the middle of the 14th century who ruled Ohrid during the Serbian Empire and died before March 1365. He is considered the founder of the Brankovic Dynasty and possessed the silk belt – so called the Branko’s belt bearing the embroidered name Branko and the helmet featuring the lion which was the symbol of the Brankovic Dynasty of the Byzantine craftsmanship. Today this belt is kept in the British Museum in London. This belt dates from the middle of the 14th century and was probably manufactured in workshop in either Tsarigrad or Salonica. It was made of silk and features dimensions 195 x 7,5 cm bearing 18 frames with 3 embroidered motivs of helmet with name Branko and emblem of a lion, a dragon and a falcon.

Father of Branko Mladenovic was lord Mladen who is mentioned as the lord and duke during the reign of King Milutin (1282—1321) and King Stefan Decanski (1322—1331). In 1323 he is mentioned as the ruler of Trebinje and Dracevica while his family is believed to origin from the Zahumlje area. Emperor Dusan (king 1331—1346, tsar 1346—1355) had appointed Branko Mladenovic for the administrator of Ohrid and promoted him the sebastocrator but the exact time is not known except that it had happened after the promulgation of the Serbian Empire in Skopje on 16 April 1346. The high ruling title of sebastocrator probably meant that Branko in a way was in familiar relationship with the Serbian imperial Nemanjic Dynasty given that Dejan who married Teodora – the sister of Emperor Dusan who also received this title. After death of Emperor Dusan in the time of decay of the Serbian Empire, duke Branko aslo supported emperor’s son and successor King Uros (1355—1371). Branko Mladenovic died before March 1365. His sons Grgur and Vuk left Ohrid and settled in the family estate around Borac in Drenica area in Kosovo. Branko Mladenovic was son of the lord Mladen who also had a daughter Ratoslava who was married to the lord Altoman Vojinovic and was mother of Nikola Altomanovic. His uncle Nikola is also mentioned in historical records in 1329 as the ruler of Liesse-Lezhe in present Albania. Branko Mladenovic was married to unknown noblewoman with whom he had four children, three sons and a daughter who was the youngest child – Nikola Radonja /in monastic life Roman and Gerasim, died 3 December 1399/, Grgur died before 16 July 1398;Vuk /born around 1345, died 6 November 1397/ and Teodora /Vojislava?/ who was married to George Topia lord of Durres”. Source Srbi i srpsko u Makedoniji

Ohrid attractions and Places to see: Tzar Samuil’s Fortress, Antique Theater, Episcopal Basilica, Saint Clement’s Church of Saint Panteleimon at Plaosnik, Cathedral of Saint Sophia, Holy Mother of God Peribleptos Church – Holy Mother of God Peribleptos Church, Sveti Jovan Kaneo – Saint John Theologian Kaneo Church, Saint Naum Monastery, Zaum Monastery, the Cave church, the Icon Gallery, Velestovo, Vevcani and Trpejca villages…

Monastery of Saint Pantelejmon Ohrid

The Monastery of Saint Panteleimon, the protector of health is one of the oldest Slavic monasteries in the Balkans and the oldest Slavic monument of culture. With the construction of Saint Panteleimon in Ohrid by Clement (893), downhill from the Ohrid fortress, the Macedonian Slavs gained not only their first great religious and educational center but also the conditions necessary to develop their aesthetic feelings, accepting and continuing existing artistic forms but expanding into new directions as well. For example, Clement used a ruined three-conchae church for the foundation of St. Panteleimon, added some original parts, and obtaining thereby new “oval” forms. Saint Panteleimon Monastery had an extremely important role in the education of the Macedonians during the period of strong influence of the Byzantine Empire. The Saint Panteleimon Monastery stands on a hill overlooking the Ohrid Lake, which is today known as Plaošnik. Remains of the early-christian basilica were found on the old cult place above which the small three-nave church was erected in the 7th century. Saint Clement of Ohrid rebuilt the church and used it as a liturgical building and place for teaching his disciples his variation of the Glagolithic alphabet, known as the Cyrillic alphabet. Clement personally built a crypt inside the Saint Panteleimon Monastery in which he was buried after his death in 916, his tomb still exists today.

Many archaeologists believe that Clement himself designed and constructed the Saint Panteleimon Monastery. Clement, along with Naum of Preslav would use the monastery as a basis for teaching the Glagollithic and Cyrillic alphabets to the Christian Slavs thus making it a university. Clement built his monastery on a restored church and a Roman Basilica of five parts (the remains of the basilicas can still be seen outside the monastery). Judging by the architectural style and design of the monastery, researchers say that Saint Clement intended for his building to be the literary school for disciples, thus it is believed to be the first and oldest discontinued university in Europe. The common themes for fresco paintings in Saint Panteleimon, Ohrid are “Birth of Mother God”, “Transfiguration”, “The Entry into Jerusalem”, “Descent from the Cross” etc. Among the paintings in the Monastery of Saint Panteleimon, the fresco of “The Lamentation of Christ” is fascinating. This painting is considered to be a masterpiece by many art historians. The exterior of the monastery contains a large number of finely detailed mosaics not far from a stone Baptismal font used to baptize his disciples.

Saint Sophia Cathedral Ohrid

Saint Sophia Church is one of the most impressive medieval religious buildings in Ohrid and a unique work of architecture of the Byzantine region. Saint Sophia is a large three-nave cathedral with a dome above the central nave built on the foundations of an old cult during the period of the Tzar Samuel.  In the 11th century the Saint Sophia basilica in Ohrid was thoroughly renovated when it was fresco decorated. In 1317, during the Serbian rule, the monumental exo-narthex with its open galleries and two towers ending in small domes, a rare architectural accomplishment both in Macedonia and the world in general, was added to the Church of Saint Sophia in 1317, what greatly contributed to the beauty of Saint Sophia Church. During the Ottoman era Saint Sophia Church in Ohrid was converted into a mosque. Frescoes of Saint Sophia Cathedral are considered the best preserved Byzantine paintings. The frescoes in the Saint Sophia Cathedral are characterized by the postures of the figures and the archaic forms, united in an artistic and iconographic whole unique to church painting of the time. The best preserved frescoes of St Sophia Cathedral in Ohrid are in the altar with the Holy Virgin on the throne holding little Christ in her arms. Six angels are kneeling towards the Holy Virgin approaching her from the southern and the northern wall. Beneath the Holy Virgin fresco there is “Communion of apostles” scene which is one of the most interesting fresco of the St Sophia Church. Among depicted portraits of numerous saints and patriarchs in Saint Sophia Cathedral, there are portraits of brothers Cyril and Methodius, the first Slavic missioners and founders of the First Slavic University and St Clement of Ohrid, their disciple. Since its builders blessed it with wonderful acoustics, the Cathedral of Saint Sophia and its front garden are the main stage of the annual Ohrid Summer Festival.

The Most Holy Virgin of Peribleptos Church Ohrid – Holy Mother of God Peribleptos church

The Church of Sveta Bogorodica Perivlepta (Mother of God the Most Glorious Peribleptos) which is also known as Saint Kliment /Saint Clement Church/ is a fully preserved medieval monument in the historical part of the town, near the Upper Gate of Ohrid, famous for its extraordinary architecture and majestic fresco paintings. Sveta Bogorodica Perivlepta – The church of the Mother of God the Most Glorious Peribleptos was built in 1295 by order of the Byzantine military commander, Progon Zgur and his wife Evdokia Comnen, a relative of the Byzantine Emperor Andronicus II Palealogus. The church was fresco painted latest in 1364-1365 when ktetor portraits of two members of the Brankovic family and Tsar Uros as the sole ruler were painted. In 1378 the Holy Virgin Peribleptos Church in Ohrid was restored and extended. During the Ottoman period Saint Panteleimon at Plaosnik was torn down and the relics of Saint Clement – the patron of Ohrid were transferred to the Holy Mother of God Peribleptos Church. Since then it has been known also as the Saint Clement’s church. The belfry and the bell of the Church of the Mother of God the most Glorious Peribleptos in Ohrid, one of the largest in the Balkans has been donated by Mihajlo Pupin in 1924 as per recommendation and the friendship with the Bishop Nikolaj Velimirov, in charge of the Ohrid and Zica Bishoprics.

Sveta Bogorodica Perivlepta Ohrid – the Holy Mother of God Peribleptos Church in Ohrid is one of the best representative of the architectural school from the Palaiologian period. The ground plan of the Holy Virgin of Peribleptos – the Church of Sveta Bogorodica Perivlepta is cross-in-square, with the central dome on an octagonal dome resting on four square pillars decorated on the outside with cylindrical friezes. The narthex and the central part were built at the same time. The church of the Holy Mother of God Peribleptos was built in the traditional Byzantine system of brick and stone construction emphasized by stripes of rhomboid squares placed in two colors all in a masterly combination producing an extraordinarily decorative effect and at the same time an impression of perfect harmony. Sveta Bogorodica Perivlepta in Ohrid ranks among the most outstanding achievements of the Medieval architecture. The northern chapel, dedicated to Saint Gregory the Divine was built and decorated in 1365, according to an inscription on the inside of the main entrance. It was a foundation of archbishop Gregory of Devol. The fresco of Vuk Brankovic with his older brother Grgur – Gregory is painted in 1365 with three religious priest figures from Ohrid in the northern paraklis of Saint Gregory the Divine. Vuk Brankovic belonged to the Brankovic family, he was the youngest son of sebastocratos Branko Mladenovic who ruled in Ohrid during the reign of Tsar Dusan – king 1331-1346 and tsar 1346-1355. With the exception of the chapels on the south, west and north sides which date from the 19th century, the external narthex was built by Saint Kliment.

Sveta Bogorodica Perivlepta – The church of the Holy Mother of God Peribleptos has been turned into a unique treasury in which most probably the archbishopric’s museum existed in the late 15th century. At that time was a library there within the museum, which was said to be one of the oldest in the Balkans. There were many books in this library and many significant manuscripts which were used in by the cathedral and churches of the Ohrid Archbishopric, at the time when Archbishop Prochorus of Ohrid 1523-1550 was at the head of the Ohrid Archbishopric. He greatly improved Slavonic literacy, providing many books for the church needs.

The paintings of Holy Mother of God Perileptos – Saint Kliment’s Church in Ohrid mark a new chapter in medieval paintings as they ushered in a new trend in Byzantine art which came to be known as the Palaiologian Renaissance. They are also the earliest known works of Michael Astrapas and Eutychius, distinguished medieval fresco painters, whose creation can be followed through nearly three decades throughout the Balkan region. Michael Astrapas and Eutyhus skillfully inserted their signatures into ornamental details of the clothes of Saint Demetrius, and of sward of Saint Mercury, and of the clothes of Saint Prochorus and of pot of the Last Supper composition and elsewhere, too. The details of the movements of these saints portrayed are admirably done, conveying a sense of strength, health, energy, war like, all in perfect harmony. The frescoes of The Holy Mother of God Peribleptos – Saint Kliment’s Church Ohrid are primarily distinguished by the the artists’ obvious tendency towards individual characterization of the portraits and a marked effort to get away from iconographic stereotypes. Amongst depicted compositions and portraits the specially attractive are “Dormition of the Holy Virgin” on the west wall, “Communion of apostles” in the apse, “Mourning of Christ” and “Crucifixion” on the northern wall and “Judah Betrayal” on the southern wall. The portrait of St Clement of Ohrid is most impressive of all portraits depicted in total size. It would appear that contemporaries served the artists as models for these portraits of saints are done in a markedly realistic manner, with numerous distinctive details and without the usual elements conveying martyrdom and asceticism. If we look for any similar models, we may detect some similarity between these frescoes and early Renaissance paintings, particularly in some details of the “The Lamentation” on the north wall. The powerful sense of drama emanating from this fresco from the gestures and movements of the figures – above all, the presentation of the Holy Virgin with her hair falling loose over her shoulders and many other elements is strongly reminiscent of Giotto, a contemporary of Michael and Eutychus. In the covered entrance to the St Clement Church there is the Icon Gallery, one of the richest icon collection comprising masterpieces of the Byzantine art dating from the 11th until the end of the 19th century.

Church of Saint John the Theologian Kaneo Ohrid

The uniquely beautiful tiny church of Sveti Jovan Kaneo – Saint John the Theologian Kaneo stands on one of the finest spots of the gorgeous Ohrid Lake shore on a high cliff overlooking the one time settlement which is present day fishermen-tourist village. The Church of Sveti Jovan Kaneo – Saint John the Theologian was built in the last decades of the 13th century and was dedicated to Saint John the Theologian. The architecture of Sveti Jovan Kaneo – the Saint John the Theologian church belongs to the Medieval structures whose constructors achieved a highly successful combination of Byzantine and Armenian architectural elements. Sveti Jovan Kaneo – The Saint John the Theologian church in Kaneo village of Ohrid was built of bricks and stone in the shape of a cruciform with a rectangular base. Archaeologists believe that the Saint John the Theologian church was constructed some time before the rise of the Ottoman Empire very likely in the 13th century. Sveti Jovan Kaneo – Saint John the Theologian Kaneo has three-sided apse on the eastern side and an octagonal dome with the very rich zig-zag line of the outside roof that sits above the central part of the church.

The unknown painters, surely the local artists painted the Saint John the Theologian church after it was erected. Scenes on its dome and the altar space are preserved. Among all the paintings some take the special attention : “Communion of Apostles”, “Christ Pantocrator” surrounded by eight flying angels. A portrait of Saint Clement of Ohrid /whose Monastery of Saint Panteleimon is nearby/ accompanied by Saint Erasmus of Lihnidos-Ohrid can also be seen painted on the walls of the church of Saint John the Theologian. Among the well-preserved frescoes is the portrait of Saint John the Theologian, the patron of the church who is depicted in his natural size. This painting style stood outside the new trends reflected in the Paleologue Renaissance that first appeared in Ohrid itself. It is believed that the painters of the Church of Saint John the Theologian Kaneo were also active outside Ohrid. The beautiful picturesque setting of the Saint John the Theologian Kaneo Church encompassing wooded dark shapes of Galicica Mountain in the back of the spot that effect at the edges of the Ohrid Lake make you stay there as long as your minds are perfectly peaceful. John the Theologian Kaneo Church is one of the landmarks of the old town of Ohrid and a favorite symbol of the entire city.

 

National Workshop for Handmade Paper – The Robevi House Ohrid

The National Workshop for Handmade Paper is one of the seventh in the world in which the paper is made in the original Chinese way from the 2nd century BC. The method is unique and it revives the old tradition of Ohrid. Visitors should not miss the opportunity to be learn this way of making the paper and imprint their memories from Ohrid or from its rich history on Gutenberg press from the 16th century. The equipment and clothes used in the workshop are completely authentic. All products are unique and visitors can buy them only here. The  Workshop is situated in the magnificent ambiance of the old city, next to the Ohrid City Museum, set in the beautiful Robevi House, which is the architectural masterpiece from the 19th century with very interesting historical background of the prominent Ohrid Family whose first records date from the 14th century and nowadays presents a wonderful long-lasting legacy…..

Saint Naum Monastery Ohrid

The monastery of Saint Naum of Ohrid is located in the southernmost shore of the Ohrid Lake, right near the springs of Drim River, in the immediate vicinity of the Macedonian-Albanian border. The monastic complex of Saint Naum has been built on romantic island of Ohrid Lake full of greenery, overlooking the gorgeous vast dark-blue surface of the clear lake water. The area around Saint Naum’s monastery is among the most beautiful along the shores of Lake Ohrid. The magnificent greenery, the two romantic little isles /one is covered with thick forest, with many birds nesting there, prohibited for visitors/, surrounded by the Crni Drim river springs, the spacious sand beach, the monastery itself, and the panorama from the hill it is located on – all of these make it one of the most attractive picnic spots.

After Clement of Ohrid, Naum was the most consistent and worthy of the pupils of the Salonica brothers apostles Cyril and Methodius, a personality who devoted his whole being to the work of establishing Slavic literacy. Together with Saint Clement of Ohrid, Saint Naum spread Christianity in south Balkans, mostly in the area around the Ohrid Lake. The monastery is dedicated to Saint Naum and was established by the saint himself around 905 where he was buried in 910. The tomb with marble coffin of Saint Naum is positioned in the tiny separate space of the right part of the monastic church. The holy relics of Saint Naum are kept in the monastery. Two Cyrillic and one Glagolitic-Cyrillic inscriptions dating from the period between the late 10th and the 12th centuries can be found on the pillars of the parvis. These inscriptions testify on the development of the oldest Slavic scripts, Glagolitic and Cyrillic in the Ohrid region.

Day of Slavic Literature and culture is traditionally celebrated on 24 May in memory of the day when Ćirilo i Metodije – St Cyril, 827–869 and St Methodius 825–884, two brothers of Greek origin – the missionary monks and the bearers of a new faith started the missionary work among Slavs in Great Moravia in 863. When the Kagan tzar asked the Byzantine Emperor Michael for preachers of the Christ faith, then the two brothers Cyril and Metohidius – Ćirilo i Metodije were found and ordered by the tzar to go to the Khazars. When they convinced the Kagan to convert to the Christ faith, they have baptized him, along with his assistants and numerous people. After a while, the missionaries of Ćirilo and Metodije – St Cyril and St Methodius returned to Constantinople where they have created the Slavic azbuka alphabet of thirty-eight letters and started translation of books from Greek into Slavic language. Ćirilo i Metodije – St Cyril and St Methodius were the founders of the Slavic Literature and creators of the earliest Slavic alphabet of glagoljica – Glagolitic script.

All started in 862 by the order of the Prince Rastislav of Velika Moravia who appealed to the Byzantine Emperor Michael III for wise men who would spread Christianity in Bohemia and Moravia on the basis of their Slavonic translation of the chief liturgical texts. The monks Saint Cyril and Saint Methodius have created Glagolitic script by adjusting the Greek alphabet with the Slavic sound features. They have translated Gospels and other liturgical books and served the Liturgy in Slavic language. During the missionary work of SS Cyril and Methodius in Moravia there was huge resistance of the German clergy.

By the Pope invitation they arrived to Rome where Cirilo – Cyril got ill and died on 14 February 869. After death of Saint Cyril, Saint Methodius continued the missionary work in Moravia and Pannonia. After death of Saint Methodius in 885, his successors were persecuted from Moravia and continued their mission among the South Slavs. Successors of Saint Methodius were led by Saint Kliment – Saint Clement as the Bishop who took over the missionary work commenced in the north by SS Cyril and Methodius, and went across the Danube River to settle in the south Slavic regions – in Macedonia. There in Ohrid, the Christian missionary work continued. The most significant among Christian missionary successors were St Kliment and St Naum who created another, more simple script of the Cyrillic alphabet, named after Cirilo – Saint Cyril.

Historical finds testify that the Serbian king – ruler of Zeta area, Saint John Vladimir had established the Orthodox monastery in Elbasan and had restored the “famous monastery on the shore of the Ohrid Lake for gratefulness to God for his victory over the enemy of his people”. On the left side on the monastic iconostasis among the main throne icons of Saint Naum and Saint Clement there is the icon of Saint John Vladimir and Saint Marina. Between them is miniature which depicts the Ascension of Saint Naum while the Icon of Saint John Vladimir proves the khetorship of the Saint Naum Monastery. In 1711 the iconostasis of Saint Naum Monastery had been wood-carved and the throne festive icons and the icons of the holy apostles had been painted too. The iconostasis of Saint Naum Monastery is one of the oldest and represents an extraordinary artistic accomplishment. It had been carved under the influence of the wood-carver’s shops on the Holy Mountain Athos what opens the possibility that the master wood-carver had been educated there. The latest findings about the fresco paintings of the monastery of Saint Naum indicate that the greatest fresco painting complex of the late Byzantine painting in Macedonia from the period of transition from the 18th till the 19th century has been preserved in the monastery of St Naum. Frescoes of Saint Naum incorporate the knowledge and experiences of the 18th century art on themes attached to Saint Naum of Ohrid and his contemporaries of the Ohrid School. Scenes of the life and miracles of Saint Naum of Ohrid, painted by the tomb of St Naum present the unique group of the monumental painting which is of a special importance. The fresco portrait of King John Vladimir is positioned in the left part of the monastic church which proves it was the King’s endowment. The monastery of Saint Naum is the center and mainspring of the educational activity and lessons had been held in the monastery lodging houses. Saint Naum Monastery is one of the oldest and the richest monasteries in Macedonia.

The building of the Saint Naum Monastery is linked to the monk Saint Naum. In the hagiography of Saint Naum it says that the church had been built in the southern coast of the Ohrid Lake dedicated to SS Archangels Michael and Gabriel. Saint Naum had established this monastery at the end of his life (900-905). He died in 910 and was buried in the monastery. It is also presumed that the oldest Naum’s Church, the church of St. Archangels had been built between the years of 893, the year when Naum arrived to Macedonia and 910 when he died. The original church dedicated of St Archangels had a three-sided apse base. There are no data available when the name of the monastery had been changed, however since 1630, in Russia this monastery had been known under its present name – the monastery of Saint Naum. It is presumed that the original monastery church of Saint Archangel Michael and Archangel Gabriel had been demolished and devastated by Ali Pasha of Ionnina – Ali Pasa Janinski, the cruel leader of the Albanian Janissaires towards the end of the 18th century, when he also destroyed Moskopole, while others considered that the old three-apse church had been completely ruined between the 15th and the 16th century. According to the latest researches, it is ascertained that the present-day Saint Naum church originates from the period under the Turkish rule and it had been built on the foundations of the old Naum’s church. The Saint Naum Monastery had remained in such a devastating state for many years, until arrival of the hiermonk Grigorie-Gregory from Moskopole – the Bishopric of nearby Korcha, at present in Albania. Helped by the Christians, he had renovated the monastery and built two cells. He arranged and consecrated the Saint Naum temple and had built the portico (pronaos – the nartex).

“In retreat across Albania of the Serbian Army in autumn and winter of 1915 the then Serb Government decided prior to the end of mobilisation to enlist also generations born in 1897 and 1898 from the areas which the enemy troops entered at that time. Few days later this decision was changed so that not only generation born in 1898 were to be enlisted but after a number of recruits already addressed the authorities, it was decided to join the recruits born in 1897 with the Army which was to retreat across Albania, and send them to Botila. Branislav Nusic writes about those recruits as all of them were tiny and young children, as a dew drop, without mustashes, just torn up from their mothers and homes and taken along sufferings to devastation. There were some 40.000 children displaced and taken into refugee exodus to prevent them to be captured by the enemy, planned to be recruited the next March. Their thin bodies and underdeveloped chests and insecure step were the only traces of their childhood, as their extinct gaze, and bowed heads and difficult pain on their faces gave them the look of an eighty-years old men, without any premonition that they were fated to death. They were sent into retreat without armory, some of them even did not have full military uniforms.

Around four hundreds of students from the Skopje student squad and the youth that were to be recruited, due to illnesses and outrageous exhaustion from the harsh marching towards Albania, found their rescue at the provisional hospital in the Saint Naum Monastery. As per available historical records, some time around the Djurdjic Orthodox feast in 1915 they were captured by the Bulgarian villains of Ohrid, led by Ivan Kiselinov. Such frozen, ill and exhaused children were taken to the area of the Ramne village and brutally massacred in the vineyards beneth the Church of Saint Athanasius, some of them executed by pitchforks. Only one boy of the Ristic brothers survived the massacre and was found by a Macedonian from the next village of Velestovo who took him to his home, cured and later transferred to Greece from where he returned to Serbia after he joined the Serbian Army. Ristic and the Macedonian became blood brothers, respected and visited each other for their whole lives.

The Monument by Ramne village which is known as the ,,Four Hundreds – 1915” was an obelisc constructed from white marble from Pletvar, 11 meters high, erected near to the Biljana Springs by the then-time Ohrid Bishop Nikolaj Velimirovic, along the design of the famous Serb architect Momir Korunovic. This Monument was destroyed in the middle of 1941 by the Bulgarian fascists, those who massacred those children and youth”. Source: Military Union of Serbia

The Bihop Nikolaj of Zica and Ohrid had erected a tall tower next to the church of Saint Naum Monastery, dedicated to the Holy Tsar Nikolaj Romanov. “On this tower were clearly vivid recognizable Serbian symbols of Four ocila emblem – four curious elements (Cyrillic S’s), while in the ground floor was the chapel dedicated to the Holy King Jovan Vladimir. Architect of this tower was famous Momir Korunović who designed the Memorial Ossuary of Zebrnjak in Kumanovo, among many other works. In 1945 the communist regime took over the rule and proclaimed the new Macedonian nation, but the tower remained until 1956 when it was demolished to the ground by communists“. Source Srpstvo u Makedoniji

Wonderful setting of the Saint Naum Monastery surroundings enabled construction of the authentic hotel complex of 28 comfortable and nicely appointed rooms, that perfectly fits into the spirituality of the entire place and provides uniquely pleasant stay to visitors.

The Holy Virgin Church of Zahum – the Zaum Monastery

The Church of the Holy Virgin of Zahum – the Zaum Monastery is located on the eastern bank of the Ohrid Lake, on the steep slope of the Galicica Mountain, right next to the Trpejca village. The Church of the Holy Virgin of Zaum – the Zaum Monastery was erected right below the hill which vertically joins the Ohrid lake shore on the place which is nearly inaccessible from the land. The protected inscription above the entrance door testifies that the church was erected in 1299 and was fresco painted in 1361 by the order of lord Grgur Branković – the middle son of the Ohrid ruler Branko Mladenović. The Church of the Holy Virgin of Zaum – the Zaum Monastery features the archaeological remains from the old-Christian period and from the the medieval settlement whose parts were used in construction of the church. The name of Zaum Monastery comes from Zahumlje in Herzegovina which was the original homeland of the Brankovic Family.

The Church of the Holy Virgin of Zahum – the Zaum Monastery features the form of the inscribed cross with the dome above the central part, and the inner eight-sided tambourine. The upper part of the Zaum Monastery church is similar to the Ohrid churches – the Holy Virgin of Peribleptos and the Church of Saint John Kaneo. Right above the entrance door as well as on the church walls there are remains of frescoes that used to decorate the narthex of the Church of the Holy Virgin of Zahum. Here is buried the Serbian nobleman Ostoja Rajakovic who was relative of Prince-King Marko Mrnjavcevic. Today beside and around the Zaum Monastery Church there is lovely beach on the Ohrid Lake which can be approached only from water by boat.

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