The Ohrid Churches

For the whole trip around the country, we had only one weekend. But that did not stop us from seeing an incredible number of beautiful historical sites, feeling the energy that connects our present with the historical past. I decided to dedicate a separate my travel note to the churches of Ohrid.

At the behest of the Bulgarian Tsar Boris, Saint Clement founded a book school in Ohrid for the translation of church Greek books into the Slavic language.

In the city there was its own patriarchy, which after the conquest of the city by Byzantium in 1018 lost its independence and became part of the Constantinople patriarchy.

The Church of St. John the Theologian at Kaneo

The unique location on the Kaneo Cliff creates a unique feeling of tranquility. Here you can spend hours enjoying the silence and breathtaking views.

The Church of the Most Holy Theotokos Perivleptos

The church was built in 1295 according to the order of the Byzantine general Progon Zgur, a relative of the Byzantine emperor Andronikos II Palaiologos, during the reign of the Ohrid archbishop Makarios.

The Saint Panteleimon Orthodox Monastery

Originally the monastery was built by Saint Clement, however in the 15th century under the control of the Ottoman Empire it was reconstructed into a mosque. In the 17th century the monastery was destroyed. Since 1999 archaeological excavations have been conducted.

In 2002, a new cathedral was built, completely replicating the lost architecture.

The Church of St. Sophia

The church is one of the best-preserved monuments of Serres Macedonia.

The presumptive date of construction is thought to be during the reign of Prince Boris I (852-889). It should be noted that this church was built on the foundation of the originally destroyed church of the 6th century.