|
 Macedonia
is a treasury of cultural wealth. The Slavonic alphabet was born in Macedonia,
where the Macedonian educators
Sts.
Cyril and Methodius, and
Clement
and Naum played an important part in the spread of Christianity. Macedonian
builders and mosaic masters shone like a bright star in the dark period of
European culture prior to the Renaissance.
Scholars and writers often refer to Macedonia as a
magical country for archaeology - there are many historical sites, including
those at
Stobi by
Gradsko,
Heraklea
Lynkestis by
Bitola,
Lychnidos
by
Ohrid and
Scupi
by
Skopje. In the site of
Viničko
Kale (near Vinica), the discovery of terracotta icons aroused great interest
among historians and archaeologists. The Basilica Mosaic in
Heraklea
Lynkestis is one of the most famous mosaics of antiquity. There are many
remains from Roman times and the early Christian period.
Macedonian cities have an imposing number of churches.
The famous architects and fresco-painters worked on numerous churches, and in
Ohrid alone their number exceeds 30.
Lake
of Ohrid and the town of
Ohrid
are under the protection of UNESCO. Several churches, the most renowned among
which is St. Pantelejmon, bear witness to the times of the educator
St.
Clement. The churches and other cultural monuments built between the 11th
and 12th centuries are characterized by unique architecture and
priceless frescoes and icons, famous throughout the world.
Ohrid was the cradle of Slavonic literacy, which the
brothers Cyril and Methodius and later their students spread to other Slav
peoples starting from the 9th century. One of the best known
historical monuments is the Church of St. Sophia, the former Cathedral of the
Archbishopric of Ohrid. It was built in the 10th and 11th
centuries. Invaluable frescoes from the 11th and 14th
centuries have been uncovered.
  From
the Turkish period, there are monuments of Islamic culture such as mosques,
bazaars and baths. In the 14th century, Skopje was described as being
an important trading center with its Old Bazaar, Covered Marketplace (Bezisten),
the Kursumli An Caravanserai, Daut Pasha Baths and the Mustapha Pasha Mosque.
Another important monument of Islamic culture in Macedonia is the Painted
Mosque in
Tetovo. A large
number of monuments have been erected following the liberation. One of the most
interesting is the monument devoted to the Ilinden Uprising in Kruševo. Many
memorials have also been built, such as those in
Prilep,
Kumanovo,
Veles
and
Štip, renowned for their
beauty and expressiveness.
In 1990, work on the cathedral of St. Clement of Ohrid in
Skopje was completed. Macedonian construction companies built this church
according to the best national traditions and Macedonian painters painted its
frescoes and icons which remain as a legacy for the future. |
