The Church of St. George: All That Remains of the Monastery

The Church of St. George is not far from the Macedonian city of Kumanovo, near the border with Kosovo. It is believed that the present-day structure appeared here at the beginning of the 14th century on the former site of a Byzantine temple, dating back to the 9th century. Previously, there was a monastery, but only the church could survive to this day.

The cultural monument is situated in a small village called Staro Nagorichane on the right bank of the Pchinja River. You can get here by car: the route is 15 km long. By the way, pilgrims can stop for a night in a house of the former local school.

The building was erected on the initiative of the Serbian King Milutin. According to the inscription over the western entrance, it commemorates the victory over the Turks. The Church of St. George became the symbol of the country’s military triumph.

The church appeared in the years of the so-called Palaiologian Renaissance, known for a specific style of frescoes, geometric clarity of composition, and particular images, academicism. All this austerity reflects the dedication to serve God.

Another feature of the building is the original altar screen, preserved by restorers to his day. In the openings, it displays icons of St. George and Mother of God of Pelagonitis, uncharacteristic for that period. You can also see icons of St. Clement, Constantine Kabasilas, St. Sava of Serbia, and Saint Stephen the Martyr. What is remarkable, guests of the church still can find the original frescoes made in the 14th century: they retained their initial charm.

The church is located in the centre of the once existed monastery. Not far, there are graves of clergy and laity. At the south-western wall, there is the burial place of the Bulgarian Tsar Michael III Shishman, who died in 1330 after the Battle of Velbazhd (present-day Kyustendil).