Its complex consists of a church dedicated to Saint Nikola, inns that are placed south of the church and represent a two-story renovated building, a modern bakery, as well as a kitchen attached to the western part of the inn. The monastery watermill has been renovated and it is located five hundred meters to the east from the monastery, along the river of Luda Mara.

There are some assumptions, but not exact data, with regards to the exact time of construction of the single-nave monastery church, and the name of the constructor. However, one can find out more about the fresco-art from the inscription in the interior above the entrance door, that in church-Slovene language reads as follows:

"In the name of the Father, the Son and the holy spirit, the sacred God’s temple of his archpriest miracle maker Hristov Nikola has been fresco-painted by mister Nikola from Timjanik, with his sons mister Jovche, mister Bojko, mister Dane, for eternal remembrance. It was completed at the time of clergyman mister Josif – 23.X.1595."

According to some, this very same mister Nikola is also the constructor of the temple, and he did that just several years before he fresco-painted it. Throughout time, Moklishki monastery was noted as a monastery with rich and active life that was maintained even during the time when Poloshki monastery was completely neglected. In this monastery, people used to collect all the books from abandoned monasteries around Macedonia, thus creating a very rich library. Transcription activities were taking place at the same time.

However, the monastery was slowly loosing the attention previously accustomed to. The irresponsible behavior by the monks and religious people who were in charge of its maintenance caused destruction of the library holdings, so that many valuable and precious manuscripts were lost. This type of behavior was strongly criticized by Jordan Hadzi Konstantinov-Dzinot, who wrote the following in the "Carigrad Herald" number 190, from 1855: "...in that monastery there were up to 20 loads of manuscripts, and they still have these, but they do not know its honor, they tear them apart and stick them on windows, priests are making hats i.e. mukava for hats."

At present, monastery property consists of buildings only. The Moklish summerhouse is close to the monastery, and it is a nicely arranged space with a restaurant and accommodation facilities.

M. Cvetanovska

About the churches in Macedonia

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