STRUGA

This town as well, like all towns in Macedonia, during its history had different rulers and each one of them, on his own way, left part of his culture.

It can be said that Struga is one of the most beautiful towns in the Republic of Macedonia, because besides the excellent locality, similar to the one of Ohrid and Krusevo, the towns characterizes with old and authentic architecture, characteristic for this region. Today in Struga there are around 16 000 inhabitants, living in 5430 apartments.

Like the history of Ohrid, the history of Struga begins with the Neolithic time as well. Proves for this, can be found in the artifacts of the archeological foundlings on famous archeological sites "Ustata na rekata Drim" ("The Mouth of River Drim") and "Crkovni Livage" in village Vranica.

From the time when Macedonian kings were ruling, one bronze helmet, found on the site "St. Ilija" near village Celogrzda, is kept in Struga museum as prove from those times.

There are basilicas in village of Radolista, village of Oktisi and village of Delogozda, dating from the early-Christian period, 5-6 century. It is clear that by the time when the Slaves came, in Struga and its surroundings there was one intensive life developed. This can be proved by different subjects dating from this period and their excellent treatment, also gorgeous tomb inscriptions, with pure art design, and above all, there were people who knew how in the utilitarian to try to find elements of real art.

For culture history of Struga and its surrounding the above mentioned early Christian basilicas in village of Oktisi and village of Radolista are of great importance. They are three nave, with naos, narthex and baptistery, and what makes them gorgeous, are floor mosaics. Basilicas from this type are spread on the whole Balkan. One of them are important by their architectonic decisions, others because of the mosaics and different decoration and third by the architecture and the decoration. But not so often basilicas with floor mosaics that represent very rear compositions are found: in Oktisi basilica in its narthex there is a composition representing the entrance in heaven, and in the basilica in Radolista, in the naos-central part of the temple-between other known Christian symbols the eel is shown, as fish characteristic for Ohrid and Struga. But in the early Christian period, and later as well, the fish was one of the symbols of Christ.

On this rich region, with arts that represent culture heritage, the Slovenians came in the VI century.

In Struga and its surrounding the tradition of St. Kliment and Naum is present, for which a lot of names on sites dating from this time can be found: "Klimentica" in the center of Struga, especially the site "Holy Mother of God precista" in village of Vranista, rarity not only in Macedonia but on the whole Balkan.

This church, originating from 9th-10th century, is unique oriental basilica, three-nave with one roof on two waters. The central nave was lighted from the windows on the altar apse, and one on the north and south side walls of the basilica. The mystic, present in its interior with this system of lightening, connects this type of basilicas with east, in difference with other known basilicas in Macedonia and wider, where the central nave is lightened from the windows on its side walls.

On the outside east side three naves had apses. Judging by the material for its construction /scale, for the walls and vaults, brought from many kilometers distance, and bricks for arcs, especially the form of naves together with apses, and by the telling that king Samuil was crowned here, today’s people calls this church "King's church", and most probably it dates from this time. For the time being it is only monument in Macedonia (excluding St. Sofija in Ohrid and St. Ahil in Prespa) which is connected with the time of Samuil.

The oldest icon art in Struga is the the icon St. Georgi (1267), in the church with the same name, dating from the middle century. It represents the patron of the well known Struga church, in whole figure, frontally drawn, with sward and spear in his hands. The man connected with this icon is the Ohrid missioner, the deacon Jovan, one of the most important figures in organisation of art activity in the southwest Macedonia, in the third quarter of the 13th century. Painted with outstanding feeling for delicate colorist shadowing, this icon shines with impressive beauty of the face, in subdued gamut, through which cinober and white accents from the yellow surface are shining. Modeling of St Georgija, the graficism, very often used in previous or modern arts, is not so dominant here, which makes this icon one of the most valued and most renowned icons from all.

On the icon’s backside an inscription is found, where it is mentioned that designer of this icon, representing the Holy soldier Georgija, is the fresco-painter Jovan, and as guarantor again Jovan is mentioned, big administrator of the Ohrid bishop Konstantin Kavasilas.

From the Turkish period, in Struga these objects can be mentioned: the bath, either with modest dimensions, but consisted of all elements of all baths in Macedonia, and "Halveti teke", which is under protection of cultural monuments. The teke (Muslim monastery) is established by Hasan Baba (Asan Dede) at beginning of the 18th century. The object is consisted of five rooms, forms the letter "T" which means: mosque which comprises the minaret and the balcony, café-inn, summer inn and reception room. The cub from the minaret is in octagonal form, which is a symbol of eight heavenly doors, and the crown of the scheih as well. From the time of renaissance there are many of churches in Struga and its surrounding, in all places inhabited with Christian people. They are all characterized by the famous special style from architectonic viewpoint, especially with rich and valuable carved iconostasis on which a lot of "prestolni" (throne) and "praznicni" (festive) icons can be found, and the church interior is ornamented with wall fresco-painting.

The most famous among these churches is the city gathering church "St. Georgija", built in 1853, on basis of older sacral object, the extremely beautiful carved iconostasis is finished in 1850, and the church has been completely fresco-painted in 1874.    

During the conservation on this church in 1993 many icons were found on the roof, dated from 15th and 18th century, which according to their performance and painted faces, color and forms, are really a rarity not only in Macedonia but on a broader scale, as well.

© Vertikala - progressive ideas and technologies

 The hosting of this web-site is sponsored by

All rights reserved. Any reproduction of the content or any of its parts or any modification, in any form or by any method, known or yet to be invented,  for any use besides private, without prior written permission by the authors is prohibited.