Crkva Sv. Nikola - Varos, Prilep

There are several scientific opinions about the time of erection of this church. According to one of them, it was built during the second part of the 12th century, when, according to the characteristics corresponding to the last period of the paintings of the Komnens era is dated in the fresco-painting of the apse: "Bogorodica Širšaja nebesa", "The Cursing of the Agnec".
	The church St. Nikola, Varoš, Prilep, 12th century

Above the window situated on the south wall of this church, there is a fresco inscription in which the year 1299 is marked as the year of its construction, but according to a later interpretation of the inscription, the church was erected in November of 1298, by the church-donor Vega, son of Kapza and Maria, during the reign of tzar Andronic II, Michael IX and tzarina Irina.

The church of St. Nikola is a single-nave building, with a semicircular arch and a three-sided apse on the outside. It is built of rough stone, and in its upper parts, we notice ceramoplastic decorations. It has small dimensions, with characteristically accentuated height.

The most exciting thing in this church is its preserved rich frescos whose style and value attract the attention of experts, but also of all the admirers of the beautiful. It represents one of the most beautiful creations in our country from the 13th century, but with certain characteristics, which connect to the style pertaining to the 14th century.

Above the west entrance, on the outside, in the niche, there is the image of the saint St. Nikola, to whom the church is dedicated. On the inside, the fresco is divided into three zones. In the first zone, the figures of the holy soldiers and the saints are represented in their whole stature. In the second zone, there are compositions in which scenes of the "Sufferings of Christ" are represented, and the third zone has the "Great holidays". In the arch, there are the paintings of the prophets in their whole stature.

On the outside, on the façade of the church, there are fragments and remains of frescos. On the west façade, apart from the representation of the patron of the church, there is another fresco-icon, whose origin is dated in the 17th century.

In the possession of the church, there are numerous icons with origins from the 14th century until the 19th century. Among them, of special importance is the icon "Vzigranie mladenca", from the 14th century. Its dose of realism stands out from the canonized Byzantine representation of the Mother of God with Christ. Today, it is found in the Art Gallery in Skopje.

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