The church Sveti Spas, village of Kučevište, near Skopje
| In the group of churches situated on Skopska Crna Gora mountain is the church Sveti Spas (St. Savior), in the village of Kučevište, dedicated to the Presentation of the Virgin into the Temple. It is one of the oldest churches in that region. | |
This sacred object is a combination of several objects. The original church dates from the year 1348, and its donor, according to an inscription positioned above the south entrance in the naos of the church, as well as in the document of the czar Dušan from 1348-53, were the nobleman Radoslav. Later, to the west side of the church a narthex with covered ground floor and an upper floor was built. On its south wall the portrait of the Duke and the Duchess, named Vladislava, people who contributed to its building, were painted. Later, on the south side a closed porch was built, and it served as a school.
The church Sveti Spas is a cross-shaped church, above the central part of which a high dome is elevated, supported by four pillars. Its facade is embellished by the niches, that are located on the east wall above the five-sided altar apse, decorated with built-in bricks.
The interior of the church is garnished by several layers of fresco-painting. The oldest one that originates from the times of the building of the church, from the 14th century, and then another one was painted in the 16th century. The last one, due to its poor artistic quality, was completely removed during the conservation in the middle of the 20th century. The drawing of the oldest fresco-painting evidence about an exceptional talent and great knowledge of the painting (zograph) technique. The zograph Grigorij, has written his name in red, on the frescoes. From that period, the compositions "Lamentation of Christ", "Mother of God with Christ" and others should be pointed out.
On the iconostasis of this church there are several icons from the 19th century, among which special attention attracts the icon with the depiction of Archangel Mikhail taking away the soul of the rich man. It is one of the earliest works of the Miyak zograph Dico, painted in the year 1845.
The property of the church is supplemented by two pulpits from the 14th century, made with incrustation and a wooden door, made with the same technique.
D. Kareva
About the churches in Macedonia
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