Ohrid

The exact date of Ohrid’s fall under the Turkish rule cannot be determined accurately. However, the inscription in the church St. Ilija, located in the village of Elsani in the Ohrid region dating back from 1408 is considered to be accurate evidence of the presence of the Turks.

Church paintings (frescoes) of XI century were made in monumental style, the strongest emphasis given to face expression. Artists were striving to depict the inner feelings of the painted saints. This style can be found in the in the preserved fresco paintings in the cathedral church of St. Sofia.

During the Turkish rule in Ohrid, many of the Christian churches were converted into mosques. It is estimated that these churches were demolished in the course of XV century. In that period Clement’s church, St. Pantheleimon was destroyed and on its ruins a mosque was erected.

The Ohrid Church became a tool of the Byzantine Empire for maintaining their rule over the Macedonians. During the reign of Vasileus II Ohrid Archiepiscopate consisted of 32 eparchies. At the end of XI century the number of eparchies was reduced to 26.

In the Ohrid region Christianity was inaugurated as the official religion as early as IV century AD. Since the first part of IV century the town of Lychnidos became an episcopal center.

From the beginning of VI century the Slavs started passing the river Danube more frequently devastating and robbing the rich Byzantine towns, fortresses and villages, penetrating even the interior of the Balkan peninsula.

A polyconched church from the early Christian period is located north from the Monastery of St. Clement’s compound. Its monumentality, architecture and splendid mosaics distinct it from all discovered Early Christian basilicas in the region of Ohrid. It is unknown to whom it was devoted.

The contemporary city of Ohrid is a descendant of the antique town of Lychnidos.