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Veles, Svećani, Saint Constantine, Remains of the Church
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Place
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Description: Today, only modest remains of the church are preserved. Through archaeological research, the chronological phases of construction and painting of the church have been reconstructed. A small single-nave church with small-scale lateral apses was built from the late 9th to the mid-10th century. It underwent renovations and expansions on two occasions—during the second half of the 13th century and in a later period, possibly during the 14th century. Remnants of fresco decoration are located in the altar apse. Two layers of frescoes have been preserved: an older one corresponding to the time of the church's construction (late 9th - first half of the 10th century) and another from the time of the first church renovation in the second half of the 13th century.
Architecture
First phase of construction:
In the first phase, a small single-nave church was built. A distinctive architectural feature is evident in the placement of a small apsidal room on the southern side. It is likely that a lateral apse originally existed on the northern side as well, but it has not been preserved due to the later reconstruction of the church, which destroyed the foundation of the northern wall of the old church. The church terminated in the eastern low semicircular apse. On the lateral sides of the apse, in the eastern wall, there are two small niches for the prothesis and diakonikon. Although it is a single-nave church without a dome, it conforms to the design of triconch churches in terms of its shape and disposition of its lateral conches.
Parallels: Church in the village of Izdeglavje
Dating: late 9th - first half of the 10th century
Second phase of construction: In the second phase, the original small church underwent renovation and expansion; the nave was extended towards the west; the entrance on the southern wall was walled up, and a new entrance was constructed on the western side of the building. The same phase also includes the renewal of the eastern part of the church; the height of the eastern apse was increased, and the additional section was executed with interior stonework and adorned externally with ceramic decoration.
Dating: the second half of the 13th century
Third phase of construction: In the third phase, a nave was added along the southern wall of the church; this southern annex had a three-sided apse and two entrances. For the purposes of worship, the southern apse of the original church was opened, thus establishing communication between the two spatial units.
Dating: The documentary evidence for the dating of the third phase of construction is lacking. Perhaps the second renovation took place in the 14th century.
Painted Decoration
First Layer: The oldest fresco ensemble has left few remains. The frescoes in the eastern apse were arranged in two registers - in the lower register, standing figures of saints surround the single narrow window, while the content of the upper register is difficult to identify. Only the depiction of a throne is visible in the apse composition, which was a part of representations of Christ on the throne, the Virgin Mary on the throne with Christ, and Hetoimasia at that time.
Dating: 10th century
Second Layer: The frescoes are fragmentarily preserved in the sanctuary. In the conch of the apse, remnants of an archangel figure are visible (likely part of the composition of the Virgin Mary with archangels). In the central register of the apse, there is a depiction of the Communion of the Apostles, and in the lower register of the apse, four bishops surround the single narrow window (The Officiating Bishops). The depictions of celebrating bishops continued onto the southern wall of the sanctuary.
Parallels: Church of St. Nicholas in the village of Manastir in Moriovo, St. John Kaneo in Ohrid, Church of St. Eliah in the village of Grnčari, Church of the Holy Mother of God in Dabnište near Kavadarci
Dating: the last quarter of the 13th century
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