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Bitolj, Church in the fortress Kale Bair
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Place
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The fortress called "Kale Bair" in Turkish: the Fortress Hill is located on a hill northwest of Bitola, above the location of Badem-balari, i.e. Zelen Bair which overlook the river Dragor valley and the Pelagonian plain. It occupies an area of about 5 hectares - length about 500m, width about 190m. Its construction dates back to the time of the Bulgarian prince Boris (852-889). In the interior of the fortress, the foundations of the church of monumental proportions (23.6 x 20, 16 m) have been preserved.
Architecture:
The church represented a cross-domed basilica or ambulatory church, with an inscribed Greek cross. The nave has a three-part altar space and ending with a rectangular narthex. On the north and south sides of the altar space, the church had two annexes with a square base, most likely a chapel. The thickness of the walls and lateral supports indicate barrel vaults and a possible central cross-dome. The distinctive feature of the church's architectural structure is represented by the two towers built on the western facade, that is, by the northwestern and southwestern corners of the narthex. The material used in the construction of the church were coarse stone and mortar in combination with brick.
Dating:
The church is dated to the end of the 10th - beginning of the 11th century.
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Bitolj, remains of the church under Yeni mosque
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Place
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The church building is discovered under the Yeni mosque. The main building of the Yeni mosque is situated on the right bank of the Dragor river, in the center of Bitola, the place formally known as the Ottoman Pekmez market. The mosque was built the rule of Sultan Suleyman the Magnificent, in 1558/94, by the order of the judge Mehmed Efendi.
Architecture:
Four architectural layers were discovered under the current mosque that belong to the church building most likely of the three-nave basilica type.
The first phase of the building: the following parts have been explored so far: the eastern part of the building was discovered and it ends with an apse, semicircular inside and three-sided outside. It is also discovered the prothesis of the church basilica on the north side. The prothesis is built out of stone, brick and mortar in the opus mixtum technique with some transition to the opus cloisonné.
Dating:
The dating of the first layer was carried out on the basis of analogies with similar buildings, especially the basilica in Ćurline, or the cathedral church on Kale Bair in Bitola as well as with the church near the village of Krupište near Štip. The dating interval primary based on the opus mixtum technique of the church construction is from the 7th to the 10th century. Mobile finds and ceramics were also found. There were no grave finds or burials.
The second phase of the building: the walls from the second phase differ from the previous one in the way that they were built in the opus cloasonné technique. A large number of wall painting fragments were found probably originate from this period. There are many indications that there was a town church here in the 11th century. A spearhead was also found, which dates back to the period between 10th -14th century. Burials began in this period and about 40 graves were discovered. The burials were caried outside but also inside the church. Also, two Byzantine lead seals as well as an encolpion were discovered.
Dating:
The second phase probably belongs to the time after 1018.
The third phase of the building: this phase belongs to the period after the restoration of Byzantine rule under the Emperor Michael VIII Palaiologos (1259-1282). In this phase, rich finds of ceramics, fragments of frescoes, glass, and coins were discovered. Metal ornaments and buttons dating back to the 14th century were also discovered. Christian graves with offerings were found. Three coins were excavated, two of which are Bulgarian imitations from the first half of the 13th century, and the third belongs to the Serbian ruler Stefan Uroš the First (1243-1272).
Dating:
Based on the coins it was possible to determine the period of the demolition of the previous phase and the start of the construction of the third structure between 13th and 14th centuries.
The fourth phase of the building: the last phase of the church was done to expand or change the function of the church itself and this phase is not representative. It was built of stone with mud filling.
Dating:
Most likely, the church was abandoned in the 14th or 15th century.
Findings:
On the site were found fragments of a painted glass lamp, then a glass from the 13th or 14th century, lead seals, building ceramics, metal ornaments, buttons, ceramics, fragments of frescoes.
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