Maps of Power

Ivanov 1931

Description

Jordan Ivanov, Bŭlgarski starini iz Makedonija (Sofia 1931).

Relations

Actors (50)
Name Class Begin End Relation Type Description
(Čihorić [Drugović]) Dabiživь Person He was a member of the noble family of Čihorić in Trebinje. He had three brothers (župan Vratko, župan Nenac and tepčija Stepko). He served as a sluga for the Serbian King Stefan Uroš IV Dušan 1334–1345. He was the Cupbearer (enohijarь) of the Serbian Emperor Stefan Uroš V in 1362. Dabiseus Drugouich bought in 1334 at Brskovo a horse from the inhabitant of Ragusa Miloš Hlapović for 30 perper. He came in 1343 to the župa Žrnovnica with Marcus Maurocenus in order to see the property of Sorento from Ragusa, which was near the boundary between the realm of the Serbian Kingdom and the Republic of Ragusa (ad uidendum confines Rusci de Sorento cum Dabiseo sluga). His name appears from 1343 to 1345 in the Liber omnium reformationum. According to it did the people of him cause frequently harm to the Ragusians in the župa Žrnovnica. The emissaries of the Republic of Ragusa complained before the Serbian King Stefan Uroš IV Dušan in October 1345 that Dabiživь established a fair in Trebinje and imposed a tax for the goods exported and imported by the Ragusans. The Serbian King Stefan Uroš IV Dušan accepted the complaints of the Ragusans and forbade Dabiživь to collect any taxes from the Ragusans (Piše kraljevstvo mi da jestь bědomo vsakomu, kako pridōše poklisarie, vlasteli dubrovьčьci, kraljevstvu mi pod Serь – Piro Grubešikь Marьtolь Črěvikь i Paske Gučetikь – i govoriše kraljevstvu mi na slugu Dabiživa, kako e učinilь trьgь na Trěbini i uzima ōd tovara dinarь kto grede i u Dubrovьnikь izь Dubrovnika, i ōd dobitka koi grede u Dubrov’nikь. i govorěe Dabiživь prědь kraljevstvomь mi: „uzimano e i prěžde, ōnazi carina ōnьdězii.“ A govorěke poklisarie dubrovьč’ci: „Tazi carina ne uzimana ōd veka, ōdkole světь stalь.“ I kraljevstvo mi iz’nage erě ne uzimana tazi carina i u moihь dědь i pradědь i u rodietelja kraljevstva mi i u kraljevstva mi. I sьtvori milostь kraljevstvo mi vsemь vlastelomь dubrovьč’cimь, vělimь i malimь, da ne ōnogazi trьga na Trěbini, kagō ga i prěžde ne bilo. I po sema sega da ne uzima Dabiživь Dubrovьčanomь ni carine da ni koega dohodьka, ni trьgov’cu dubrovьč’komu, ni vlahu, ni srьbinu, da nikōmu i k’to grede Dubrovьnikь, izь Dubrovьnika. I vsaci vlasteli koi te stagati po Dabiživě da ne uzima carine tezi do veka věk, ni u syna kraljevstva mi da ni u koga nastoeštago kralja u Srьblihь). In October 1349 he received together 10 perper from the Ragusans (In minori consilio, sono campane solito congregatio, captum fuit et firmatum de donando de havere communis Dabisco yppos X). He was probably buried in the Monastery Church of the Holy Mother of God at Treskavec near Prilep. His tombstone with an inscription has been preserved on the northern wall of the monastery church (měseca genara: uspe rabь božiei dabiživь: enohijarь: cara uroša: vьse srьbьskyi zemьle: grьčьskje: i pomorьskje vь leto: ѕ: ō: o: enьdikta).
Amerales Person Mentioned in the dedicatory inscription found on the western wall of the Virgin Maryʼs Church in Mali Grad from 1368–1369. He appears as a ὁ πανευγενέστατος Ἀμηράλις ὑιος αὐτοῦ in the inscription next to his portrait. He was the son of the kaisar Nobakos and Kale. His sister was Maria. His father kaisar Nobakos sponsored the renovation and decoration of the Virgin Maryʼs Church in Mali Grad in the year 1368–1369 (Άνηγέρθη ἐκ βάθρου καὶ κόπού καὶ μόχθοῦ ὁ θεϊος κὲ πάνσεπτος ναώς ουτος της υπεραγίας δεσπίνης ἡμων Θεοτόκου καὶ ἀνηστορίθην παρὰ του αὐφθέντου αὐτοῦ πὰνευτυχεστάτου κέσαρος Νοβάκου ἠγουμενέβῶντὸς δὲ Ἰωνὰ μοναχοῦ. Αὐφθεντεύβοντος πανυψηλοτάτου κραλήου τοῦ Βεληκασίνου. Άρχαηερατεύωντος δὲ τῆς ἀγιωτάτης ἀρχιεπησκοπῆς τῆς Πρότης Ἰουστινηανης, ετους ͵ςωοζʹ). The family portrait of Nobakos has been preserved on the western external façade. He and his sister are painted to the left of the virgin, who is the central figure of the ktitorial composition. He is portrayed as a small boy.
Bisariōnь Person Attested in the marginal note of the prologue, which was written by the scribe Stanislav Lesnovski in 1330. He was a Kelar (κελλάρης) of the Monastery of Saint Archangel Michael and Holy Father Gabriel in Lesnovo. The scribe Stanislavь finished his prologue in the time, when Germanь was responsible for the supplies of the Monastery of Saint Archangel Michael and Holy Father Gabriel in Lesnovo (i pri kelari Bisariōně).
Bladimer Person Mentioned in the prayer inscription on the southern pilaster in front of the apse of the Church of Saint Nicholas in Melnik from 1274/1275. He appears as a sebastos in the inscription. His brother was the sebastos Frangos. He commisioned probably the fresco decoration of the Church of Saint Nicholas in Melnik (δέησις τοῦ δούλου τοῦ θεοῦ σεβαστοῦ τοῦ Βλαδιμήρου αὐταδέλφου σεβαστοῦ τοῦ Φράγγου).
Blukasinos Demetrios Person The name Demetrios is attested in the memorial book (pomenik), which has been preserved at Protaton in Karyes on Mount Athos (Protaton 340 [113], 1v: Ἔτι δεόμεθα ὑπὲρ μακαρίας μνήμης καὶ ἀφέσεως τῶν ἁμαρτιῶν τῶν ἀειμνήστων δούλων τοῦ Θεοῦ Δημητρίου κράλη καὶ Ἰωάννου δεσπότου καὶ τῶν σὺν αὐτοῖς ἀναιρεθέντων ὀρθοδόξων χριστιανῶν). He died on 29th June 1371 during the battle against the Ottomans at Černomen/Marica. He held the dignity of Despot from January 1364 to September 1365 according to G. Ostrogorsky (Sь že Vlьkašin spodobi se ōt njego čьsti despotatskago sana, potom že i věnčavajetь jego). He worked as a royal wine-pourer (οἰνοχόος) of the Serbian King Stefan Uroš IV Dušan. He held the position of Župan in Prilep, 1350/1351 (pri županě Vlьkašinu...vь dьnь blagověrnago cara našego Stefana i syna mu Uroša i carice Elene...kьga se ōtvrže Berь). He witnessed the apparently falsified charter issued by the Serbian Emperor Stefan Uroš V in 1355 for the inhabitants of the town of Kotor as he held the position of čelnik (e zeonich Vucasin). In January 1366 ugodni vlastelin Novakь Mrasorovikь addressed the request to the Serbian Despot Ioan Uglješa (Ioannes Unklesis) and also the Serbian King Demetrios Blukasinos to approve his donation of the village Koprivljane to the Monastery Hagios Panteleemon on the Holy Mount Athos. Both of them confirmed the endowment of Novakь Mrasorovikь to the Monastery Hagios Panteleemon on the Holy Mount Athos in a separate chrysobull charter (kralь Vlьkašinь blagōvěrni Srьblemь i Grьkomь). In November 1366 he is mentioned as king in the archives of the Ragusan republic. He is attested in the Ragusan archives with name and the title of king for the first time in April 1367 (domino regi Rassie Volchassino). He was probably a co-ruler of the Serbian Emperor Stefan Uroš V. between 1365 and 1368/1369. This is proven by the fact that his portrait is next to Stefan Uroš V. on the northern wall of the narthex in the Church of Saint Nicholas in Psača, they appear together on coins and they both accept embassies from the Ragusan republic. The situation changed in 1368/1369. The ktitorial inscription of Nobakos, apparently identical with Novakь Mrasorovikь, in the Virgin Maryʼs Church in Mali Grad mentions that the decoration of the church was painted during the reign of the highest king Demetrios Blukasinos (Άνηγέρθη ἐκ βάθρου καὶ κόπού καὶ μόχθοῦ ὁ θεϊος κὲ πάνσεπτος ναώς ουτος της υπεραγίας δεσπίνης ἡμων Θεοτόκου καὶ ἀνηστορίθην παρὰ του αὐφθέντου αὐτοῦ πὰνευτυχεστάτου κέσαρος Νοβάκου ἠγουμενέβῶντὸς δὲ Ἰωνὰ μοναχοῦ. Αὐφθεντεύβοντος πανυψηλοτάτου κραλήου τοῦ Βεληκασίνου. Άρχαηερατεύωντος δὲ τῆς ἀγιωτάτης ἀρχιεπησκοπῆς τῆς Πρότης Ἰουστινηανης, ετους ͵ςωοζʹ). It seems, that Demetrios Blukasinos took all the power immediately after the victory over the Serbian Emperor Stefan Uroš V and his coalition at the Kosovo field in 1369. The proof that he ruled without Stefan Uroš V is the charter for the Ragusan republic issued on 5th April 1370, which he signed alone by himself (gospodina zem’li srьbьskoi i Grьkōmь i zapad’nimь stranamь...vь Hrista Bōga blagověrni i hristōljubïvi Vlьkašinь kralь). The Koporinjski and Pećki letopis (chronicle) recorded that the Serbian Emperor Stefan Uroš V. was expelled by Demetrios Blukasinos and his brother Ioannes Unklesis before the battle near the river Marica. A fragment of choros from 1365–1371 originally placed in the Saint Demetrius Monastery near the village Sušica (the so-called Marko’s Monastery), now in collection of the museums in Skopje, Sofia, Istanbul a Belgrade, with installed medallions bearing the name Vlьkašinь and the title of a king, confirm the suggestion, that he governed as a sole ruler. The priestmonk Mihailo wrote the Apostol manuscript from 1365–1371 at Lešnica in the region of Polog for the priest Miho in Debreše during the reign of the King Demetrios Blukasinos (Pisase sija kniga mnogogrěšnogo rukoju ieromonaha Mihaila popu Mihě iz Debreše Nikolinu synu…Azь ōbrěmeneni i ōkajanьni pisahь vь dьni Vlьkašina kralja, kьdi drьžaše Grьgurь Pologь, a pisavši beše iz Lešnice, nierei mnih’). His father was Margnaua (Orbini)/ Margna (Luccari), who was a poor nobleman from Livno in Hum. His brother was Ioannes Unklesis (Ioan Uglješa) and his sister Helene. The husband of his sister was Nikolaos Radochnas (Νικόλαος ῾Ραδόχνας, Nikola Radonja). He was married to Lena. They had together four sons (Marko, the King, Andrěašь, Dmitьrь, Ivanišь) and one daughter (Olivera). The Serbian King Stefan Uroš IV Dušan took his father and the family of Mrnjavcević to the Serbian court. The domains of Demetrios Blukasinos were in the southern Serbia, Kosovo and in the northwestern parts of historical Macedonia with strongholds in Prilep and Skopje. Since 1345/1346/1347 the Saint Demetrius Monastery near the village Sušica (the so-called Marko’s Monastery) was built under the patronage of Demetrios Blukasinos and his sons (Izvōlenïemь ōtca i voplьšenïem sina i sьšestviemь svetago duha ōbnovi se i popisa si svety i božestavni hramь svetago velikōmučenika Hristova pobědōnosca i myrotočьca Dimitrija sь usrьdïemь i potštanïemь blagověrnago kralja Vlkašina sь blagověrniei kralice Eleny i sь prěvazljublenym eju i prьvorodnimь sinomь blagověrnimь kraljemь Markomь i Andreašemь i Ivanïšemь i Dimïtrom vь lěto ·ѕ·ō·p·e· si že monastirь nače se zdati lěto ·ѕ·ō·n·g· vь dni blagověrnago cara Stefana i hristoljubivago kralja Vlьkašina a sьvrši se vь dьni blagověrnago i hristoljubivago kralja Marka). His fresco portrait is above the south gate of the monastery and flanks with the portrait of his son Marko the bust of Saint Demetrius. The Historia della casa Musachia records, that Andrea II Musachi defeated the Serbian King Stefan Uroš IV Dušan or Demetrios Blukasinos at the Pelister Mountain. After 1361 Demetrios Blukasinos was very influential on the Serbian court, because the Ragusans often wrote letters to him. He deposited a treasury in Ragusa (denarii quondam regis Volchassini), which was withdrawn by his sons totally not until 1399. In summer 1371 Demetrios Blukasinos marched to Zeta, where he assisted his relative Đurađ Balšić in his war against Nikola Altomanović. Demetrios Blukasinos waited in Skadar for the naval support from the Ragusan republic. Despot John Uglješa informed his brother by letter about the invasion of the Turks to Europe. Demetrios Blukasinos and his brother commanded the Serbian forces, which fought against the Ottoman army commanded by the Beglerbeg Lala Şahin Pasha and Evrenos near the village Černomen on 26th September 1371. His portrait and its accompanying inscription (Vь hrista boga blagověrni kralь Vlьkašin) has been preserved on the southern part of the entrance to the Monastery of Saint Archangel Michael at Prilep. The inscription in the chapel of the Panagia Eleousa on the shore of Lake (Great) Prespa, which mentions the three patrons of the church, gives detail about the date of the repainting (1410) and the name of the ruler, who was Demetrios Vlukasinos. The possibility of a later local ruler with the same name cannot be excluded, but a more probable version is that the construction of the church was realised during the rule of Demetrios Vlukasinos (Ανηγέρθει καὶ ἀνιστωρίθει ὁ Θείος καὶ πάνσεπτος ναὸς τὴς Ὑπεραγίας Δεσποίνης ἠμῶν Θεοτόκου καὶ Ἀειπαρθένου Μαρίας διὰ σὶνδρομὶς κόπου τε καὶ ἐξόδου τοῦ τιμίὅτατου εν ἰερομονάχοις κῦρου Σάβα καὶ κῦρου Ἰακόβου καὶ Βαρλαὰμ τῶν κτητόρων. Αὐθέντης ὁ Βλουκασίνος. Ἐπἷ ἒτους ϛπιη).
Damianos (2) Person He was born after 1340/1341. Mentioned in the sources from 1347 to 1349/1350. He was the son of Ioannes Liberos (᾿Ιωάννης Λίβερος, Jovan Oliver) and Maria Liberissa (Μαρία Λιβέρισσα, Ana Marija,). His uncle was Mpogdanos (Μπογδάνος, Bogdan). He was the brother of Kraikos (Κράϊκος, Krajko), Vidoslavь, Dabiživь, Rusinь, Oliverь and Danica. Ioannes Liberos together with his wife and their sons Kraikos (Κράϊκος, Krajko) and Damianos (Δαμιανός, Damjan) were the patrons of the parecclesion of the Saint John the Baptist in the Church of Saint Sophia in Ōhrid. The chapel was erected between the years 1347–1350. Ioannes Liberos together with his wife and their son Damianos (Δαμιανός, Damjan) are depicted within the ktitorial composition on the western wall of the chapel. Ioannes Liberos, Maria Liberissa, Kraikos (Κράϊκος, Krajko) and Damianos (Δαμιανός, Damjan) sponsored a new narthex as a addition to the Monastery of Saint Archangel Michael and Holy Father Gabriel in Lěsnovo. The painted ktitorial composition with Ioannes Liberos, Maria Liberissa (Μαρία Λιβέρισσα, Ana Marija), Kraikos (Κράϊκος, Krajko) and Damianos (Δαμιανός, Damjan) is on the northern wall of the narthex. The fresco inscription above the entrance from the narthex to the naos gives details about the donors and the date 1349, when the narthex was decorated (Ἀνηγέρθη ἐκ βάθρων, καὶ ἀνηστορίθη ὁ θεῖος καὶ πάνσεπτος ναὸς τοῦ ταξιαρχου Μιχ δι’ ἐξόδου τοῦ πανευτυχεστάτου δεσπότου Ιωάννου τοῦ Λύβερί. καὶ τῆς πανευτυχεστάτης βασιλείσης Μαρίας τῆς Λυβερίσης καὶ τῶν τέκνων αὐτῶν, Κραίκου καὶ Δαμιανοῦ. ἐπὶ τῆς βασιλεί Στεφάνου καὶ Ἐλένης, καὶ τοῦ ύιοῦ αὐτῶν κράλη τοῦ Οὐροσι μηνὶ αὐγύστῳ ѕʹ ἔτους ϛωνζ ἰνδ β).
Danilь (2) Person Attested in the marginal note of the prologue, which was written by the scribe Stanislav Lesnovski in 1330. He was a Monk of the Monastery of Saint Archangel Michael and Holy Father Gabriel in Lesnovo. The scribe Stanislavь finished his prologue in the time, when Danilь was in the monastic community (i pri mnisě Danilě).
Dobrevь Person He was already deceased in the middle of the 14th century. His son was Ivōta. His son is attested as a person to be prayed for and remembered for in the priest’s service book (služebnik) from the middle of the 14th century, which is now in the Old and Rare Book Collection (Ćorović 7) of the University Library in Belgrade (79v–80r: Da poměnete gospodь bogь rabь svoihь Ivōte Dobreva sina i podruga jemu Seslavu).
Dragoslavь (6) Person Attested in the marginal note of the prologue, which was written by the scribe Stanislav in 1330. He was the Župan of the administrive unit of Zletovo. The scribe Stanislavь finished his prologue in the time, when Dragoslavь ruled over the land of Zletovo as župan (ōbdrьžjaštu horoja Zljatovьskoja županu Dra’goslavu). The inscription with the text "Dragoslavь župan" on the epitaph, which was excavated in the Monastery of Saint Demetrius in Veles after 1858, might refer to the same person.
Eirene Person She lived before 28 July 1362. Her father was probably Michael Palaiologos Komnenos Asanes. She was buried in the Church of Saint Elijah at Dojran. A marble slab in the narthex of the church dedicated to her bears three inscriptions. The monogram is written in Greek and describes the slab as her tombstone (Τάφος Εἰρῄνης θυγατρός Μιχαήλ Κριβαβατζιτζ?). The slavic inscription contains the details concerning the death of Eirene (měseca julě ki dьnь prěstavi se raba božija erina kьki mahaila krьvavčiikě? ѕ ō o ie). The last Greek inscription in four dodecasyllables gives an account of her old and noble descent (Σὺ δ’ εἰπὲ, λίθε τίνα κρατεὶς νεκρόν κόρην τρίφεραν τοῦ Μιχαὴλ πάλαι γόνῳ τρισευκλεῦ μεγίστῃ ἐκ βασιλέων ἐρρεύσεν εἰς τὴν ἀλλὰ παπαῖ τῆς τύχης).
Eudokia (1) Person She together with her son and Mpoeikos sponsored in 1344/1345 the painted decoration of the Virgin Maryʼs Church in Mali Grad (Δέησης του δουλου του Θεοῦ Μπώεῖκου καὶ Εὐδῶκείας, τῆς εὐγενὲστάτης καὶ τὸν τέκνὸν αὐτης. Ανὴστωρϊθὲν τὸ βίμα παρ αὐτῶν. Έτους ͵ς ω ν γʹ).
Frangos Person Mentioned in the prayer inscription on the southern pilaster in front of the apse of the Church of Saint Nicholas in Melnik from 1274/1275. He appears as sebastos in the inscription. His brother was the Sebastos Bladimer. His brother commisioned probably the fresco decoration of the Church of Saint Nicholas in Melnik (δέησις τοῦ δούλου τοῦ θεοῦ σεβαστοῦ τοῦ Βλαδιμήρου αὐταδέλφου σεβαστοῦ τοῦ Φράγγου).
Germanь (1) Person Attested in the marginal note of the prologue, which was written by the scribe Stanislav Lesnovski in 1330. He was the Ikonom (οἰκονόμος) of the Monastery of Saint Archangel Michael and Holy Father Gabriel in Lesnovo. The scribe Stanislavь finished his prologue in the time, when Germanь was responsible for the income and expenditure of Monastery of Saint Archangel Michael and Holy Father Gabriel in Lesnovo (i pri ikonomě Germaně).
Geōrgje-Miroslavь Person Mentioned in the epitaph from the 14th century, which is preserved in the Church of Saint Demetrius Monastery in Veles. He was the son of Ilija. He was the grandson of the župan Stracimirь and Alьtimirь. The epitaph in the Church of the Saint Demetrius Monastery in Veles is commemorating Geōrgje-Miroslavь, who was the son of Ilija and the grandson of two župans (Prědstavi se rabь bži, Geōrgje a rekomy Miroslavь Iliinь snь a vьnukь župana a Stracimira i Alьtimira mja se k.ѕ., v ilju na Iōa Boslovac).
Gregorios Person B: Bischof von Deabolis/Albanien, 1361 - 1364/65 L: Ktetor d. Theotokos Zαχλουμίστισσα-Κ. (Zaum-K. am Ochrid-See) am Ochrid- See. Errichtete Gregorios Theologos-K./Ochrid-See
Gregorios Person B: Erzbischof von Ochrid, 1364/65 - 1378; Hypertimos, seit 1369 od. früher.
Gropas Andreas Person Mentioned in different documents and relics from 1371 to 1379. According to the ktitor inscription in the Church Mal sveti Kliment in Ōhrid from 1378 he was the μέγαλος ζούπανος of Ōhrid. The Historia della casa Musachia records, that Andreas Gropas was married with Kiranna, the daughter of Andreas II. Musachi (questo Signor Groppa predetto dʼOcrida hehbe per moglie la Signora Chiranna seconda figlia sua). The sepulchral inscription for Ostoja Rajaković from 1379 reports, that he was the father-in-law of Ostoja Rajaković (zetь župana Grōpe). ). His son-in-law was also Balša Balšić (Balsa suo genero). He had his own coins minted since 1371. So far 27 pieces of these coins have been preserved. One of the coins has the legend „po milosti Božiei velikь županь Gropa gospodinь Ohrid.‟ Six coins mention him as župan. His father-in-law and his son-in-law Balša helped him to liberate the city of Kastoria from the control of the king Markos/Marko Kraljević. According to the Historia della casa Musachia he ruled beside Ōhrid also in Debar (Signor Groppa Signor dʼOcrida overo Debria). Nikolaj D. Ovčarov proposed to read some monogramm attempts found in the Church of Sveta Sofija in Ōhrid as signatures of Andreas Gropa. This ascertainment could lead us to the assumption, that Andreas Gropas had his own chancery.
Grьdo Person Mentioned in the scribal annotation of the priest Nikola from Skopje in the manuscript located in the library of the Saint Panteleimon Monastery on Mount Athos. The terminus post quem of the note is 1313, because Nikola reports on the victory of the Serbian King Stefan Uroš II. Milutin over the Turks in Asia Minor (vь dьni Uroša kralě Milutina egda pobi Turkẽ vь Grьcěhь). He was a priest. He was the brother or spiritual brother of Nikola (popu Grьdu bratu mi). He lived in Vinyka according to the scribal annotation. Ivanov locates Vinyka either in Viniče in Skopska Crna Gora, or in Vinica, which is in the region of Kočani. Kravari identifies Vinyka with Viništa. He was the recipient of the copy of the Book of Acts and Evangeliary made by Nikola (Pisa sẽ sija kniga vь Skopi grade popu Grьdu bratu mi ot Vinyka).
Grьgurь Person The identification with Grьgurь Branković and kaisar Grьgurь (Gurguras) is doubtful. Mentioned in the colophone of the Apostol manuscript from 1365–1371, which has been preserved in the Titov collection (Nr. 3365) of the National library of Russia. He administrated the region of Polog at the time when the Priestmonk Mihailo wrote the Apostol manuscript (Azь ōbrěmeneni i ōkajanьni pisahь vь dьni Vlьkašina kralja, kьdi drьžaše Grьgurь Pologь, a pisavši beše iz Lešnice, nierei mnih’).
Gurguras Person Gregorius Golubich is a central figure in the negotiations between Serbia and Dubrovnik between the years 1362 and 1365, but it is not clear, whether he is the same person as Kaisar Gurguras. Gregorius Golubich strived with his brother Ivan to conclude the peace treaty. Several accounts from the Dubrovnik archive give detail about him and his brother. On the 14th of June 1362 Gregorius and his brother became the citizens of Dubrovnik. Their deposits were under the guarantee of the city of Dubrovnik and obtained the legal position of inviolability in case of the war (Comes Ivan Golubich cum Gregorio fratre suo factus fuit civis Ragusii, et quod possit in omni tempore venire Ragusium, et ibi stare et habitare, et res et bona sua deponere et salvare libere sicut quilibet alius verus ciivis Ragusii. Et si casus ocurreret, quod propter guerram vel propter alium casum prefati comes Ivanus et frater eius Gregorius cum eorum familia, bonis atque rebus aufugerint de Raxia Ragusium, quod libere venire possint et inde recedere cum omnibus bonis suis ad omnem eorum voluntatem sine aliquot impedimento prout quilibet alius civis Ragusii facere possit. Et si aliquot tempore Guerra vel Discordia oriretur inter regnum Raxie et comune Ragusii, quod bona eorum deposita in Ragusio sint salva, et quod impedire non debeat nec intromitti modo aliquo, sed possit libere ipsa facere extrahere et extrahi facere de Ragusio ad omnem ipsorum voluntatem, sicut supra dictum est). In the time between 10th and 15th of July in the year 1362 the Serbian Emperor Stefan Uroš V issued a safe conduct charter for the embassy from Dubrovnik. Grьgurь is mentioned there along with Logothete Dejan as the ambassador of the Serbian ruler (i kako mi ste poručali po logothetě carstva mi po Dejaně i po Grьgurě). On the 6th December 1365 came knez Gregorius Golubich, the deputy of the Serbian Emperor Stefan Uroš V, to Dubrovnik in order to collect the Tribute of Ston (Comes Gregorius Golubich, nuncius domini Imperatoris Sclavonie...anni proxime preteriti de mense octobris yperpyros duo mille...Pripchus Murisich et Radoe Posovcich, homines Senchi). Mentioned in the sources between the year 1347 and 1361. He held the title of Kaisar between 1347 and 1361. He received a letter from the pope Clement VI in March 1347. In this document he was asked by the pope to support the intention of the Serbian emperor Stefan Uroš IV Dušan to join the union with the Latin church (Gregorio Golubie cesari regni Racie). He is mentioned in the chrysobull charter of the Serbian Emperor Stefan Uroš IV Dušan for the Monastery of the Holy Archangels Michael and Gabriel near Prizren, which was issued after august 1347. He gave a moneylender with the name Dabiživ to the monastery. Dabiživ was obliged to donate yearly 18 foxes to the monastery (I sь milostiju i hotěnijemь carьstva mi priloži kesarь Grьgurь crьkvi carьstva mi Arhhaggelu Dabiživa kamatnika, da daje za godište 18 lisicь). He is attested in the forged document of the Serbian Emperor Stefan Uroš IV Dušan for the town Kotor as a witness (i vsego sobora egō i vlastela i sobora carskago Gergura). He appears as a sponsor in the inventory of the crypt in the Church of Saint Nicholas in Bari. He endowed the church with various church vessels. On the 10th of May of the year 1353 the chapter in Bari released an approval for specific church vessels to be sold. The lamps on the list are probably endowments of Gurguras (...Lampas una magna de argento missa ecclesie per Cesarem Sclavonie...; Lampas una magna et suptilis deaurata cum multo labore missa per quemdam Sclav...librarum duarum et unciarum undecim; Lampas una cum catinellis de argento missa per Cesarem Sclavonie...apostolis...duodecim deauratis et cum licteris videlicet Cesar Gregorius me fecit fieri ponderis librarum sex et unciarum decem). According to the inventory from the 5th Februrary of the year 1361 Gurgaras donated to the church also an incense with his coat of arms, mitre with 1008 pearls, stole and maniple (Tumbulum unum de argento deaurato missum per Cesarem Sclavonie ad campanile cum xmaltis quattuor ad aquilas rubeas cum duobus...et cum duobus allis dragonibus et cum cannellis duplis de argento in quibus cannelis sunt...quinque in medio ponderis librarum quattuor et unciarum novem). Mauro Orbini mentions him as a person, which advised the Serbian Emperor Stefan Uroš V (Li suoi primi consiglieri suorono Gregorio Cesar). The inscription above the entrance door to the Church of the Holy Mother of God Zachlumistisa mentions the circumstances of the endowment in the year 1361. The church was erected at the expense of the kaisar Gurguras. The painted decoration of the monastery was commisioned by Gregory, the Bishop of Devol (Ἀνηγέρθη ἐκ βάθρων ὁ θεῖος καὶ πάνσεπτος ναὸς τῆς ὑπεραγίας Θεοτόκου τῆς Ζαχλουμήστισας διʹ ἐξοδου τοῦ πανευτυχεστάτου καίσαρος Γούργουρα καὶ κτήτωρος ἀνιστορίθη δὲ παρὰ τοῦ πανιεροτάτου ἐπισκόπου Δεαβόλαιως καὶ πρωτοθρόνου κύρ Γρηγορίου καὶ κτῆτωρος ἐπὶ τῆς βασιλείας Στεφάνου τοῦ Οὐροσιοι μηνὶ αὐγούστῳ κεʹ. ͵ϛωξθ ἰνδ. ιδʹ).
Helene Person Β: Zarin d. Serben, 1346 - 1355; Herrscherin von O-Makedonien in (?) Serrhai, 1355 - 1365-08/09; Nonne, vor 1356-05 D: † 1376-11-07. V: T. d. Στραντζιμήρης (Sracimir) u. d. Keraca Petrica. Schw. d. ᾽Ασάνης, ᾽Ιωάννης ᾽Αλέξανδρος (Ivan Aleksandǔr) u. d. Kομνηνὸς ᾽Ιωάννης, Despot. Heir. Οὔρεσις Στέφανος (Stefan IV. Dušan) 1332. M. d. Οὔρεσις Στέφανος (Uroš). R: Nahm 1342 an den Verhandlungen des Οὔρεσις Στέφανος (Stefan IV. Dušan) mit Καντακουζηνὸς ᾽Ιωάννης VI. teil. Παλαιολόγος ᾽Ιωάννης V. sandte 1364 Κάλλιστος Ι., Ρatriarch von Kpl, wegen einer antitürkischen Allianz zu ihr. I: Ihre Hofhaltung in oder bei Serrhai 1355 - 1365 war griechisch-serbisch. Ließ griechische Hss. anfertigen. L: 1347 besuchte sie mit Οὔρεσις Στέφανος (Stefan IV. Dušan) und Οὔρεσις Στέφανος (Uroš V.) den Athos.
Ionas Person He was the Abbot of the Monastery at the Prespa lake at that time, when Kaisar Nobakos sponsored the renovation and decoration of the Virgin Maryʼs Church in Mali Grad (Άνηγέρθη ἐκ βάθρου καὶ κόπού καὶ μόχθοῦ ὁ θεϊος κὲ πάνσεπτος ναώς ουτος της υπεραγίας δεσπίνης ἡμων Θεοτόκου καὶ ἀνηστορίθην παρὰ του αὐφθέντου αὐτοῦ πὰνευτυχεστάτου κέσαρος Νοβάκου ἠγουμενέβῶντὸς δὲ Ἰωνὰ μοναχοῦ. Αὐφθεντεύβοντος πανυψηλοτάτου κραλήου τοῦ Βεληκασίνου. Άρχαηερατεύωντος δὲ τῆς ἀγιωτάτης ἀρχιεπησκοπῆς τῆς Πρότης Ἰουστινηανης, ετους ͵ςωοζ).
Ivōta Person He died in the first half of the 14th century. He was probably a scribe in the Monastery of the Archangel Michael and Holy Father Gabriel in Lesnovo. His father was Dobrevь. He is attested as a person to be prayed for and remembered for in the priest’s service book (služebnik) from the middle of the 14th century, which is now in the Old and Rare Book Collection (Ćorović 7) of the University Library in Belgrade (79v–80r: Da poměnete gospodь bogь rabь svoihь Ivōte Dobreva sina i podruga jemu Seslavu).
Kale (2) Person Mentioned in the dedicatory inscription found on the western wall of the Virgin Maryʼs Church in Mali Grad from 1368–1369. She appears as a πανευγενεστάτη κεσαρισα κυρία Καλῆ in the inscription next to her portray. She was a κεσαρισα.She was married to Nobakos. Her children were Amirales and Maria. Her husband kaisar Nobakos sponsored the renovation and decoration of the Virgin Maryʼs Church in Mali Grad in the year 1368–1369 (Άνηγέρθη ἐκ βάθρου καὶ κόπού καὶ μόχθοῦ ὁ θεϊος κὲ πάνσεπτος ναώς ουτος της υπεραγίας δεσπίνης ἡμων Θεοτόκου καὶ ἀνηστορίθην παρὰ του αὐφθέντου αὐτοῦ πὰνευτυχεστάτου κέσαρος Νοβάκου ἠγουμενέβῶντὸς δὲ Ἰωνὰ μοναχοῦ. Αὐφθεντεύβοντος πανυψηλοτάτου κραλήου τοῦ Βεληκασίνου. Άρχαηερατεύωντος δὲ τῆς ἀγιωτάτης ἀρχιεπησκοπῆς τῆς Πρότης Ἰουστινηανης, ετους ͵ςωοζʹ). The family portrait of Nobakos has been preserved on the western external façade. She and her husband are painted to the right of the virgin. She is portrayed as a young woman.
Kapzas Begos Person Mentioned in the ktitorial inscription in the Church of Saint Nicholas in Varoš near Prilep from 1298. He had a wife, whose name was Maria. He and his wife commisioned the construction and the fresco decoration of the Church of Saint Nicholas in Varoš near Prilep during the reign of the Byzantine Emperor Andronikos II Palaiologos (ἀνιγέρθει· ἐκ βάθρου· καὶ ἀνιστωρήθει ὁ θῆος καὶ πάνσεπτος ναὸς τοῦ ἐν ἁγίοις πατρὸς ἡμῶν ἀρχηεράρχων καὶ θαυματουργοῦ Νικολάου δηὰ συνδρωμῆς καὶ κόπου Βέγου τοῦ Καπζᾶ καὶ τῆς συμβήου αὐτοῦ Μαρίας· ἐπὶ τῆς βασιλείας Ἀνδρωνίκου τοῦ εὐσεβεστάτου βασιλέος καὶ αὐτωκράτωρος Ῥωμέων Κομνινοῦ τοῦ Παλαεωλόγου καὶ Ἠρήνης τῆς εὐσεβεστάτης αὐγούστης· ἐπῒ ἔτους ςωζ μηνὴ νωεύρηο ιζ ἰνδικτιῶνος ιβ το τουτῶ...θνυτοῦ καὶ ἑτέρῶν τῶν κτήτωρων).
Kraikos Person Mentioned in the sources from 1340/1341 to 1381. He was the son of Ioannes Liberos (᾿Ιωάννης Λίβερος, Jovan Oliver) and Maria Liberissa (Μαρία Λιβέρισσα, Ana Marija,). His uncle was Mpogdanos (Μπογδάνος, Bogdan). He was the brother of Damianos (Δαμιανός, Damjan), Vidoslavь, Dabiživь, Rusinь, Oliverь and Danica. According to the stone inscription above the Western Entrance of the Katholikon in the Monastery of Saint Archangel Michael and Holy Father Gabriel in Lěsnovo from 1340/1341, his father Ioannes Liberos, his mother Maria Liberissa and he sponsored the reconstruction and the painted decoration of the monastery. Ioannes Liberos, Maria Liberissa and Kraikos (Κράϊκος, Krajko) endowed the Monastery of Saint Archangel Michael and Holy Father Gabriel in Lěsnovo with lands in the surrounding area (sьzda se světlyi i čьs(t)nъï.hramь.velikago vojevode vьïšnih silь. Arhistratiga Mihaila. Sьzda se i sьvrьši se. Vь dni Stefan(a) kral(a). Sь trudomь. Ï podanijemь raba B(ož)ija Ïōan(a) veikago voevode Ōlivera. I podružija ego rabu B(o)žiju Annu. Maru i vьzljublennago emu s(y)na Kraika. V(ь) lět(o). ƺ.ō.m.ḟ. se že sela i metohïe. Selo konь crkve Lěsnovo. Sь zaselkomъ Lukovu i u Bakově crkvь S(ve)t(o)ga Nikole sь selomь. Ï na rěcě zaselьkь Globica i selo Dobrьevo i u Drěvěnoi. S(ve)tьï Elisei i zaslьk Peštno i S(ve)ty Prokopije. I katunь Vlah(a) na Stroi i u Štipě S(ve)ty Nikola pop Sïfievь. i. k. kukei). Ioannes Liberos together with his wife and his sons Kraikos (Κράϊκος, Krajko) and Damianos (Δαμιανός, Damjan) were the patrons of the parecclesion of the Saint John the Baptist in the Church of Saint Sophia in Ōhrid. The chapel was erected between the years 1347–1350. Ioannes Liberos together with his wife and their son Damianos (Δαμιανός, Damjan) are depicted within the ktitorial composition on the western wall of the chapel. The portrait of Kraikos (Κράϊκος, Krajko) is situated on the northern wall of the chapel. Ioannes Liberos, Maria Liberissa, Kraikos (Κράϊκος, Krajko) and Damianos (Δαμιανός, Damjan) sponsored a new narthex as a addition to the Monastery of Saint Archangel Michael and Holy Father Gabriel in Lěsnovo. The painted ktitorial composition with Ioannes Liberos, Maria Liberissa (Μαρία Λιβέρισσα, Ana Marija), Kraikos (Κράϊκος, Krajko) and Damianos (Δαμιανός, Damjan) is on the northern wall of the narthex. The fresco inscription above the entrance from the narthex to the naos gives details about the donors and the date 1349, when the narthex was decorated (Ἀνηγέρθη ἐκ βάθρων, καὶ ἀνηστορίθη ὁ θεῖος καὶ πάνσεπτος ναὸς τοῦ ταξιαρχου Μιχ δι’ ἐξόδου τοῦ πανευτυχεστάτου δεσπότου Ιωάννου τοῦ Λύβερί. καὶ τῆς πανευτυχεστάτης βασιλείσης Μαρίας τῆς Λυβερίσης καὶ τῶν τέκνων αὐτῶν, Κραίκου καὶ Δαμιανοῦ. ἐπὶ τῆς βασιλεί Στεφάνου καὶ Ἐλένης, καὶ τοῦ ύιοῦ αὐτῶν κράλη τοῦ Οὐροσι μηνὶ αὐγύστῳ ѕʹ ἔτους ϛωνζ ἰνδ β). According to the charter of the Serbian Despot Konstantin Dragaš for the Hilandar Monastery from 15th August 1381 Maria Liberissa expressed short before her death the will that the Monastery of Saint Archangel Michael and Holy Father Gabriel in Lěsnovo should devolve after her death on the Hilandar Monastery. Her sons Kraikos (Κράϊκος, Krajko) and Rusinь confirmed that their mother wanted to donate the Monastery of Saint Archangel Michael and Holy Father Gabriel in Lěsnovo to the Hilandar Monastery (I kako je i despotica Ōlivera despota na sьmrьti rekla i sь synōma svoima Kraikōmь i Rusinomь da je paki tai crьkvь Hilandaru).
Liberissa Maria Person The hypothesis of J. Radonić that Maria Liberissa was identical with Maria Palaiologina (Μαρία Παλαιολογίνα) was refuted by M. Laskaris. Mentioned in the sources between 1340/1341 and 1349. She is mentioned as a deceased person in the charter of the Serbian Despot Konstantin Dragaš for the Hilandar Monastery from the 15th August 1381. She appears as Despotica (1347–1350, before 1381) and βασίλισσα (1349). It is not clear, if her father was Georgios Karabides (Γεώργιος Καραβίδης). She was married to Ioannes Liberos (᾿Ιωάννης Λίβερος, Jovan Oliver). They had together six sons (Kraikos [Κράϊκος, Krajko], Damianos [Δαμιανός, Damjan], Vidoslavь, Dabiživь, Rusinь, Oliverь) and one daughter (Danica). According to the stone inscription above the Western Entrance of the Katholikon in the Monastery of Saint Archangel Michael and Holy Father Gabriel in Lěsnovo from 1340/1341, she, her husband Ioannes Liberos (Ioan Oliver) and her son Kraikos (Κράϊκος, Krajko) sponsored the reconstruction and the painted decoration of the monastery. She, her husband and her son Kraikos (Κράϊκος, Krajko) endowed the Monastery of Saint Archangel Michael and Holy Father Gabriel in Lěsnovo with lands in the surrounding area (sьzda se světlyi i čьs(t)nъï.hramь.velikago vojevode vьïšnih silь. Arhistratiga Mihaila. Sьzda se i sьvrьši se. Vь dni Stefan(a) kral(a). Sь trudomь. Ï podanijemь raba B(ož)ija Ïōan(a) veikago voevode Ōlivera. I podružija ego rabu B(o)žiju Annu. Maru i vьzljublennago emu s(y)na Kraika. V(ь) lět(o). ƺ.ō.m.ḟ. se že sela i metohïe. Selo konь crkve Lěsnovo. Sь zaselkomъ Lukovu i u Bakově crkvь S(ve)t(o)ga Nikole sь selomь. Ï na rěcě zaselьkь Globica i selo Dobrьevo i u Drěvěnoi. S(ve)tьï Elisei i zaslьk Peštno i S(ve)ty Prokopije. I katunь Vlah(a) na Stroi i u Štipě S(ve)ty Nikola pop Sïfievь. i. k. kukei). Her name appears on a metal polycandilion with an inscribed medallion, which was ordered for the Monastery of Saint Archangel Michael and Holy Father Gabriel in Lěsnovo by Ioannes Liberos, when he held the position of the Grand Duke (voevoda oliver anna marija). Maria Liberissa together with her husband and her sons Kraikos (Κράϊκος, Krajko) and Damianos (Δαμιανός, Damjan) were the patrons of the parecclesion of the Saint John the Baptist in the Church of Saint Sophia in Ōhrid. The chapel was erected between the years 1347–1350. Maria Liberissa together with her husband and her son Damianos (Δαμιανός, Damjan) are depicted within the ktitorial composition on the western wall of the chapel. The portrait of Kraikos (Κράϊκος, Krajko) is situated on the northern wall of the chapel. Maria Liberissa and her family sponsored a new narthex as a addition to the Monastery of Saint Archangel Michael and Holy Father Gabriel in Lěsnovo. The painted ktitorial composition with Ioannes Liberos, Maria Liberissa (Μαρία Λιβέρισσα, Ana Marija), Kraikos (Κράϊκος, Krajko) and Damianos (Δαμιανός, Damjan) is on the northern wall of the narthex. The fresco inscription above the entrance from the narthex to the naos gives details about the donors and the date 1349, when the narthex was decorated (Ἀνηγέρθη ἐκ βάθρων, καὶ ἀνηστορίθη ὁ θεῖος καὶ πάνσεπτος ναὸς τοῦ ταξιαρχου Μιχ δι’ ἐξόδου τοῦ πανευτυχεστάτου δεσπότου Ιωάννου τοῦ Λύβερί. καὶ τῆς πανευτυχεστάτης βασιλείσης Μαρίας τῆς Λυβερίσης καὶ τῶν τέκνων αὐτῶν, Κραίκου καὶ Δαμιανοῦ. ἐπὶ τῆς βασιλεί Στεφάνου καὶ Ἐλένης, καὶ τοῦ ύιοῦ αὐτῶν κράλη τοῦ Οὐροσι μηνὶ αὐγύστῳ ѕʹ ἔτους ϛωνζ ἰνδ β). According to the charter of the Serbian Despot Konstantin Dragaš for the Hilandar Monastery from 15th August 1381 Maria Liberissa expressed short before her death the will that the Monastery of Saint Archangel Michael and Holy Father Gabriel in Lěsnovo should devolve after her death on the Hilandar Monastery. (I kako je i despotica Ōlivera despota na sьmrьti rekla i sь synōma svoima Kraikōmь i Rusinomь da je paki tai crьkvь Hilandaru).
Liberos Ioannes Person Mentioned in several sources between 1336 and 1354. The inscription placed next to the portrait of Ioannes Liberos on the north wall of the naos in the Monastery of Saint Archangel Michael and Holy Father Gabriel in Lěsnovo lists all dignities, which were granted to him during his career (azь rabь hristovь iōanь ōliverь po milosti božiei i gospodina mi krala stefana bihь u srьblemь veliky čelnikь potom veliki sulga potomь veliki voevoda potomь veliky sevastokratorь i/a za věrnoe emu porabotanije po milosti božiei i veliki despotь vseja srьbskije zemle i pomorьskije i učestnikь grьkomь). Srdjan Pirivatrić presumes that the titles of grand sebastrokrator, grand despot and učestnik, were bestowed upon Ioannes Liberos by Byzantine imperial authorities before coronation of the Serbian Emperor Stefan Uroš IV Dušan in 1346. He held the position of veliki čelnik, before 1341. veliki sluga (megas domestikos), 1332–1341 (ja sluga veli Ōliverь/Iōanь veliki sluga Ōliverь vьse srpskie zemlie i pomorskie). veliki vojvoda (megas dux) 1341/1342 (sь trudomь i podanijemь raba božija ioana velikago voevode olivera; Veliki voevoda Ōlïver povelě pisati, a Stanislavь pisa; ōbьdrьžeštu ōblastiju vseju ōvčepolьskoju velikomu vojevodě Ōliveru, vь horě Zletovcěi; jegože velikyi vojevoda Ōliverь sьzda is temelja; povelěnijemь gospodina velikago vojevode Ōlivera; Bogь da prostitь velikago vojevodu Ōlivera). He was the son-in-law of Georgios Karabides (Γεώργιος Καραβίδης). His brother was Mpogdanos (Μπογδάνος, Bogdan). He was married to Maria Liberissa (Μαρία Λιβέρισσα, Ana Marija). He had six sons (Kraikos [Κράϊκος, Krajko], Damianos [Δαμιανός, Damjan], Vidoslavь, Dabiživь, Rusinь, Oliverь) and one daughter (Danica). Already in 1334 he got acquainted with Ioannes Kantakuzenos during the meeting between the Byzantine Emperor Andronikos III Palaiologos and Stefan Uroš IV Dušan in Rhadobosdion (Radovište). They became friends. Jovan Oliver entrusted before 1341 his subordinate Todorь with the task to settle the deserted settlement site Sveti Dimitrije in Jastrebnica, which was in possession of the Monastery of Saint Demetrius in Kočane. Jovan Oliver issued between 1332 and 1341 a charter, in which were listed the rights and duties of Todorь at Sveti Dimitrije in Jastrebnica (Naidohь selište pusto Svetago Dimitrija u Jastrebnicě i podahь moga člověka Todora, koi mi se prěda izь Grьkь, po ruce da naseli ōmozi selo). Ioannes Liberos, the son-in-law of Georgios Karabides, stated on 28th June 1336 in the presence of Nikola Falletro, the comes of the town of Ragusa, that he received the former treasury of Karabides from Junije Lukarević. Ioannes Liberos swore that he will give the treasury to the Serbian King Stefan Uroš IV Dušan and request a charter for Junije Lukarević from the king, which will confirm the receipt of treasury and ruled out the possibility of demand by the king, Liberos or the children of Karabides (Oliuer Gherchinich, baro domini Regis Raxie et gener Charauide, constitutes ante presentiam nobilis et potentis viri domini Nicolai Falletro, honorabilis comitis Ragusii, contentus e confessus fuit habuisse et recepisse et apud se habere a Junio de Lucarom de Ragusio unam centuram de argento et unam ladicam de argento, ponderis inter ambas librarum tredecim et unciarum V, et centum nonaginta quinque ducatos de auro, que centura et ladica et ducati acomandati fuerunt per dictum Carauidam, socerum olim dicti Oliueri, eidem Junio, ut idem Junius confessus fuit. Et similiter idem Oliverius confessus fuit tantas fuisse res et ducatos, accomandatas eidem Junio per dictum Charauidam et non plures, cum infrascriptis pactis et condictionibus, uidelicet quod ipse Oliuerius teneatur et debeat predictam centuram et ladicam et ducatos dare in manibus domini Regis Raxie in presentia Petri de Ribica et Marini filii Junii de Uolcasso de Ragusio et fieri facere ab ipso Rege eidem Junio de Lucaro unam apouiliam, sigillatam suo sigillo, continentem, qualiter ipse dominus Rex uel suus successor nec frater, filii seu filia dicti Charauidi seu aliqua alia persona de dicta centura et ladica et ducatis non possint facere uel mouere aliquam litem uel questionem in regno Raxie et Slauonie seu in aliquo loco, in curia uel extra, eidem Junio). Ioannes Liberos owned and received from the Serbian King Stefan Uroš IV Dušan landed estates in the region of Ovče Pole, Zletovo and Tikveš for his service. According to the stone inscription above the Western Entrance of the Katholikon in the Monastery of Saint Archangel Michael and Holy Father Gabriel in Lěsnovo from 1340/1341, he, his wife and his son Kraikos (Κράϊκος, Krajko) sponsored the reconstruction and the painted decoration of the monastery. He, his wife and his Kraikos (Κράϊκος, Krajko) endowed the Monastery of Saint Archangel Michael and Holy Father Gabriel in Lěsnovo with lands in the surrounding area (sьzda se světlyi i čьs(t)nъï.hramь.velikago vojevode vьïšnih silь. Arhistratiga Mihaila. Sьzda se i sьvrьši se. Vь dni Stefan(a) kral(a). Sь trudomь. Ï podanijemь raba B(ož)ija Ïōan(a) veikago voevode Ōlivera. I podružija ego rabu B(o)žiju Annu. Maru i vьzljublennago emu s(y)na Kraika. V(ь) lět(o). ƺ.ō.m.ḟ. se že sela i metohïe. Selo konь crkve Lěsnovo. Sь zaselkomъ Lukovu i u Bakově crkvь S(ve)t(o)ga Nikole sь selomь. Ï na rěcě zaselьkь Globica i selo Dobrьevo i u Drěvěnoi. S(ve)tьï Elisei i zaslьk Peštno i S(ve)ty Prokopije. I katunь Vlah(a) na Stroi i u Štipě S(ve)ty Nikola pop Sïfievь. i. k. kukei). He supplied the monastery with the Menaion. The scribe Stanislavь, who wrote the menaion, recorded, that Ioannes Liberos donated also frames for the screen icons and church vessels to the monastery with the intention to grant the monastery to the Hilandar Monastery (velikyi vojevoda ōliverь sьzda is temelija i sьvrьšivь i popisa i vsakimi dorotami ukrasivь, sьsudï zlatьïmi i srebrьnьïmi pokova velikyje ikony srebromь i zlatomь, jakože jestь lěpo domь božii ukrašati, podavь sela i metohije i pašišta i livade i planine milostiōvь kralevovь utvrьdivь vse sinore i zapisavь zlatopečatnymь hrisovulomь i prědastь ju u svetu goru stoi bogorodici hilandarьskoi sь vsakymь utvrьždenijemь). As a Grand Duke, Ioannes Liberos, ordered the fabrication of a metal polycandilion with an inscribed medallion for the Monastery of Saint Archangel Michael and Holy Father Gabriel in Lěsnovo (voevoda oliver anna marija). When the Byzantine Emperor Ioannes VI Kantakuzenos had proceeded in 1342 with his army along the right bank of the river Vardar, he discovered the forces of Ioannes Liberos near Belesos (Veles). The Byzantine emperor sent an envoy to Liberos in order to remind him of the friendly contacts they had before. Very short after the Byzantine Emperor Ioannes VI Kantakuzenos had crossed the river, Ioannes Liberos hosted him and his troops for three days. The Byzantine Emperor Ioannes VI Kantakuzenos, who placed reliance on Liberos, even proposed a marriage between his son Manuel and Danica, the daughter of Liberos. Ioannes Liberos provided accomodation for the Byzatine emperor and his troops in Skopje. In the meantime Liberos visited the Serbian King Stefan Uroš IV Dušan in the area of Morava. Liberos persuaded the Serbian King Stefan Uroš IV Dušan to receive the Byzantine Emperor Ioannes VI Kantakuzenos favourably. The Serbian King Stefan Uroš IV Dušan then sent Mpogdanos (Μπογδάνος, Bogdan), the brother of Ioannes Liberos, to the Byzantine Emperor Ioannes VI Kantakuzenos in order to let him know about his soon arrival in Tao (Pauni) near Pristenon (Priština). In July/August 1342 the Serbian King Stefan Uroš IV Dušan formed an alliance with the Byzantine Emperor Ioannes VI Kantakuzenos. Ioannes Liberos brought the Serbian King Stefan Uroš IV Dušan to convince the Byzantine Emperor Ioannes VI Kantakuzenos in regard of the engagment beween Danica and Manuel. Ioannes Liberos then accompanied the Byzantine Emperor with the Serbian auxiliary forces on the campaign to the town Serres. He fell ill before the gates of town of Serres. As sebastokrator Ioannes Liberos donated another medallion with monogramms for the polycandilion in the Monastery of Saint Archangel Michael and Holy Father Gabriel in Lěsnovo. The monastic endowment of Ioannes Liberos became a seat of new founded Episcopy of Zletovo between 1346 and 1347, which is documented in the charter of confirmation issued by the Serbian Emperor Stefan Uroš IV Dušan (v’seljubimomu vlastelinu svetago carьsva mi despotu Ōliveru, iže jestь sьzdalь svetyi hramь ōnь ōtь osnovanija, iže vь městě Lěsnově, i ukrasivь v’sěkymi lěpotami crьkьvnymi, i udarovavь sel’mi i sь zaselьci, i sь planinami, i sь pročïimi ōtesy zemlje te). Ioannes Liberos together with his wife and his sons Kraikos (Κράϊκος, Krajko) and Damianos (Δαμιανός, Damjan) were the patrons of the parecclesion of the Saint John the Baptist in the Church of Saint Sophia in Ōhrid. The chapel was erected between the years 1347–1350. Ioannes Liberos together with his wife and his son Damianos (Δαμιανός, Damjan) are depicted within the ktitorial composition on the western wall of the chapel. The portrait of Kraikos (Κράϊκος, Krajko) is situated on the northern wall of the chapel. Ioannes Liberos and his family sponsored a new narthex as a addition to the Monastery of Saint Archangel Michael and Holy Father Gabriel in Lěsnovo. The painted ktitorial composition with Ioannes Liberos, Maria Liberissa (Μαρία Λιβέρισσα, Ana Marija), Kraikos (Κράϊκος, Krajko) and Damianos (Δαμιανός, Damjan) is on the northern wall of the narthex. The fresco inscription above the entrance from the narthex to the naos gives details about the donors and the date 1349, when the narthex was decorated (Ἀνηγέρθη ἐκ βάθρων, καὶ ἀνηστορίθη ὁ θεῖος καὶ πάνσεπτος ναὸς τοῦ ταξιαρχου Μιχ δι’ ἐξόδου τοῦ πανευτυχεστάτου δεσπότου Ιωάννου τοῦ Λύβερί. καὶ τῆς πανευτυχεστάτης βασιλείσης Μαρίας τῆς Λυβερίσης καὶ τῶν τέκνων αὐτῶν, Κραίκου καὶ Δαμιανοῦ. ἐπὶ τῆς βασιλεί Στεφάνου καὶ Ἐλένης, καὶ τοῦ ύιοῦ αὐτῶν κράλη τοῦ Οὐροσι μηνὶ αὐγύστῳ ѕʹ ἔτους ϛωνζ ἰνδ β). Ioannes Liberos appears for the last time in the papal letter from May 1354, in which Innocent VI. sent the identical instructions for the most powerful nobles in the Serbian empire, who contributed to the possibility of an union between the Serbian and Roman churches (Oliverio despoto Serviae).
Maria (2) Person Mentioned in the ktitorial inscription in the Church of Saint Nicholas in Varoš near Prilep from 1298. She had a husband, whose name was Begos Kapzas. She and her husband commisioned the construction and the fresco decoration of the Church of Saint Nicholas in Varoš near Prilep during the reign of the Byzantine Emperor Andronikos II Palaiologos (ἀνιγέρθει· ἐκ βάθρου· καὶ ἀνιστωρήθει ὁ θῆος καὶ πάνσεπτος ναὸς τοῦ ἐν ἁγίοις πατρὸς ἡμῶν ἀρχηεράρχων καὶ θαυματουργοῦ Νικολάου δηὰ συνδρωμῆς καὶ κόπου Βέγου τοῦ Καπζᾶ καὶ τῆς συμβήου αὐτοῦ Μαρίας· ἐπὶ τῆς βασιλείας Ἀνδρωνίκου τοῦ εὐσεβεστάτου βασιλέος καὶ αὐτωκράτωρος Ῥωμέων Κομνινοῦ τοῦ Παλαεωλόγου καὶ Ἠρήνης τῆς εὐσεβεστάτης αὐγούστης· ἐπῒ ἔτους ςωζ μηνὴ νωεύρηο ιζ ἰνδικτιῶνος ιβ το τουτῶ...θνυτοῦ καὶ ἑτέρῶν τῶν κτήτωρων).
Maria (3) Person Mentioned in the dedicatory inscription found on the western wall of the Virgin Maryʼs Church in Mali Grad from 1368–1369. She appears as a πανευγενεστάτη κυρία Μαρια θυγάτηρ αυτου in the inscription next to her portrait. She was the daughter of the kaisar Nobakos and Kale. Her brother was Amerales. Her father kaisar Nobakos sponsored the renovation and decoration of the Virgin Maryʼs Church in Mali Grad in the year 1368–1369 (Άνηγέρθη ἐκ βάθρου καὶ κόπού καὶ μόχθοῦ ὁ θεϊος κὲ πάνσεπτος ναώς ουτος της υπεραγίας δεσπίνης ἡμων Θεοτόκου καὶ ἀνηστορίθην παρὰ του αὐφθέντου αὐτοῦ πὰνευτυχεστάτου κέσαρος Νοβάκου ἠγουμενέβῶντὸς δὲ Ἰωνὰ μοναχοῦ. Αὐφθεντεύβοντος πανυψηλοτάτου κραλήου τοῦ Βεληκασίνου. Άρχαηερατεύωντος δὲ τῆς ἀγιωτάτης ἀρχιεπησκοπῆς τῆς Πρότης Ἰουστινηανης, ετους ͵ςωοζʹ). The family portrait of Nobakos has been preserved on the western external façade. She and her brother are painted to the left of the virgin, who is the central figure of the ktitorial composition. She is portrayed as a young woman.
Mihailo Person Mentioned in the colophone of the Apostol manuscript from 1365–1371, which has been preserved in the Titov collection (Nr. 3365) of the National library of Russia. His written entry is attested in the Menaion for January from 1390, which has been preserved in the collection of manuscripts kept in the National library of Serbia (Nr. 75/ Sv. M. 1233). He was a priestmonk. He wrote the Apostol manuscript at Lešnica in the region of Polog for the priest Miho in Debreše (Pisase sija kniga mnogogrěšnogo rukoju ieromonaha Mihaila popu Mihě iz Debreše Nikolinu synu…Azь ōbrěmeneni i ōkajanьni pisahь vь dьni Vlьkašina kralja, kьdi drьžaše Grьgurь Pologь, a pisavši beše iz Lešnice, nierei mnih’). He recorded his fear of the Ottomans in the Menaion manuscript from 1390 (i sьvrьši se vь lěto ѕōsn grěšni Mihailь napisa. i bogь da izvěsti što patih ōt straha turčьskoga ōvamo...).
Miho (4) Person Mentioned in the colophone of the Apostol manuscript from 1365–1371, which has been preserved in the Titov collection (Nr. 3365) of the National library of Russia. He was a priest. He was the son of Nikola. He lived in Debreše. The priestmonk Mihailo wrote the Apostol manuscript at Lešnica in the region of Polog for him (Pisase sija kniga mnogogrěšnogo rukoju ieromonaha Mihaila popu Mihě iz Debreše Nikolinu synu…Azь ōbrěmeneni i ōkajanьni pisahь vь dьni Vlьkašina kralja, kьdi drьžaše Grьgurь Pologь, a pisavši beše iz Lešnice, nierei mnih’).
Mpoeikos Person He together with Eudokia and her son sponsored in 1344/1345 the painted decoration of the Virgin Maryʼs Church in Mali Grad (Δέησης του δουλου του Θεοῦ Μπώεῖκου καὶ Εὐδῶκείας, τῆς εὐγενὲστάτης καὶ τὸν τέκνὸν αὐτης. Ανὴστωρϊθὲν τὸ βίμα παρ αὐτῶν. Έτους ͵ς ω ν γʹ).
Nikola (2) Person Identical with Nikola 1? Mentioned in the scribal annotation of the priest Nikola from Skopje in the manuscript located in the library of the Saint Panteleimon Monastery on Mount Athos. The terminus post quem of the note is 1313, because Nikola reports on the victory of the Serbian King Stefan Uroš II. Milutin over the Turks in Asia Minor (vь dьni Uroša kralě Milutina egda pobi Turkẽ vь Grьcěhь). He was a priest. He was the brother or the spiritual brother of the priest Grьdo (popu Grьdu bratu mi). He copied a Book of Acts and Evangeliary in Skopje and dedicated it to the priest Grьdo from Vinyka (Pisa sẽ sija kniga vь Skopi grade popu Grьdu bratu mi ot Vinyka).
Nikola (9) Person Mentioned in the colophone of the Apostol manuscript from 1365–1371, which has been preserved in the Titov collection (Nr. 3365) of the National library of Russia. He was the father of the Priest Miho. The Priestmonk Mihailo wrote the Apostol manuscript at Lešnica in the region of Polog for the Priest Miho, the son of Nikola (Pisase sija kniga mnogogrěšnogo rukoju ieromonaha Mihaila popu Mihě iz Debreše Nikolinu synu…Azь ōbrěmeneni i ōkajanьni pisahь vь dьni Vlьkašina kralja, kьdi drьžaše Grьgurь Pologь, a pisavši beše iz Lešnice, nierei mnih’).
Nikolaos (1) Person Mentioned in the sources after 1345. He was Archbishop of Ōhrid after 1345, definitely in 1346 and 1347, and probably till 1350. He donated the Church of Saint Nicholas in Ljuboino near Prespa to the Treskavec Monastery. The Serbian King Stefan Uroš IV Dušan confirmed the gift in the second charter for the Treskavec Monastery after 1345 (Metohь u Prěspě u Ljuboině, Svety Nikola, što Pridade Nikola arhijepiskupь, sь vsěmi pravinami). He attented the sabor in Skopje on 16th April 1346, where he witnessed the coronation of Stefan Uroš IV Dušan as Emperor of the Greeks and the Serbs by the Serbian Patriarch He is mentioned in the chrysobull charter of the Serbian Emperor Stefan Uroš IV Dušan from 1346/1347 concerning the founding of the Zletovo episcopate. According to the chrysobull charter the Serbian Emperor asked several high-ranking clerics, among them also Nikola, for permission to found the bishopric of Zletovo (i sь arhïepiskopomь ōhridьskymь Nikolomь). He is portrayed on the south wall of the Church of Saint Nikola Bolnički in Ōhrid with the Serbian ruler’s family. He is depicted within another composition in the Church of Saint Sophia in Ōhrid, where he is painted next to Jovan Oliver and his family in the chapel of the despot, which was erected between the years 1347 and 1350.
Nobakos Person Probably identical with Novakь Mrasorovikь. In January 1366 ugodni vlastelin Novakь Mrasorovikь addressed the request to the Serbian Despot Ioan Uglješa (Ioannes Unklesis) and also the Serbian King Vukašin (Demetrios Blukasinos) to approve his donation of the village Koprivljane to the Monastery Hagios Panteleemon on the Holy Mount Athos. Both of them confirmed the endowment of Novakь Mrasorovikь to the Monastery Hagios Panteleemon on the Holy Mount Athos in a separate chrysobull charter. Nobakos is mentioned in the dedicatory inscription found on the western wall of the Virgin Maryʼs Church in Mali Grad from 1368–1369. He appears as πανευτυχέστατος in the dedicatory inscription. He was kaisar. He was married to Kale. He had a son Amirales and a daughter named Maria. He sponsored the renovation and decoration of the Virgin Maryʼs Church in Mali Grad in the year 1368–1369. The dedicatory inscription on the western wall relates about the ktetor Nobakos, who built the church from the ground, which is apparently not true, because Mpoeikos together with Eudokia and her son sponsored already in 1344/1345 the first painted decoration of the church (Άνηγέρθη ἐκ βάθρου καὶ κόπού καὶ μόχθοῦ ὁ θεϊος κὲ πάνσεπτος ναώς ουτος της υπεραγίας δεσπίνης ἡμων Θεοτόκου καὶ ἀνηστορίθην παρὰ του αὐφθέντου αὐτοῦ πὰνευτυχεστάτου κέσαρος Νοβάκου ἠγουμενέβῶντὸς δὲ Ἰωνὰ μοναχοῦ. Αὐφθεντεύβοντος πανυψηλοτάτου κραλήου τοῦ Βεληκασίνου. Άρχαηερατεύωντος δὲ τῆς ἀγιωτάτης ἀρχιεπησκοπῆς τῆς Πρότης Ἰουστινηανης, ετους ͵ςωοζʹ). The family portrait of Nobakos has been preserved on the western external façade. Nobakos is portrayed with a halo.
Prophetes Stephanos Person Mentioned in the greek inscription above the south entrance to the Church Mal sveti Kliment in Ōhrid from 1378. He was a priest. He founded the Church Mal sveti Kliment in Ōhrid in the time of μέγαλος ζούπανος of Ōhrid Andreas Gropa and Gregorios, the Archbishop of Ōhrid.
Prosenikos Ioannes Person Probably mentioned in the first charter (1334/1336) of the Serbian King Stefan Uroš IV Dušan for the Monastery of Treskavec and in the inscription near the donor portrait in the Church of Saint Sophia in Ōhrid from 1350/1360. He was according to the inscription honoured with the titles κύρου τοῦ σεβάστου. His donor portrait and inscription are preserved on the pilaster of the west wall of narthex in the Church of Saint Sophia in Ōhrid (Μνήσθητι Κύριε τὴν ψυχὴν τοῦ δούλου Ἰωάννου κύρου τοῦ σεβάστου τοῦ Πρωσενικοῦ). He might also donated the abandoned settlement site Lepьče to the Treskavec Monastery. The Serbian King Stefan Uroš IV Dušan confirmed his gift in the first charter for the Treskavec Monastery (Selište pusto Lepьče, što priloži Prosenikь, sь ōblastiju i sь vьsěmi pravinami).
Rajaković Ostoja Person He was a surodnikь of Markos/Marko Kraljević. The only information about the career of Ostoja Rajaković is known from the sepulchral inscription above the painted portrait composition in the arcosolium of the narthex in the Church of the Holy Mother of God Peribleptos in Ōhrid (Prěstavi se rabь bžii Ōstoja Rajaković po guslomь Ugarčikь. i surodnikь kralja Marka. zetь župana Grōpe. Lěto 1379 msca oktōmbria. i. ind. 3. Vasь že mlju bratija moja ljubimaja pročitajušte prostite raba, jako vy možete byti kako ja. a ja kako vy nikoliže). The hypothesis about his origin in Hercegovina from the family of Ugarčići is higly probable, although even the fact, that he was a Greek, cannot be excluded. With regard to the employed word gusle the presumption of Friedrich Ress is, that Ostoja Rajaković was a gusle player in the circle of Markos/Marko Kraljević. His opinion was not accepted in the literature.
Sava Person Attested in the marginal note of the prologue, which was written by the scribe Stanislav Lesnovski in 1330. He was the Hieromonk of the Monastery of Saint Archangel Michael and Holy Father Gabriel in Lesnovo. The scribe Stanislavь finished his prologue in the time, when Sava conducted the services in the monastic church (i pri jeromonasě Savě).
Seslava Person She was probably already deceased in the middle of the 14th century. She was married to Dobrevь. Her son was Ivōta. Her son is attested as a person to be prayed for and remembered for in the priest’s service book (služebnik) from the middle of the 14th century, which is now in the Old and Rare Book Collection (Ćorović 7) of the University Library in Belgrade (79v–80r: Da poměnete gospodь bogь rabь svoihь Ivōte Dobreva sina i podruga jemu Seslavu).
Sguros Progonos Person Mentioned in the painted inscription over the west door of the narthex of the Church of the Virgin Peribleptos in Ōhrid (now Church of Saints Clement and Panteleimon) from 1294/1295. He appears as a κῦρ in the inscription. He held the position of Megas hetaireiarches, 1294–1295. Progonos Sguros was of noble Albanian background. He belonged with all probability to the family of Scura (Sgura). His wife was Eudokia. He was the son-in-law of the Byzantine Emperor (probably Michael VIII Palaiologos). According to the painted inscription over the west door of the narthex from 1294/1295 he commisioned together with his wife Eudokia Komnene the Church of the Virgin Peribleptos in Ōhrid (now Church of Saints Clement and Panteleimon), at that time under Byzantine rule. He was holding the rank of megas hetaireiarches and was through his wife related to the family of Byzantine emperor (Ἀνηγέρθει ὁ θεῖος καὶ πάνσεπτος ναὸς οὗτος τῆς πανυπεράγνου δέσποινης ἡμῶν Θεοτόκου τῆς περιβλέπτου διά τε συνδρομῆς καὶ ἐξόδου κυροῦ Προγόνου τοῦ Σγουροῦ τοῦ μεγάλου ἑταιρειάρχου καὶ τῆς συζύγου αὐτοῦ κυρὰς Εὐδοκίας καὶ γαμβροῦ τοῦ κραταιοῦ καὶ ἁγίου ἡμῶν αὐτοκράτορος καὶ βασιλέως· ἐπὶ τῆς βασιλείας τοῦ εὐσεβεστάτου βασιλέος καὶ αὐτοκράτωρος Ῥωμαίων Ἀνδρονίκου τοῦ Παλαιολόγου· καὶ Εἰρήνης τῆς εὐσεβεστάτης αὐγούστης· ἀρχιερατεύοντος δὲ Μακαρίου τοῦ παναγιωτάτου ἀρχιεπισκόπου τῆς Πρότης Ἰουστινιανῆς καὶ πάσης Βουλγαρίας· ἐπὶ ἔτους· ϛ ω γ ἰνδικτιῶνος η). An epigram embroidered on an altar cloth in the thirteenth or fourteenth century and now kept in the National Historical Museum at Sofia seems to be a gift of the famous megas hetaireiarches and his wife (Δῶρόν σοι κλεινὸς μέγας ἑταιρειάρχης/ τύπον σῆς σταυρώσεως ἀνατυπῶ σοι/ ἐκ τῆς δοκούσης τάχα τιμίας ὕλης/ σὺν Εὐδοκίᾳ τῇ ὁμοζύγῳ, Λόγε,/ οὔσῃ Κομνηνῇ μητροπαπποπατρόθεν/ ἵνα λύσιν λάβωμεν ἀμπλακημάτων).
Stanislavь (3) Person He was active between 1330 and 1342 in the Monastery of the Archangel Michael and Holy Father Gabriel in Lesnovo. He was a scribe. He came from Štip according to the inscription on a fresco of Jesus Christ in the Church of Saint George in Gorni Kozjak (azь stanislavь gramatikь ōt štipa). His marginal note is preserved in the prologue (Belgrade, SANU 53) with the short biography of the Saint Gabriel of Lesnovo from 1330 (rǫkoję mnogogrěšnaago raba božija Stanislava). Stanislavь copied a Menaion at the request of Jovan Oliver in 1342 according to the colophon of the manuscript (rukoju mnogogrěšnago Stanislava). Ilija Velev supposes that Stanislavь worked in the Marko’s Monastery near Skopje in 1353, since he left a marginal note in the manuscript of the Prologue for the Months September-November (ōt zde počehь Stanislavь dïakь).
Stephanos Person Priest near Ochrid. His property was in the vicinity of the small piece of land in Lukotzerebe, which belonged to the Church of Saint Constantine and Helena (χωράφιον εἰς τὴν Λουκοτζέρεβη, πλησίον ἐξ ἀνατολῶν τοῦ παππᾶ Στεφάνου). He was identified as the ktetor of the Church of Saint Clement (Mali Sv. Kliment) in Ohrid in 1378. Most authors, however, reject this suggestion.
Tahate Person Attested in the manuscript of Ephrem the Syrianʼs paraenesis from 1353. He was a monk and scribe in the Monastery of Saint Archangel Michael and Holy Father Gabriel in Lesnovo. The colophone of the manuscript of Ephrem the Syrianʼs paraenesis gives account about the monk Tahate, who was commisioned by Arsenije, the Bishop of Zletovo, to copy the works of the Syrian father (povelěvšomu mi pisati sihь knigь moeǫ hudostiǫ tahate črьnьcь).
Theōdosi Person Attested in the two marginal notes in the manuscripts, which were written by the scribe Stanislav Lesnovski in 1330 and 1342. He was the Hegumen of the Monastery of the Archangel Michael and Holy Father Gabriel in Lesnovo. The scribe Stanislavь finished his prologue in the time, when Theōdosi was the Hegumen of the Monastery of the Archangel Michael and Holy Father Gabriel in Lesnovo (pri igumeně Theōdosi). Stanislavь copied also a Menaion at the request of Jovan Oliver in 1342. He again mentions Theōdosii as the spiritual leader of the Monastery of the Archangel Michael and Holy Father Gabriel in Lesnovo (Pisa že se kniga sija vь lěto ѕ.ō.n. carьstvujuštu gospodu našemu Ïsu-Hristu, pri igumeně Theōdosi).
Theōdosovь Petrь Person Mentioned in the charter of the Bulgarian Tsar Ivan III Šišman for the Monastery of John (Ivan) of Rila from 21 September 1378. He had brothers. The Bulgarian Tsar Ivan III Šišman donated in 1378 the village of Gradečnica together with Petrь Theōdosovь and his brothers to the Monastery of John (Ivan) of Rila (selo Gradečnica, sь ljudmi poimenju… i Petrь Theōdosovь sь bratiami si. i vьsja praviny města togo).
Tudōrь Person Mentioned in the charter of the Bulgarian Tsar Ivan III Šišman for the Monastery of John (Ivan) of Rila from 21 September 1378. He was a priest. He had children and family. The Bulgarian Tsar Ivan III Šišman donated in 1378 the village of Gradečnica together with the priest Tudōrьm his children and family to the Monastery of John (Ivan) of Rila (selo Gradečnica, sь ljudmi poimenju. popь Tudōrь sь dětmi mu, i sь domʼmu).
Velislava Marija Person Mentioned in the epitaph from 28th September 1372 in the Church of the Dormition of the Mother of God in Matka near Treska. She was probably one of the patrons of the church. An epitaph dedicated to her is in the front of the altar of the church (počto divyte se ō človeci zrešte mene v grobě vědïte jako i takožde vy hoštete biti nь pomnušte mi s vami ljubo pomenuïte i mene rabu božyju mariju a zovōm velislavu prěstavi se měseca septebra ki vь lěto ѕ.ō.pa).
Sources (6)
Name Class Description
Dedicatory inscription above the southern doors of the Church of St. Nicholas in Prilep Source The dedicatory inscription provides the names of the donors - Vego Kapza and his wife Maria, personages not mentioned in other sources. The paintings were completed on November 17, 1298.
Greek Ktitor Inscription of the Church Mal Sveti Kliment in Ōhrid Source According to the inscription from the year 1378 above the south entrance to the Church the Priest Stephanos Prophetes founded the Church Mal sveti Kliment in Ōhrid in the time of μέγαλος ζούπανος of Ōhrid Andreas Gropa and Gregorios, the Archbishop of Ōhrid.
Greek donor inscription on the west wall of the Virgin Maryʼs Church in Mali Grad Source Kaisar Nobakos sponsored the renovation and decoration of the Virgin Maryʼs Church in Mali Grad in 1368/1369, which is displayed in the inscription on the west wall of the church.
Ktitor Inscription of the Kaisar Grgur for the Monastery of the Holy Mother of God Zachlumestisa Source The inscription above the entrance door to the Church of the Monastery of the Holy Mother of God Zachlumestisa contains informations about the founder of the church, Kaisar Grgur, and the donor of the painted decoration, the bishop Gregorios of Devol.
Sepulchral Inscription for Ostoja Rajaković Source The Sepulchral Inscription for Ostoja Rajaković, who died in 1379, is above the painted portrait composition of him in the arcosolium of the narthex in the Church of Holy Mother of God Peribleptos in Ōhrid.
Supplicant inscription on the band under the apse conch of the Virgin Maryʼs Church in Mali Grad Source The Supplicant inscription on the band under the apse conch of the Virgin Maryʼs Church in Mali Grad contains information about the painted decoration of the church, which was sponsored by Mpoeikos, Eudokia and her son in 1344-1345.
Places (29)
Name Class Begin End Description
Dolěne Place The Bulgarian Tsar Ivan III Šišman confirmed old possessions and donated new estates to the Monastery of John (Ivan) of Rila. The village of Dolěne (selo Dolěne) is listed in his charter for the Monastery of John (Ivan) of Rila from 21 September 1378. The village of Dolěne is registered in the Defters for the Sanjak Köstendil between 1570 and 1573 as Dolani.
Dědino Place The grand duke (veliki vojvoda) Nikola Stanjević became his possessions in the vicinity of Konče from the Serbian Emperor Stefan Uroš IV Dušan. He erected the Church of Saint Stephen in the village Konče (kako poiska na carьstvě mi mnogovьzljublenni vlastelinь i brat carьstva mi veliki vojevoda Nikola, kako da priloži i da mu potpiše carьstvo mi materi Bōžijei hilandarьskōi crьkьvь u Kon’či Svetago Stěfana što si jestь sьzidalь svoimь trudōm i ōtkupumь u svojei baštině zapisanoi, što mu jestь zapisalь i utvrьdilь roditelь carьstva mi, u baštinu do věki, svetopočivьši carь). The Serbian Emperor Stefan Uroš V realised his wish and donated the Church of Saint Stephen in the village Konče with all its property to the Hilandar Monastery in 1366. The monastery on Mount Athos was endowed also with the villagе Dědino (I tuzi crьkьvь prilaga i potpisuje carьstvo mi materi Božijei halandarskōi, vь pomenь carьstva mi i vь pomen brata carьstva mi vojevode Nikole i vsěmi seli crьkve Svetago Stěfana. Selo Konča, selo Lubnica, selo Trěskavьcь, selo Suhi Dolь, selo Dědino, selo Rakitьcь, selo Sěništa, selo gde jestь sědel Dobroslavь Karbikь, selo polь Tudōrice, selo Kostadinci, selo gde je sědelь Kostadinь, sselo Negronfōti, selo Grkovь Dolь, selo Sveti Kostadinь, i sela ina koja se nahode u meteseh kōnčkihь, mala, golěma kude jestь posadilь vojevoda ōtroke svoje. I sijazi sela više pisanna Svetago Stefana da si ima i drži božьstvinaja crьkьvi mati Božija Hilandarska s ljudmi, s vinogradi, s planinami, s vodeničijem, sь je livadijemь prosto rekše sь vsěmi megjami i pravinami i sь vsěmi periōrōm selь tehь). The village of Dědino is registered in the Defters for the Nahija Strumica in 1519 and 1573. The village of Dědino is mentioned in the tetraevangelion from the 16th century and in the gospel book from 1741.
Gradečnica Place The Bulgarian Tsar Ivan III Šišman donated in 1378 the village of Gradečnica with people and rights to the Monastery of John (Ivan) of Rila (selo Gradečnica, sь ljudmi poimenju. popь Tudōrь sь dětmi mu, i sь rodomʼmu. i Petrь Theōdosovь sь bratiami si. i vьsja praviny města togo). The village of Gradečnica is registered in the Defters for the Sanjak Köstendil between 1570 and 1573. The village was later known as Gorna Gradešnica. The village Gradešnica emerged in 20th century from Gorna and Dolna Gradešnica and does not correspond with Gradečnica.
Grad’cь Place Saint Joakim Osogovski stayed, according to his Vita from the 12th century, in the vicinity of the village of Grad’cь (vъ selě Grad’cь).
Lukovo (1) Place Saint Gabriel of Lesnovo entered a hermitage near the Monastery of Lesnovo and the place of Zletovo (skitъ blizъ prjamo manastirъ, vъ dolъ prjamo Zletovo). The lively influx of people, who were sick and obsessed, caused that the Saint sought solitude in Lukovo (i preide vo stranu Lukovo). The hamlet Lukovo is mentioned in the Slavic donor inscription of the Monastery Lěsnovo (1) from the year 1340/41 as a monastic property (sь zaselkomь lukovu). Furthermore, the hamlet Lukovo appears in the founding charter of the Serbian Emperor Stefan Uroš IV. Dušan for the Eparchy of Zletovo with its seat in the Monastery Lěsnovo (1) from the year 1346/47 (sь zaselkomь Lukovu vyše crьkve). The Serbian local ruler Konstantin Dragaš donated on the 15th August 1381 the Monastery Lěsnovo (1) with all its possessions, including the village Lěsnovo (2) with its hamlet Lukovo (selo Lěsnovo i sь zaselkomь Lukovōmь), to the Hilandar Monastery.
Lěsnovo (1), Monastery of Saint Archangel Michael Place Saint Gavrilo Lesnovski came, according to the detailed Vita of him, from a rich family in Osečko pole (ōt strani Ōsečkōmъ pole, roditelemь bogatu sělo i blagočestivu). After a vision he built the Church of the Nativity of the Holy Mother of God with the funding of his parents on the field of Osiče (na pole Ōsiče). He then departed for the Lěsnovo Monastery (vь monastirь Lesnovskyj), from which he was released after a probationary period with the blessing of the abbot to enter a hermitage near the monastery and Zletovo (za nekoj skïtь blizь prjamo manastirь, vь dolь prjamo Zletovo). The lively influx of people, who were sick and obsessed, caused that the Saint sought solitude in Lukovo (i preide vo stranu Lukovo). The Saint Gavrilo Lesnovski escaped also from Lukovo and found refuge in the mountains, where he stayed on the mountain top Oblovъ until his death (verhъ Ōblovъ). The saint appeared in a dream to a Russian monk named Iosif and entrusted him to transfer his body from Oblovь to the Lěsnovo monastery. Iosif brought the relics of the Saint Gavrilo Lesnovski to the Monastery of Lěsnovo, where numerous miracles occured near the saints relics. In such a way the only daughter of a rich Armenian from Kratovo was healed (Vo gradь Kratovo). According to the Vita, the saint also came to the aid of a local Bulgarian prince named Mihail in the fight against the Pechenegs and Cumans. Mihail had to flee from his opponents to Ratkovica (vo stranu Ratkovicu). He was able with the assistance of the saint to sidle up to the opposing general Mavragan near Rataica in Zletovo (u Slětovo) and to kill him (u Rataicě i ubi Mavragana). Finally, the Vita also mentions the Serbian Despot Jovan Oliver and his erection of a large monastery church in Lěsnovo in honor of the saint, with which he replaced a small church building. The short life of the Saint Gavrilo Lesnovski, on the other hand, reports that the saint himself built the Lěsnovo monastery. The 12th-century Vita of the Saint Joakim Osogovski mentions the Church of the Saint Michael the Archangel in the mountains of Lěsnovo (Lesnovsuju gljemu goru...hram vь ime arhïstratiga Mihaila). The scribe Stanislavь completed in 1330 a Slavic manuscript in the Monastery of Saint Michael the Archangel in the mountains of Lěsnovo, which was in the domain of Ovče Pole and the region of Zletovo (vь ōblasti ōvčepolьskoi vь horě zljętovstěi, v gorě lěsnovьstěi, v monastiri stgo arhistratiga Mihaila). The scribe Stanislavь finished his prologue of the manuscript in the time, when Dragoslavь ruled over the land of Zletovo as Župan (ōbdrьžjaštu horoję Zlętovьskoję županu Dra’goslavu). In the course of the renovation of the monastery (1340/41) a Slavic donor inscription was placed on the stone at the katholikon. The inscription begins on a marble lintel above the entrance door in the west of the katholikon (i.e. on the eastern wall of the narthex), continues outside above the south entrance to the naos, can be dated to the year 1340/41 and mentions the katholikon as "Church of the Great Commander of Heavenly Hosts, Archangel Michael" (hramь velikago vojevode vy`snh silь arhistratiga mihaila). The grand duke (veliki vojvoda) Jovan Oliver with his wife Anna Mara and his son Kraiko, who were living during the reign of "King Stefan" (Stefan Uroš IV Dušan) are mentioned as the founders. According to the Slavic inscription, the following possessions belonged to the monastery at that time: the village near the monastery Lěsnovo, the hamlet Lukovo, the village Bakovo with the Church of Saint Nicholas (Sveti Nikola), the hamlet Globica, the village Dobrěevo, the Church of Holy Prophet Elisha (Sveti Elisei) in the village Drěvěno, the hamlet Peštno, the Church of the Saint Prokopios (Sveti Prokopie), the Katun of the Vlachs Stroi, the Church of Saint Nicholas (Sveti Nikola) of the priest Sïfie, twenty houses in the town of Štip and annually 100 perpers from the revenue of the market in Zletovo. The scribe Stanislavь copied a Menaion at the request of Jovan Oliver destined for the Monastery of the Saint Michael the Archangel in Lěsnovo in 1342 according to the colophon of the manuscript written in Slavic language (rukoju mnogogrěšnago Stanislava). The toponym Lěsnovo appears in this colophone (vь městě rekoměmь Лěsnově), although it is not clear whether this refers to the village or the monastery. Before the Serbian Emperor Stefan Uroš IV Dušan was able to found the bishopric of Zletovo with its seat in the Lěsnovo Monastery in 1346/47, he sought consensus with church and secular dignitaries. He reached the consensus with the Serbian Patriarch Joanikije II, the Archbishop Nikola of Ōhrid, the Metropolitan Jovan of Skopje and the founder of the monastery, the Serbian despot Jovan Oliver. In the founding charter of the Serbian Emperor Stefan Uroš IV. Dušan for the Eparchy of Zletovo with its seat in the Monastery Lěsnovo from the year 1346/47 the erection of the monastery by the Serbian Espot Jovan Oliver is mentioned (sьzdati jemu hramь vь ime velikoslavnyhь i besplьtnyihь činonačelnikьь arhistratiga Mihaila i Gabrïila, vь straně že zletovьscěi rekomōje Lěsnovo...v městě Lěsnově; crьkvi Arhanggelu u Zletovoi; podь crьkvь svetago Arhistratiga lěsnovьskoga). This plot of land gave its name to both the monastery and the neighboring village of Lěsnovo. A Greek inscription on a fresco above the entrance door in the west of the katholikon (i.e. on the eastern wall of the narthex) from 1349 shows that the narthex was erected and painted before 1349 (probably 1347/48) (ὁ θεῖος καὶ πάνσεπτος ναὸς τοῦ ταξιάρχου Μιχαὴλ). A note in the Slavic manuscript Lesnovski parenesis relates that it was written in Zletovo at the place called Lěsnovo in the Monastery of the Holy Archangel Michael in 1353 (vь zemli zljatovsьskoi, vь městě rekoměmь Lěsnovo, vь ōbiteli svetago arhistratiga Mihaila), as Arsenije was the Bishop of Zletovo. The Eparchy of Zletovo was probably abolished around 1370. The Serbian local ruler Konstantin Dragaš donated on the 15th August 1381 the Monastery Lěsnovo with all its possessions to the Hilandar Monastery (crьkvь lěsnovьsku svetagō Arhaaggela; crьkvь Svetagō arhaggela lěsnovьskoga). In 1428, 1429 and 1434 a Slavic Apostolos, a Slavic Mēnaion and a Slavic Oktōēchos were written in Lěsnovo, about which corresponding marginal notes provide information.
Mlado Nagoričino Place The scribe Vladislav Gramatik testified in a scribal annotation that he finished a book in Mlado Nagoričino in 1456 (Ispisa se sia kniga u Nagoričinu mladōm). Mlado Nagoričino is attested as Nagoričino in the Pšinski pomenik from the 15th century, while the term Staro Nagoričino is used for Nagoričino. The Defter for the Sanjak Köstendil from the years 1570 to 1572 employed the attributes Mlado ("young") as well as Novo ("new") for Mlado Nagoričino. In this Defter Mlado Nagoričino is registered as Nogoriç-i Cedid and Nagoriç-i Cedid with the meaning Nov Nogorič, that is "new Nogorič". The Serbian Patriarch Arsenije III Čarnojević (1633-1706) stopped in Mlado Nagoročino on his journey to the Holy Land in 1682 (va selo Mlado Nagorično). The Serbian scribe Jerotej Račanin describes the veneration of the relics of Sveta Petka from Tărnovo in a church of the same name during his stay in Nagoričino in 1704.
Mraka Place After the battle of Velbužd on 28 July 1330 the Serbian King Stefan Uroš III Dečanski (reigned 1321-1331) advanced towards the region of Mraka (na město glagolěmo Mraku). Mraka was a border zone between the Serbian and the Bulgarian realms. It is mentioned in the charter of King Stefan Dečanski for the Monastery of Saint Nikola Mrački (Pešterski manastir), which was issued in the year 1330 (otь Mraku). The Serbian Emperor Stefan Uroš IV Dušan (reigned 1331-1355) confirmed the possessions of the Monastery of Hilandar in April 1348, among them also the Monastery of Saint Nikola in Mraka (crьkovь na Mracě svety Nikolae).
Nagoričino, Church of Saint George Place According to the Life of Saint Prohor Pčinjski (11th c.) Prohor settled in a small cave in the deserted area of Nagoričino in Žegligovo as a hermit (vь glubokuju pustynnju Nagoričeskuju). In Nagoričino also his hermitage (cave) is to be found. The original construction of the Church of Saint George in Nagoričino is dated to the 11th century and associated with Saint Prohor Pčinjski or the Byzantine Emperor Romanos IV Diogenes (reigned 1068-1071). The Life of Saint Joakim Osogovski from the 12th century gives an account on the building activity of an anonymous Emperor (hram prpodbnomu vъ ime svjatogo velikomčenika Hristvo Gjeōrgia). The church fell without doubt into disrepair in the last quarter of the 13th century. According to the Slavonic inscription at the Western entrance to the narthex, the church was renewed by the Serbian King Stefan Uroš II Milutin (reigned 1282-1321) in the year 1313. In this inscription a certain abbot called Andonij is also mentioned. This hint suggests that a monastery existed at that time near the church itself (Izvoleniemь božiemь sьzda sja domь svetago i velikoslavnago mjačenika Hristova Geōrgijě vь dny svjatorodnago i prěvysokago kralě Uroša Milutina, bogomь samodrьžьcu vsei srbьskoi zemli i primorьskoi, pri bogočьstivěi kralici Simonidě, i pri igumeně Andony, v lěto 6821 [1313]). According to the Slavonic inscription from 1318 in the interior, the church was decorated with frescoes by order of the Serbian King Milutin under the abbot Benjamin (Božiemь izvoljenijemь sьzʼda se ōt osnovanie, i popisa se, čьstnii hramь podaijemь vsakiim prevysokago krala Stefana Uroša, vь lěto 6826, pri igumeně Beniamine). Another inscription in the interior above the Western entrance has not been preserved. Between 1300 and 1318/21 a certain anagnost Radin from Nagoričino in Žegligovo (anagnosta Radina Nagoričanina izь Žegligova) wrote a gospel for the priest Zagoranin in Sušica. The old Serbian Genealogies (rodoslovi) and Annals (letopisi) report that the Serbian King Milutin had founded or endowed numerous monasteries, amongst others also the Monastery of Saint George in Nagoričino (Nagoričino svetomu Geōrgiju; i vь Nagoričine svetago Gjeōrgija; i druguju vь Nagoričinu; i vь Nagoričine Georgia). In the same sources Žegligovo and Nagoričino are subsumed in one geographical unit (i u Nagoričinu na Žegligovo crьkov svetago velikomučenika Georgia; i u Nagoričinu na Žegligovu crkovь svetago velikomučenika Georgia; i u Nagoričinu na Žegligovu crkovь svetago mučenika Georgia; i u Nagoričinu na Žegligovo crkovь svetago velikomučenika Georgia; i u Nagoričinu na Žegligovu crkovь svetago velikomučenika Georgija). The Lives of the Serbian Kings and Archbishops by Archbishop Danilo II and his successors confirm the renewal of the church under the Serbian King Milutin (i crkovь svetaago Georgьgija nagoričьskaago). The abbot Benjamin from Nagoričino is named in the list of abbots in two Serbian charters (1317 and one forgery from the 15th century, where he is referrred to as nagoričkii Beniaminь, respectively nagorički Beniaminь). According to the aforesaid Lives of the Serbian Kings and Archbishops, the Serbian King Stefan Uroš III Dečanski (reigned 1321-1331) gathered his army in the forefront of the Battle of Velbužd in the first half of 1330 on a field called Dobrič, located in today's South-Eastern Serbia at the confluence of the rivers Južna Morava and Toplica. He intended to confront the Bulgarian Tsar Michael III Šišman (reigned 1323-1330) at this place. When messengers informed him that the Bulgarian Tsar had intruded Serbian territory near the castle of Zemen on the upper reaches of the river Struma, where the then border of the Serbian Kingdom lay, he set his army in march and first moved to Nagoričino, where he prayed in the Church of Saint George (priide vь monastirь svoi kь svetomu mučeniku Hristovu Georьgiju Nagoričьskomu). The victory of King Stefan Dečanski at the Battle of Velbužd on 28 July 1330 is described by the Serbian annals and the aforesaid Lives of the Serbian Kings and Archbishops. According to the Serbian annals, King Stefan Dečanski captured Michael Šišman and brought him to Žegligovo (aduxere eum in Segligovo), where the Bulgarian Tsar died and was buried in the Church of Saint George in the village of Nagoričino (et sepulchro datus est in Ecclesia sancti Georgii in pago Gorichina). On the contrary, the Lives of the Serbian Kings and Archbishops describe that the Bulgarian ruler had already died in the battle. His corpse was brought to the Church of Saint George in the place called Nagoričino (prěnesenu Georьgija vь městě rekoměmь Nagoričьskaago) and entombed there. In a ledger containing a list of debtors and guarantors of the Ragusan merchant Mihailo Lukarević from Novo Brdo, dated to the period from 1432 to 1438, a certain Radiuoj Tatich from Nagoričino, who was born in Kokÿno (de Chochina in Nagorizno/Nagorzno) is mentioned. On his campaign against the town of Skutari (now Shkodra in Albania) in May 1474 the Ottoman Pasha of Rumeli stayed with his army in Nagoričino, which was three days of journey away from Kosovo Polje (Bassa Romanie cum numeroso et valido exercitu dimissus est in loco dicto Nagoricino, distanti a Cossovo itinere dierum trium). In the Pšinski pomenik (15th c.) Nagoričino is attested as Staro Nagoričino ("Old Nagoričino"), while the toponym of Nagoričino is obviously used for Mlado Nagoričino. Nagoričino is registered in the Defter for the Sanjak Köstendil from 1519 with the attribute "Staro" and from the years 1570 to 1572 as Gühne Nogoriç, Köhne-i Nagoriç and Köhne-yi Nogoriç (with the meaning of "Staro Nogorič"). The assumption that Edward Brown (1668-1669, published in 1673) saw the Church of Saint George in Nagoričino, while passing through Kumanovo, is probably incorrect ("near which [scil. Kumanovo] there is still a Greek Monastery, upon the side of the hills"). Rather he wrote about Sveta Bogorodica Črьnogorska in the Skopska Crna Gora, to the West of Kumanovo. In 1704 the Serbian scribe Jerotej Račanin refers to Nagoričino as 40 churches ("40 crkvy" or Turkish "krka klisa"). From the viewpoint of Art History, it should be emphasised that the Serbian King Milutin had the upper part of the Church of Saint George built on the destroyed walls of an older edifice in 1312/13 as evidenced by the aforesaid inscription above the Western entrance. The frescoes in the church were completed in 1317/18 according to the aforesaid inscription from 1318 in the interior and were executed by the painters Michael and Eutychius. The Church of Saint George is in the form of an inscribed cross with five domes, with barrel and groin vaults and a semicircular apse on the East (the altar space is relatively large and is continuing to the space of the nave), while the older edifice is clearly visible (especially on the Northern side of the church).
Oblovъ Place The Saint Gabriel of Lesnovo escaped from Lukovo and found refuge in the mountains, where he stayed on the mountain top Oblovъ (verhъ Ōblovъ). His relics were found there and brought to the Monastery of Lesnovo. From a toponomastic point of view, it is noteworthy that in the Life of the Saint also a greek variant (στρογγύλος) of the slavic toponym is used (verhъ Ōblovъ, jakože skazaet sja grečeski Strongilo). Both expressions can be translated as "round", "rounded", "spherical“.
Orašacъ Place The village of Orašacъ is mentioned in the Vuneški pomenik (15th century or 16-17th centuries).
Osiče Place Saint Gavrilo Lesnovski came, according to his detailed Vita, from a rich family in Osečko pole (ōt strani Ōsečkōmъ pole, roditelemь bogatu sělo i blagočestivu). After a vision he built a Church of the Nativity of the Holy Mother of God with the funding of his parents on the field of Osiče (na pole Ōsiče). The secondary literature identifies Osečko pole with the current village of Osiče. The expression "pole" ("polje"), which means "field", "open area" or "plain", might indicate that Osiče was a scattered settlement.
Osmir Dolě Place A certain priest named Theōdorь came after the death of Saint Joakim Osogovski (approximately 1105?) during the reign of the Byzantine emperor Manuel I Komnenos (reigned 1143–1180) from the village of Osmir Dolě in Ovče Pole to Sarandaporь (Vъ dni tie běše ierei imenemь Theōdorь vь stranah Ovčepolьskyh. Vь vsi zovoměi Osmir dolě). He was led by the divine inspiration and went with the blessing of the saint. The author of the Life of Saint Joakim Osogovski connects Osmir Dolě with Ovče Pole, but his opinion is incorrect. Rather, Osmir Dolě, is to be sought near Kočani.
Ovče Pole Place The Bulgarian Khan Boris built in the 9th century churches in Ovče Pole according to a Bulgarian chronicle (i na rěcě Brěgalnici, i tu prïemь carьstvo; na Ovči poli sьzda běli crьkvi). The Vita of Saint Prohor Pčinjski (11th century) gives account about Prohor, who came from a village in Ovče Pole (ōt vesї ovčopolskija). The disarmed Pechenegs were, according to Ioannes Skylitzes, settled on the plains of Ovče Pole in the first half of the 11th century (ἀνά τε τὰς πεδιάδας τῆς Σαρδικῆς, τῆς Ναϊσσοῦ καὶ τῆς Εὐτζαπόλεως διασπείρας πάντας καὶ πᾶν ὅπλον ἀφελόμενος διὰ τὸ ἀνεπιβούλευτον). The Nicene Empire conquered in 1246 parts of Macedonia, including Ovče Pole (Νευστάπολίς). Nine years later, in 1255, the Byzantine Emperor Theodoros II. Laskaris led his army through the Ovče Pole (διὰ τῆς Νευσταπόλεως), which was a waterless and houseless area (ἄνυδρος δέ ἐστιν ὁ τόπος καὶ ἄοικος καὶ πλήθει στρατευμάτων δυσβάδιστος). Ephraim (ἅμ’ Εὐτζαπόλει, resp. διὰ Ναυτζαπόλεως ἀνύδρου τόπου) and also Theodoros Skutariotes (Νευστάπολίς, resp. διὰ τῆς Νευσταπόλεως) describe both conquests. Ovče Pole (Ovьče Polje) was incorporated in the Serbian dominion under the Serbian King Stefan Uroš II Milutin in 1282/83. A poem in honor of the Byzantine general Michael Dukas Glabas Tarchaneiotes, which is the work of the Byzantine writer Manuel Philes (13th/14th c.), mentions amongst others the Byzantine conquest of Ovče Pole (Εὐτζάπολιν δὲ συλλαβὼν Μοροβίσδου, Σκόπιά τε Σθλάβιτζαν ἐξ εὐανδρίας, Καὶ τὸν Πίαντζον καὶ τὸ περὶ τὸν Στρόμον, Καὶ τὸν περὶ Στρούμμιτζαν ἄφθονον τόπον). The region (strana) of Ovče Pole (i Ōvčepolsku) is attested in the interpolated charter of the Serbian King Stefan Uroš II Milutin for the Hilandar Monastery from the year 1303/1304 (or after 1331?). The byzantine-serbian border in Macedonia became the central subject of negotiations in 1308 between the Serbian King Stefan Uroš II Milutin and Charles de Valois, when the latter sought to conquer the Byzantine Empire. The area of Ovče Pole (et contrata Ouciepoullie) should remain according to the treaty in the Serbian kingdom. The Serbian annals give account about the miraculous epiphany of the Saint Nicholas to the Serbian King Stefan Uroš III Dečanski in the Church of Saint Nicholas in Ovče Pole, where the saint healed the blindness of the king (et cum fuisset in Ovczepolye, in templo S. Nicolai). The same miracle is attested in the Vita of Stefan Dečanski, which was written by Grigorij Camblak (15th century; polje ovčee imenuemo). In 1330 the scribe Stanislav finished a Slavonic manuscript in the domain of Ovče Pole in the region of Zletovo on the mountains of Lěsnovo in the Monastery of Saint Archangel Michael (vь ōblasti ōvčepolьskoi vь horě zletovstěi, vь gorě lěsnovьstěi, vь monastiri stgo arhistratiga Mihaila). The same notice in the manuscript mentions that the Serbian King Stefan Uroš III Dečanski took control over Ovče Pole (i ōvčepolьsko). In the charter of Stefan Dečanski for the Monastery of Saint Nikola Mrački (Pešterski manastir) from the year 1330 appears the term zemli Ovčepolьskoi. From the slavic colophon of the scribe Stanislav in the Menaion of the Serbian Despot Jovan Oliver for the Monastery of the Saint Archangel Michael in Lesnovo from the 1342 results, that Jovan Oliver ruled at that time over the entire area of Ovče Pole (ōblastiju vseju ōvčepolьskoju). The Serbian Emperor mentions Ovče Pole (na Ovči Poli) in his charter for the Monastery of the Saint Archangels Michael and Gabriel near Prizren. The monks of the Hilandar Monastery complained in 1355 to the Serbian Emperor Stefan Uroš IV Dušan about the border violations by the people, who lived in the villages, which belonged to Karьba (selě zem'li Kar'bin'čkoi), whereupon the governor (kefalija) of Štip named David Mihojević (poslach kjefaliju Štip'skoga Davida Michojevikja) was sent out to determine the boundaries of the monastery in this area. In the boundary description of the Hilandar Monastery near the land of Karьba also Ovče Pole is mentioned (po ōnoi straně odь Ovča Polja). The Serbian Emperor Stefan Uroš IV Dušan issued on the 2th Mai 1355 the charter for the Hilandar Monastery in Ovče Pole (na Ovči Poli). The Serbian Emperor Stefan Uroš IV Dušan confirmed on the 17th Mai 1355 at the state council (sabor) in Krupište the tenure of the Monastery of Saint Petar Koriški as metochion for the Hilandar Monastery. The charters in question were written by the Serbian Logothet Gjurg in Ovče Pole (na Ovči Poli, resp. na Ovči Polii). The Serbian Emperor Stefan Uroš IV Dušan issued on the 2th July at the state council in Krupište the third charter for the Hilandar Monastery, which was again written by the same Serbian Logothet in Ovče Pole (na Ovči Poli). In the forged charter from the 15th century, previously referred as a document issued by the Serbian King Stefan Uroš II Milutin for the settlement Ulijare around 1318, amongst other places also Ovče Pole is mentioned (Ōvče polje). The Serbian Despot Stefan Lazarević granted in 1408/1409 a safe conduct to the ottoman troops from the area of Toplica via Kosovo to Ovče Pole (prohode kь Ovčju polju). In spring and summer of 1413 the two Ottoman pretenders to the throne Mehmed and Musa fought for supremacy on the Balkan Peninsula. Mehmed was supported by the Serbian Despot Stefan Lazarević. In the course of the military operations, Musa initially stayed in the Ovče Pole (in the Ragusan sources called Ovcepogle). Then Mehmed and Stefan Lazarević together with their troops crossed the Črьna Gora (Prěšьdьše že Črьmnu Goru) and reached the Ovče Pole (kь Ovьčju polju), where Djuradj Branković, Stefan's nephew, took command over the Serbian contingents. The Ottoman troops plundered the region of Žegligovo and Ovče Pole in 1512 (to lěto plěniše Turci Žegligovo, Ovče Polě). Ovče Pole is registered in the Defters for the Sanjak Köstendil between the years 1570 and 1572 as a summer pasture. Ovče Pole (Ovče polje is mentioned in the Pomenik from 15th–18th century. The Serbian scribe and copyist Jerotej Račanin travelled through the Ovče Pole on his pilgrimage to the Holy Land in 1704. He describes the area of Ovče Pole as beautiful, rich in fields, grain, vineyards and all kinds of fruit, with beautiful rivers and cold, pure sources, with cities and villages.
Pijanьcь Place Pijanьcь was a part of Sclavinias in Macedonia, which formed a borderzone contested between the Byzantines and the Bulgarians. At the latest in 855 (perhaps already in 852?), Pijanьcь and the area around the Brěgalnica river must have fallen under the rule of the Bulgarian Khan Boris. A Bulgarian chronicle reports indirectly about this event (i na rěce Brěgalnici, i tu prïemь carьstvo. Pijanьcь is mentioned in the charter of the Byzantine Emperor Basileios II for the archiepiscopal see of Ōhrid from the year 1019 (καὶ τὴν Πιάνιτζαν). Pijanьcь was withdrawn from the sovereign authority of the Byzantine Empire in 1282/1283 during the reign of the Serbian King Stefan Uroš II Milutin (и Пиꙗньць). At that time it was subordinate to the Bishopric of Morozvizd (Morobisdos). A poem by the Byzantine poet Manuel Philes (13th/14th century) in honor of the Byzantine commander Michael Dukas Glabas Tarchaneiotess relates, among other things, about the conquest of Pijanьcь (Εὐτζάπολιν δὲ συλλαβὼν Μοροβίσδου, Σκόπιά τε Σθλάβιτζαν ἐξ εὐανδρίας, Καὶ τὸν Πίαντζον καὶ τὸ περὶ τὸν Στρόμον, Καὶ τὸν περὶ Στρούμμιτζαν ἄφθονον τόπον). Pijanьcь appears in the founding charter of the Serbian Emperor Stefan Uroš IV. Dušan for the Eparchy of Zletovo with its seat in the Monastery Lěsnovo from the year 1346/47 (u Pijanci; u Pijanci na Brěgalnici). The Serbian local ruler Konstantin Dragaš donated on the 15th August 1381 the Monastery Lěsnovo with all its possessions including also Pijanьcь to the Hilandar Monastery (u Pijancu; u Pijanci na Brěgalnici). A forged charter from the 15th century, also known as the charter of the Serbian King Stefan Uroš II Milutin concerning the settlement site Ulijare settlement from 1318, relates, among other things, about the conquest of Pijanьcь by the Serbian King Stefan Uroš II Milutin between the years 1282 and 1284 (Pïanьcь).
Pčina Place The ancient name of the river Pčina is unknown. It is the left tributary of the river Vardar. The Pčina rises in the mountain range Dukat in the Republic of Serbia at 1,660 m above sea level. The river flows into the river Vardar at the Taorska Klisura at 191 m above sea level. The mountains of Kozjak and German (Djerman) separate the upper reaches of the river Pčina in Žegligovo in the North from Slavište in the South. The river Pčinja is 136,6 km long. The village of Pšinja was named after the river Pčina. The river is mentioned for the first time in the Vitae of the Saints Prohor Pčinjski (11th century; na rece Pčine) and Joakim Osogovski (12th century; na rěcě Pšinja). It appears also in the boundary description of the village of Kalugerovljane in the charter of the Serbian King Stefan Uroš II Milutin (reigned 1282-1321) for the Monastery of Saint George-Gorg near Skopje (Selo Kalugerovljane nad Pšinom). The river is attested in the same charter in the context of the delimitation of the village of Dubravica and the Emperor's road, which was located nearby (i do druma careva koi grede na Pšinju). The Pčina is named on several occasions in the charter of the Serbian Emperor Stefan Uroš IV Dušan (reigned 1331-1355) for the Church of Saint Nikola near Kožle in 1352/53 (v městě naricajeměmь na Pšini podь Kozljemь; i sego božьstvьnago hrama svetago Nikoli na Pšini podь Kožljemь; ōtь broda pšinskoga podь gradomь; i ōtь Grьličina Kamena vse nizь Pšinju do Ratilьca, i ōtь Ratilьca prěko u Veliku, i paky ōtь togažde broda pšinskoga; kako Cerovi Potokь opada u Pšiniju, i nizь Pšinju prěma Bělomь Kamenu; i ōtь měla strьmo u Pšinju, i vse nizь Pšinju; i potokomь Cerovimь u Pьšinju; crьkov; svetago Nikoli na Pšini podь Kožljemь).
Rataica Place The Saint Gabriel of Lesnovo came according to his Vita to Mihail’s aid, who was a Bulgarian local prince. The saint supported him in the fight against the Pechenegs and Cumans. Mihail had to flee from his opponents to Ratkovica (vo stranu Ratkovicu). He was able with the assistance of the saint to sidle up to the opposing general Mavragan near Rataica in Zletovo (u Slětovo) and kill him (u Rataicě i ubi Mavragana).
Ratkovica Place The Saint Gabriel of Lesnovo came according to the Vita of him to Mihail’s aid, who was a Bulgarian local prince. The saint supported him in the fight against the Pechenegs and Cumans. Mihail had to flee from his opponents to Ratkovica (vo stranu Ratkovicu). He was able with the assistance of the saint to sidle up to the opposing general Mavragan near Rataica in Zletovo (u Slětovo) and to kill him (u Rataicě i ubi Mavragana).
Ravne Place The main copyists of the Bologna Psalter Jōsif and Tihotja wrote the manuscript in the village Ravne near Ōhrid during the reign of the Bulgarian Emperor Ivan II. Asen (Poměni gi raba svoja Iōsifa and Tihotja, sъpsavъša knigy sija sъ bija pomoštija i stjaja Bogordicja prisnoděvja Marija. Pisašja že sja vъ Ōhridě gradě vъ selě rekomymъ Ravne, pri cari Asěn blъgarъskymъ). The village Ravne is registerd in the Defters for the Nahija Ohrid between the years 1536 and 1539 and under the year 1583.
Sarandaporь Place The Vita of Saint Joakim Osogovski from the 12th century relates that the Saint came to the deserted mountains of Osogovo (vъ strani gōry pustiny Ōsogovskie). At first, he stayed in the vicinity of the village of Grad’cь (въ selě… Grad’cь). Then, he settled in a cave in Babinь Dōlь at the foot of the Osogovo Mountains (pōdkrilïe gory Osogovskïe) near the river Skupica (pri rěcě gljeměi Skupice). Finally, he went to a plot of land called Sarandaporь (vь pōdkrily gory Osogovskye na městě gljemě Sarandaporь). A certain priest called Theodorь came, after the death of Saint Joakim Osogovski (approximately 1105?) and during the reign of the Byzantine Emperor Manuel I Komnenos (reigned 1143-1180), from the village of Osmir Dolě, allegedly in Ovče Pole, to Sarandaporь (Vъ dni tie běše ierei imenemь Theōdorь vь stranah Ovčepolьskyh. Vь vsi zovoměi Osmir dolě). Theōdorь was led by divine inspiration and came with the blessing of the Saint. He became a monk and changed his name to Teofan. He built a church in honor of Saint Joakim Osogovski and kept his relics there. He was also the first abbot of the monastery. A monk called Arsenije from the city of Veles (ōt Velesa grad) experienced his conversion in the monastery's church. The genealogical tables of the Serbain rulers attest that the Serbian King Stefan Uroš II Milutin (reigned 1282-1321) founded several monasteries, including that of Saint Joakim (Sarandaporь svetomu otcu Їōakimu). Actually, King Milutin did not found it, but gave order to renew it. The Serbian King Stefan Uroš III Dečanski (reigned 1321-1331) crossed, in the run-up to the battle of Velbužd on 28 July 1330, the region of Slavište. He followed the upper course of the Kriva reka and reached Kriva Palanka, where he prayed with his noblemen at the Monastery of Sarandaporь in front of the relics of Saint Joakim Osogovski (Takožde i kь svetomu otьcu Ioakimu suštemu vь Saranьdaporě molьbu tvore prišьdь kь grobu těla jego). News reached him in Sarandaporь that the Bulgarian Tsar Michael III Šišman (reigned 1323-1330) had arrived at the castle of Zemen and had begun to pillage the surrounding area. The Byzantine short chronicles relate that the Ottoman Sultan Bāyezīd I (reigned 1389-1402) handed over the relics of the Saint Ilariōn of Moglena to the Serbian nobleman Konstantin Dragaš in 1393. According to this written source, Konstantin Dragaš, who resided in Žegligovo (ὁποῦ ἐκάθετον εἰς τὸν Ὀζίγλοβο), brought them to the Monastery of Saint Archangel Michael (sic!) in Sarandaporь (τοῦ ἤφερεν εἰς τὸ ἅγιον μοναστήριον τοῦ Ταξιάρχου εἰς τὸ Σαραντάπωρον). The Ottoman Sultan Mehmed II (reigned 1451-1481) stayed in the Monastery of Sarandaporь in 1463 on his campaign to Bosnia (i dohodi u manastirь Sarandaporь na Krivoi rěcě). The Republic of Ragusa (Dubrovnik) decided in 1474 to give a donation of 20 perper to the Monastery of Sarandaporь (elemosinam monasterio Sancti Joachim partium Bulgarie). Arsenij, who was the abbot of the Monastery of Sarandaporь, died in 1488 (prěstavi se igumenь Sarandaporskyi, kyr Arsenїe). 41 Monks lived in the monastery according to the Ottoman Defter from 1519. Sarandaporь is registered as Sveti Otec in Egri Dere (Kriva Palanka; Kriva reka) in the Defter for the Sanjak Köstendil from the years 1570 to 1572. The monastery had three churches and twelve chapels. It was destroyed by an earthquake in 1585 and rebuilt afterwards.
Slavištе Place Slavište is attested for the first time in the charter of the Byzantine Emperor Basileios II (reigned 976-1025) for the Archbishishopric of Achrida (Ōhrid) from 1019. It is listed as a part of the Bishopric of Morobisdos (Morozvižd) (Καὶ τὸν ἐπίσκοπον Μοροβίσδου εἰς αὐτὸν τὸν Μορόβισδον καὶ τὸν Κοζιάκον καὶ τὴν Σλαβίστην). A poem in honor of the Byzantine general Michael Dukas Glabas Tarchaneiotes, which is the work of the Byzantine writer Manuel Philes (13th/14th c.), mentions amongst others the Byzantine conquest of Slavište (Εὐτζάπολιν δὲ συλλαβὼν Μοροβίσδου, Σκόπιά τε Σθλάβιτζαν ἐξ εὐανδρίας, Καὶ τὸν Πίαντζον καὶ τὸ περὶ τὸν Στρόμον, Καὶ τὸν περὶ Στρούμμιτζαν ἄφθονον τόπον). Slavište is attested in the charter of the Serbian King Stefan Uroš II Milutin (reigned 1282-1321) for the Monastery of Gračanica from 1315 (or 1321) (I po Vraniju I po Slavištu i po… i po Zletovoi, i po Morozvizdu, i si...makije iže ōt ōblasti grьčьskyje, gospodьstvujei kralь Srьbskihь Zemlь, i po jegově milosti koje podastь ōbladati jepiskupii, ili Prizrenьskoi ili Lipljanьskoi, i po Liplaně i po Moravě). A road to Slavište is mentioned in the founding charter of the Serbian Emperor Stefan Uroš IV Dušan (reigned 1331-1355) for the Bishopric of Zletovo from 1346/47 (i putemь koi grede u Slavišta). Due to the few and ambiguous sources, the question remains open, whether Slavište was both a town and a region in the Middle Ages. The Nahiye Slavişte formed a part of the Sanjak Köstendil in the Ottoman period (16th century).
Sveta Bogorodica Karpynska Place In a note (probably from 16th century), which is part of the "Gospel of Karpino" (Karpinsko evangelie) from the 14th century, the Sveta Bogorodica Karpynska (priloži ste bce Karpynske) and the village of Kanarevo are mentioned. The exact location of the Church of the Presentation of the Holy Mother of God in the village of Arhiljevica and of the village of Arhiljevice itself is unknown. There are several suggestions. One of them identifies the church with the Monastery Sveta Bogorodica Karpynska and the village of Arhiljevica with the village of Halinci. Another notice from 1592, which is written in the "Gospel of Karpino", attests the variant Krapino (vь monastyrь Krapino). Originally, there was a village called Karpino/Karbino in the vicinity of the monastery, but this village is already registered in the Defter for the Sanjak Köstendil from the years 1570 to 1572 as mezra Karbino (deserted village Karbino). It is not clear, which of both names (Krapino or Karpino) represents the older one. It is strongly assumed that there was a predecessor of the current church in the 14th century, on whose foundations the new church was built before 1592 (i.e. towards the end of the 16th century). The present church is a single-nave edifice with a main entrance in the West and a side entrance in the South. The apse consists of an atypical triconch. The church is composed of a narthex, a naos and the bema (frescoes from the end of the 16th century and from the end of the 19th century, iconostasis from 1606 and 1892). The church was renewed in 1892, and conservation work was done in 1987 and from 2009 to 2012.
Sveta Bogorodica Črьnogorska (Monastery Matejče) Place It is assumed that the church building was erected during the reign of the Byzantine Emperor Isaakios I Komnenos (1057-1059). The existence of the Church Sveta Bogorodica Črьnogorska is beyond doubt attested from the 14th century. The monastery is mentioned in the boundary description of the village of Črěševo, which forms part of a donation by the Serbian King Stefan Uroš II Milutin (reigned 1282-1321) to the Monastery of Saint George-Gorg near Skopje (ta nad Svetuju Bogorodicu črьnogorьsku do Črьnoga kamene). The Vita of the Serbian Emperor Stefan Uroš V (reigned 1355-1371), written by the Serbian Patriarch Pajsije, reports that Stefan Uroš V and his mother Jelena completed the Church Sveta Bogorodica Črьnogorska after the death of the Serbian Emperor Stefan Uroš IV Dušan (reigned 1331-1355) (I togda blagočьstivaa carica sь sinomь svoimь sьvršajutь crьkovь ostavšuju ōt blagočьstivago i prěvisokago cara Stefana vь črьnoi gori ne sьvršena i trudomь i podvigomь i pomoštïju prečistye vladičice naše i bogorodice i svoihь praroditeь pomoštïju i zastupljenïemь sьvrьšajutь crkьvь prěslavnuju vь pohvalu i slavu uspenïe prěčityje i prěblagoslovenïe vladičice naše i bogorodice i prisnoděvy marie i do dьnьsь iměnuetse črьnogorska bogorodica). It is unclear, whether the Church of Sveta Bogorodica Črьnogorska is identical with the church in the Skopska Crna Gora above Žegligovo built by Jelena, the mother of Stefan Uroš V, which is attested in the Serbian genealogies (rodoslovi) and annals (letopisi) (u Črьmьnyje Gory, vyše Žegligova; eius vero mater aedificavit Ecclesiam in Nigro Monte, supra Segligovo). The Ottoman Sultan Murad I (reigned 1360-1389) might have passed by the Church Sveta Bogorodica Črьnogorska on his march against the Serbian Prince Lazar Hrebeljanović (reigned 1373-1389) before the battle on the Kosovo field (Kosovo Polje) in 1389. Evdokija Balšić commissioned the monk Gerasim in the Monastery of Sveta Bogorodica Črьnogorska in 1409 to write the manuscript of the Dialogues (paterik) by Saint Gregory the Great (...sia božestvennaja kniga, glagoljemaa dialogь, ispisa se iže vь ōbitěli prěčityje i prěslaьnyje vladyčice naše bogorodice nerukotvorennyje čjudotvorice črьnogorьskye povelěnïem blagověrnyje i blagočьstivyje i hristoljubivyje gospogje despotice kyr Eudokyje, dьšti blagověrnago i hristoljubivago i velikago gospodina Gjurgja Balšikja...). The scribe Vladislav Gramatik resided in the Monastery of Sveta Bogorodica Črьnogorska between 1457 and 1497. In 1479 he compiled a liturgical book (panegyrikon) in the Monastery at the foot of the Crna Gora in the region of Žegligovo (monastiri prěsvetyje vladičice naše bogorodice iže vъ podkrilïi Črьnye Gory, vь prědělě Žegligovʼcěm). The scribe Dimitrij Kantakuzin also temporarily resided in the monastery. The scribal notes of both copyists mention the Monastery of Sveta Bogorodica Črьnogorska in the year 1469 (vь vьsečьstněmь monastiri prěsvetye bogorodice suštee iže v podkrilïi Črьnye Gory), 1473 (vъ vъsečъstněm monastiri prěsvetye vladičice naše bogorodice i prisnoděvy Marïe, suštee iže v podkrilïi Črъnye Gory), 1479 (vь vьsečьstněm monastiri prěsvetyje vladičice naše bogorodice iže vъ podkrilïi Črьnye Gory, vь prědělě Žegligovʼcěm) and 1480/81 (Vladislavu dïaku ōt Črьnogorskye bogorodice). The Monastery of Sveta Bogorodica Črьnogorska is registered as "Holy Mother of God in Kara Donlu" or "Monastery Karadonlu with the second name Holy Mother of God" in the Defter for the Sanjak Köstendil from the years 1570 to 1572. In the 17th century (between 1647 and 1654) the Serbian Patriarch Gavrilo Rajić payed a visit to the Monastery of Sveta Bogorodica Črьnogorska (Da se zna kogda pridohь azь arhiepiskopь Gavriilь vъ carьnogorsku bogorodicu). The British traveller Edward Brown saw most probably the Monastery of Sveta Bogorodica Črьnogorska, when he passed through the city of Kumanovo in 1668/69 (near which [scil. Kumanovo] there is still a Greek Monastery, upon the side of the Hills). The Church has a ground plan of an inscribed-cross with five domes, resembling those of Staro Nagoričine and Church of St. Panteleimon in Nerezi (near Skoplje), narthex and a three-partite apse. The central dome has a twelve-sided drum and is set on four massive pillars. The smaller domes, erected in the shape of octagons, are located in the corners of the building - the eastern ones are situated on the prosthesis and the deaconry, and the western ones above the narthex. The narthex is decorated with a modest architectural sculpture. The Church is vaulted with barrel and cruciform arches, placed on the walls, pillars and pilasters in the interior of the building. The façade is decorated with lesenes. This Church is a true representative of the building traditions of the Palaiologan epoch, such as Churches in Arta, Mistra and Thessaloniki. The Church has been fresco painted between 1348 and 1352, representing the largest painted ensemble on the Macedonian territory in the 14th century and the second largest in the Balkans.
Svinište Place Svinište is mentioned in a Slavonic Menaion from 1420 (u Sviništa). It is registered as Dolno and Gorno Svinište in the Defter for the Sanjak Köstendil from the years 1570 to 1572. It seems that this village was deserted in the last quarter of the 16th century and that its inhabitants founded a new village with the same name (today Svinjište) in the region of Preševo (today Republic of Serbia).
The Monastery of the Holy Mother of God Zachlumestisa Place The inscription above the entrance door to the Church of the Holy Mother of God Zachlumestisa mentions the circumstances of the endowment in the year 1361. The church was erected at the expense of the kaisar Grgur. The painted decoration of the monastery was commisioned by Gregory, the Bishop of Devol (Ἀνηγέρθη ἐκ βάθρων ὁ θεῖος καὶ πάνσεπτος ναὸς τῆς ὑπεραγίας Θεοτόκου τῆς Ζαχλουμήστισας διʹ ἐξοδου τοῦ πανευτυχεστάτου καίσαρος Γούργουρα καὶ κτήτωρος ἀνιστορίθη δὲ παρὰ τοῦ πανιεροτάτου ἐπισκόπου Δεαβόλαιως καὶ πρωτοθρόνου κύρ Γρηγορίου καὶ κτῆτωρος ἐπὶ τῆς βασιλείας Στεφάνου τοῦ Οὐροσιοι μηνὶ αὐγούστῳ κεʹ. ͵ϛωξθ ἰνδ. ιδʹ).
Zletovo Place The first written reference to Zletovo comes from the charter of the Byzantine Emperor Basileios II for the archiepiscopal see of Ōhrid from the year 1019. Zletovo (καὶ τὴν Σθλετοβὰν) is listed as part of the Bishopric of Morozvizd (Morobisdos). The Saint Gavrilo Lesnovski departed for the Lěsnovo Monastery (vь monastirь Lesnovskyj), from which he was released after a probationary period with the blessing of the abbot to enter a hermitage near the monastery and Zletovo (za nekoj skïtь blizь prjamo manastirь, vь dolь prjamo Zletovo). According to the Vita, the Saint Gavrilo Lesnovski also came to the aid of a local Bulgarian prince named Mihail in the fight against the Pechenegs and Cumans. Mihail had to flee from his opponents to Ratkovica (vo stranu Ratkovicu). He was able with the assistance of the saint to sidle up to the opposing general Mavragan near Rataica in Zletovo (u Slětovo) and to kill him (u Rataicě i ubi Mavragana). Zletovo was withdrawn from the sovereign authority of the Byzantine Empire in 1282/1283 during the reign of the Serbian King Stefan Uroš II Milutin (i Zletovu). Zletovo is mentioned in the charter of the Serbian King Stefan Uroš II Milutin for the Gračanica Monastery from 1315 (or 1321?) (i po Zletovoi). The scribe Stanislavь completed in 1330 a Slavic manuscript in the Monastery of Saint Michael the Archangel in the mountains of Lěsnovo, which was in the domain of Ovče Pole and the region of Zletovo (vь ōblasti ōvčepolьskoi vь horě zljętovstěi, v gorě lěsnovьstěi, v monastiri stgo arhistratiga Mihaila). The scribe Stanislavь finished his prologue of the manuscript in the time, when Dragoslavь ruled over the land of Zletovo as Župan (ōbdrьžjaštu horoję Zlętovьskoję županu Dra’goslavu). According to the Slavic founding inscription for the Lěsnovo monastery from 1340/41, the monastery received annualy 100 perpers from the revenue of the market in Zletovo (ōd zletovьskago trьga na godine sto perperь). The same inscription mentions the vineyards of the town of Zletovo (nadь gьrdsko lozie). However, Zletovo with its urban metochion was not included in the endowment for the Lěsnovo Monastery in 1340/41, 1346/47, or 1381. The scribe Stanislavь copied a Menaion at the request of Jovan Oliver destined for the Monastery of the Saint Michael the Archangel in Lěsnovo in 1342 in Zletovo according to the colophon of the manuscript written in Slavic language (vь horě Zletovcěi). In the founding charter of the Serbian Emperor Stefan Uroš IV. Dušan for the Eparchy of Zletovo with its seat in the Monastery Lěsnovo from the year 1346/47 the erection of the monastery by the Serbian Espot Jovan Oliver is mentioned. Jovan Oliver built a church in honor of the Holy Archangels Michael and Gabriel in the Zletovo region in Lěsnovo (sьzdati jemu hramь vь ime velikoslavnyhь i besplьtnyihь činonačelnikьь arhistratiga Mihaila i Gabrïila, vь straně že zletovьscěi rekomōje Lěsnovo; crьkvi Arhanggelu u Zletovoi; crьkvi Arhanggelu u Zletovoi). Zletovo appears in the boundary description of the hamlet/village Globica in the founding charter of the Serbian Emperor Stefan Uroš IV. Dušan for the Eparchy of Zletovo with its seat in the Monastery Lěsnovo from the year 1346/47 (i što se kь Zletovoi kami vali tozi Zletovu budi a što se kь Globici vali tozi crьkvьno). In addition, the charter confirms the annual revenue of 100 perpers from the market in Zletovo for the Eparchy of Zletovo with its seat in the Monastery Lěsnovo (ōtь zletovьskago trьga). The Bishopric of Zletovo (episkopi zletovьskoi) owned also possessions in Pianitza according to the same charter. A note in the Slavic manuscript Lesnovski parenesis relates that it was written in Zletovo at the place called Lěsnovo in the Monastery of the Holy Archangel Michael in 1353 (vь zemli zljatovsьskoi, vь městě rekoměmь Lěsnovo, vь ōbiteli svetago arhistratiga Mihaila), as Arsenije was the Bishop of Zletovo. In 1354/55 the Serbian Emperor Stefan Uroš IV Dušan gave permission to his nobleman Vlatko Paskačić to donate the Church of Sveti Nikola in Psača, which Vlatko had erected on the inherited property of his father, together with the appertaining metochion to the Monastery of Hilandar (I vьspomenu carstvu mi prěvьzljubljenʼny i pravověrnii vlastelinь carstva mi Vladko ō crьkvy svetago Nikoly jaže jestь sьzdalь na svoōi baštině Pʼsači a sь blagoslovljenijemь carstva mi...i poljubi prěd carstvomʼ mi i priloži svoju baštinu crьkvь svetago Nikoli na Psači prěsvetěi Bogorodici hilandarьskoi sь vsěmь metehōmь). Stefan Uroš IV Dušan enlarged Vlatko's endowment with land near Krilatica, where a certain Neōr had resided and where the Emperor had moved miners from Zletovo (I na Krilatici zemlja koja jestь ōt Trnov’ca na čimь jestь sědělь Neōrь, posadi rudare koje prěseli ōt Zljetove). The Eparchy of Zletovo was probably abolished around 1370. After 1376/77, the Serbian Despot Jovan Dragaš (Ioannes Dragases) and his brother Konstantin Dragaš (Konstantinos Dragases) confirmed that the Monastery Hagios Panteleemon on the Holy Mount Athos possessed the churches of Saint Dimitrije and Saint Nikola in Zletovo (u Zletove stgo Dimitrïa, i svety Nikola). The Serbian local ruler Konstantin Dragaš confirmed on the 15th August 1381 that the Hilandar Monastery had the right to become the annual revenue of 100 perpers from the market in Zletovo aimed for the Lěsnovo Monastery (I ōd trьga zlětovьskoga da uzima Arhanggelь lěsnovьski na vsako gōdište r. Perьperь, jakože pišetь u hrisovuli carskomь). A forged charter from the 15th century, also known as the charter of the Serbian King Stefan Uroš II Milutin concerning the settlement site Ulijare settlement from 1318, relates, among other things, about the conquest of Zletovo by the Serbian King Stefan Uroš II Milutin between the years 1282 and 1284 (Zletovu). The Lěsnovo Monastery is registered in the Defter for the Sanjak Köstendil from 1570 to 1572 as Arhangel. The Lěsnovo Monastery possessed in Zletovo five watermills. Zletovo appears also in the Defter for the Sanjak Köstendil from 1570 to 1572 as as Izltva.
Črьna Gora Place The Serbian Emperor Stefan Uroš IV Dušan (reigned 1331-1355) issued charters for the Church of the Presentation of the Holy Mother of God in the village of Arhiljevica in the years 1349 and 1354/55 respectively. The location of the village of Arhiljevica is unclear. It might be located in Preševo (now Serbia) or in the Črьna Gora in the triangle of the places Belanovce, Domanovci and Izvor. Črьna Gora (vь Črьnoi Gori) is mentioned in the Vita of the Serbian Emperor Stefan Uroš V (reigned 1355-1371) written by the Serbian Patriarch Pajsije. It reports that Stefan Uroš V and his mother Jelena completed the Church of Sveta Bogorodica Črьnogorska after the death of the Serbian Emperor Stefan Dušan. A Church of the Holy Mother of God in Črьna Gora above Žegligovo is attested in the Serbian genealogies (rodoslovi) and annals (u Črьmьnyje Gory, vyše Žegligova; eius vero mater aedificavit Ecclesiam in Nigro Monte, supra Segligovo). This church is probably identical with the aforesaid Sveta Bogorodica Črьnogorska. The Ottoman Sultan Murad I (reigned 1360-1389) might have crossed the Črьna Gora on his march against the Serbian Prince Lazar Hrebeljanović before the battle on the Kosovo Polje (Kosovo Field) in 1389. In 1409 Evdokija Balšić commissioned the monk Gerasim in the Monastery of Sveta Bogorodica Črьnogorska in Črьna Gora near Skopje to write the manuscript of the Dialogues (Paterik) by Gregory the Great. In the spring and summer of 1413 the two Ottoman pretenders to the throne Mehmed and Musa fought for supremacy on the Balkan Peninsula. Mehmed was supported by the Serbian Despot Stefan Lazarević (reigned 1389-1427). In the course of the military operations, Musa initially stayed in the Ovče Pole (in the Ragusan sources called Ovcepogle). Then, Mehmed and Stefan Lazarević crossed together with their troops the Črьna Gora (Prěšьdьše že Črьmnu Goru) and reached the Ovče Pole (kь Ovьčju polju), where Djuradj Branković (reigned 1427-1456), Stefan's nephew, took command over the Serbian forces. The scribe Vladislav Gramatik resided between 1457 and 1497 in the Monastery of Sveta Bogorodica Črьnogorska. In 1479 he compiled a liturgical book (panegyrikon) in the Monastery at the foot of the Črьna Gora in the region of Žegligovo (vъ podkrilii Črъnye gory). The Črьna Gora is mentioned in the colophones of Vladislav Gramatik and Dimitrij Kantakuzin from the years 1469 (vь vьsečьstněmь monastiri prěsvetьje bogorodice suštee iže vь podkrilii Črьnьje Gory) and 1473 (vь vьsečьstněmь monastiri prěsvetьje vladičice naše bogorodice i prisnoděvi Marie, suštee iže vь podkrilii Črьnьje Gory, v prědělě Žegligovcěm). In 1519 a hierodeacon named Mina wrote a triodion for the Church of the Presentation of the Holy Mother of God in Klustobista in the solitude of Vunešь at the foot of the Črьna Gora (poduvesie Črъnie Gory vъ pustynju naricemuju Vunešъ). The Vuneški pomenik (15th century or 16-17th centuries) was kept in the small Church of Sveti Nikola in Vunešь at the foot of the Črьna Gora above the village of Ljubanci (pomenikъ hramu stgō i slavnaagō arhierea i čjudtvorca hva Nikōli gljemii Vunešь vь pōdkrili Črьmnie gōry vyše sela Ljubancii).
Ōhrid, Church of Mal Sveti Kliment Place Priest Stephanos Prophetes founded the Church of Mal Sveti Kliment in Ōhrid in the time of the μέγαλος ζούπανος of Ōhrid Andreas Gropa and the Archbishop Gregorios of Ōhrid according to the inscription from the year 1378 above the Southern entrance to the church.
Žegligovo Place According to the Life of Saint Prohor Pčinjski (11th century) Prohor settled in a small cave in the deserted area of Nagoričino in Žegligovo (vь Žegligovskoj straně). The Saint met the later Byzantine Emperor Romanos IV Diogenes (reigned 1068-1071), who was hunting in Žegligovo. Between 1300 and 1318/21 a certain anagnost Radin from Nagoričino in Žegligovo (anagnosta Radina Nagoričanina izь Žegligova) wrote a gospel for the priest Zagoranin in Sušica. According to the Lives of the Serbian Kings and Archbishops, written by Archbishop Danilo II and his successors, the Serbian King Stefan Uroš III Dečanski (reigned 1321-1331) gathered his army in the forefront of the Battle of Velbužd in the first half of 1330 on a field called Dobrič, located in today's South-Eastern Serbia at the confluence of the rivers Južna Morava and Toplica. He intended to confront the Bulgarian Tsar Michael III Šišman (reigned 1323-1330) at this place. As messengers informed him that the Bulgarian Tsar had reached the castle of Zemen in the upper course of the river Strymon (Struma), at that time the border between the Serbian Kingdom and the Second Bulgarian Empire, he set his army in march and first moved to Nagoričino, where he prayed in the Church of Saint George (priide vь monastirь svoi kь svetomu mučeniku Hristovu Georьgiju Nagoričьskomu). After the Serbian victory at the Battle of Velbužd near today's Kjustendil on 28 July 1330, Stefan Dečanski captured Michael Šišman and brought him to Žegligovo (aduxere eum in Segligovo), where he died and was buried in the Church of Saint George in the village of Nagoričino (et sepulchro datus est in Ecclesia sancti Georgii in pago Gorichina). In the year 1349 (u zemli žegligovьskoi) and 1354/55 respectively (u zemli žegligovьskoi) the Serbian Emperor Stefan Uroš IV Dušan (reigned 1331-1355) mentions Žegligovo in his charters for Church of the Presentation of the Holy Mother of God in the village of Arhiljevica. The localisation of Arhilevjica remains unsolved. It might have lain near Preševo (today in Serbia) or in the Skopska Crna Gora in the triangle of the villages of Belanovce, Domanovci and Izvorь. In the Serbian Annals a church in the Skopska Crna Gora above Žegligovo is mentioned (u Črьmьnyje Gory, vyše Žegligova; eius vero mater aedificavit Ecclesiam in Nigro Monte, supra Segligovo). The same source often conflates Žegligovo and Nagoričino in one unit (I u Nagoričinu na Žegligovo crьkov svetago velikomučenika Georgïa; i u Nagoričinu na Žegligovu crkovь svetago velikomučenika Georgïa; i u Nagoričinu na Žegligovu crkovь svetago mučenika Georgïa; i u Nagoričinu na Žegligovo crьkovь svetago velikomučenika Georgïa; i u Nagoričinu na Žegligovu crkovь svetago velikomučenika Georgïa). Žegligovo is mentioned by the Serbian Janissary Konstantin Mihailović (15th century) in his memoirs ("and as he [scilicet the Serbian Emperor Stefan Uroš V] reached the land of Constantine, he pitched his tent in the field of Žegligovo" and "as the Sultan Mehmed [II] arrived near the field called Žegligovo on the border of Rascia"). The term "Land of Constantine" relates to the Serbian Despot Konstantin Dragaš, who ruled over Žegligovo in the second half of the 14th century and was therefore called "Žegligovac". Žegligovo served probably as a deployment area for the Ottoman Sultan Murad I (reigned 1360-1389) before the Battle of Kosovo in June 1389 against the Serbian Prince Lazar Hrebeljanović (reigned 1373-1389). The Byzantine Short Chronicles report that the Ottoman Sultan Bāyezīd I (reigned 1389-1402) handed over the relics of Saint Hilarion of Moglena (11th/12th centuries) to Konstantin Dragaš in 1394, who resided in Žegligovo (ὁποῦ ἐκάθετον εἰς τὸν Ὀζίγλοβο). Thereupon, Konstantin brought the relics to the Monastery of Sarandaporь. In the year 1395 Konstantin Dragaš fell in the Battle of Rovine against the Wallachian Voivode Mircea the Elder (reigned 1386-1418). In the year 1479 the scribe Vladislav Gramatik compiled a liturgical book (Panegyrikon) in the Monastery of Saint Bogorodica Črьnogorska at the foot of the Črьna Gora (Skopska Crna Gora) in the region of Žegligovo (vь prědělě žegligovscěm). The humanist and diplomat Felix Petančić (ca. 1455-after 1517) refers to Žegligovo as "Gegligove". In 1512 Ottoman troops pillaged Žegligovo and Ovče Pole (To lěto plěniše Turci Žegligovo, Ovče Polě). In the summer of 1550 Klementios was appointed Metropolitan of Skopje, Vranje and Žegligovo (μητρόπολιν Σκοπίου, Βράνιας καὶ Ζεγληγόβου). Žegligovo is mentioned in the Vodičnički pomenik from the 16th century. The župa of Žegligovo roughly included the area to the South of Preševo (today in Serbia), to the West of Slavište, to the North of Ovče Pole and the valley of the river Vardar and to the East of the Skopska Crna Gora.