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Lěsnovo (1), Monastery of Saint Archangel Michael
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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.
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Sarandaporь
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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.
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Sveta Bogorodica Črьnogorska (Monastery Matejče)
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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.
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