The church lies in the east of the former medieval lower town of Prilep (today Varoš). It formed an integral part of the town's medieval main square and was erected in several phases from the 12th until the 14th century. The original building was a small one-nave church (second half of the 12th century). In 1284 the whole church was decorated with new frescoes. A fundamental reconstruction was undertaken in the middle of the 14th century. Two frescoes of donors from the 14th century are preserved (one depicting Dimitrije Misinopolit, a representative of a famous noble family in Prilep). Stefan Uroš IV Dušan donated the Metochion of Saint Demetrius with its fields, vineyards and watermills as well as with its fair in the year 1334/35 (Metohь Svetii Dimitrїe u Prilěpě, što priložihu Misinopolitova dětьca, sь nivijemь i sь vinogradi i sь voděnicami i sь Kučьkověne selištemь i sь panagiromь i sь vьseju pravinoju togo). King Stefan Uroš IV Dušan confirmed the donation of the Metochion of Saint Demetrius in the town of Prilep with the fair, vineyards and the watermill in 1343/44 (Vь gradě motohь Svetyi Dimitrie Misinopolitivь panagirь zadušnica Misinopolitovihь dětei sь nivijemь, sь vinogrady, sь voděnicijemь, sь vsěmi pravinami). In the year 1344/45 the King confirmed the donation of the Metochion of Saint Demetrius with vineyards and a mill to the monastery of Treskavec (Metohь Svetyi Dimitrïe u Prilěpě s niviemь, sь vinogradi, sь mlini i sь vsěmi pravinami).