Skopje, Upper Town, Church of the Holy Virgin with its Residence

The Serbian king Stefan Uroš II Milutin confirmed and donated landed property to the Monastery of St. George-Gorg near Skopje in the year 1300. In his charter he is mentioning the Upper Town of Skopje with its fortifications and other buildings, amongst others the Church of the Holy Virgin (црьквь светаа богородица): вьнѹтрь града скопиꙗ при вратѣхь великыхь полата и црьквь светаа богородица еже ѥсть придаль монахь ксенофонть. This church and its residence (полата), which were given by the monk Ksenofont to the Monastery, were to be found in the vicinity of the "Great Gate" (при вратѣхь великыхь). In systematic excavations in the Upper Town (Kale) from 2007 until 2012 a cross-shaped church (13th-14th cent.) was discovered in the south-eastern section of the Upper Town (i.e. excavation Kale VII). Perhaps these remnants are to be identified with the Church of the Holy Virgin.