CHURCHES

The village of Rashtak

“St. Spas” church. Years ago, an old sacred religious facility existed on the place of today’s church. The existing small, ruined church was restored by the local population in 1861. The iconostasis was completed in 1866, and the campanile/bell tower was eventually built in 1928. The iconostasis portraying the image of the holy martyr Zlata Maglenska wearing a national dress, attracts everyone’s attention in the renewed church. An old religious book printed in 1537 in Venice has been found in “St. Spas” church. Ever since 1992 this book has been kept in the National Library in Skopje.

The village of Singjelik

“Sts. Cyril and Methodius” church (also known as “St. George”). The church is fairly new. Its foundations were laid in 1973 and it was consecrated in 1975. In 1938 a cross made of a well-hewn stone was set at this very place. The place has a great religious significance and serves as a gathering place for celebrating the religious holiday dedicated to St. George (i.e. St. George’s Day).

The village of Idrizovo

“Vovedenie na Presveta Bogorodica” church. A cross made of a well-hewn stone had been placed at the present day church since ancient times. The time remains unknown. However, at this particular place people celebrated Saint’s Day in honor of St. John (January) from times immemorial. Upon the initiative of the local population and its money, the church was built in 1996 and was consecrated in 1998.

Madzari

“St. Spas”church. Back in the time the church was built in 1925 at the place where an old ruined religious building was built in a primitive way, that is, of cane and mud. The church has been completely restored in 1992, when the foundations of the present church were laid upon the initiative of the local population. The church is still under construction.

The village of Creshevo

“St Spas” church was built around 1850. A tiny old church dedicated to St. John surrounded by the oldest cemetery was located close to “St. Spass” church. The church is among the oldest churches in the region, whose rich ornamentation (especially the old frescoes and icons) dates from 1853 to 1858, making it a religious facility of inestimable national importance.

The village of Bulachani

“St. Jovan Krstitel” (“St. John the Baptist”) church was built on a land where the local population would gather, from times immemorial, on the occasion of Saint’s Day (dedicated to St. John). The old and wonderfully decorated iconostasis, as well as the many old frescoes and icons painted on the walls, originating from 1861, are typical of the church. It is said that the iconostasis was made by a Turk from the Yaya-Pasha mosque in Skopje.

The village of Smilkovci

“St. Velikomachenica Nedela” church was built on a land owned by “St. Spas” church from the village of Creshevo. The church was built in 1989 and was consecrated by the Archbishop Mihail in 1944. The local population of the village of Smilkovci and the surrounding villages did a fundraiser for the construction of the church.

The village of Brnjarci

“Sts. Petar and Pavle” (“Sts. Peter and Paul”) church was built in 1950 at a place where there was an old stone cross. The old church was small and made of stone. The restoration and expansion of the church began in 1999 and was completed in 2002. The church was funded by the local population and by donations of the residents of the surrounding villages. The making of the iconostasis and the drawing of the frescoes are to be processed.

The village of Jurumleri

“St. Peter and Paul the Apostles” church. An old fragile church made out of cane and mud was built at the present day church. The local villagers believe that this particular church was among the oldest in the Blatija. Each year the masses would gather on Easter Day. The old church was demolished 30 years ago. A new one was built and richly decorated with frescoes and icons, a neat yard, and a dining room.

Avtokomanda

“St. Archangel Michael” church. The present day church was laid on the foundations of an older church in 1927. The exterior of the church was restored in 2006. The marble iconostasis placed during the building process is typical of the church. Such an expensive and hard processing iconostasis can hardly be found in the Macedonian churches. “St. Archangel” relief set at the outer upper part, right above the front door of the church, is rather unique. It is believed that within the church a sacred and miraculous water wells out of the religious shrine dedicated to “Holy Mother of God.” It was built in the mid 18th century. A small religious baptistery dedicated to the “holy miraculous Kuzman and Damjan” was built and consecrated in 1995. In addition, the British military cemetery of World War I is located within the church.

The village of Stajkovci

“Sts. Cyril and Methodius”
The village of Indzikovo
“St. Georgia”

MOSQUES

The village of Singjelik

The mosque in the village of Singjelik dates from the second half of 19th century. In 1977 the old mosque was demolished and a new bigger one was built. The mosque is one of the largest in this part of Skopje with a neat yard and ritual rooms.

The village of Strachinci

The mosque in the village of Strachinci dates from 19th century. It was built of stone and was fairly small. The new mosque was built in 1997 and completed in 1999. The mosque is quite large and is situated in the center of the village.