Staro Nagorichane: Observatory, Churches and Memorial Sites

An ancient observatory, frescoes dating from 1318 and a memorial centre dedicated to the first ASNOM meeting show how different historical themes shape Staro Nagorichane. The sites bring together archaeological questions, sacred architecture, commemorative work and landscape history.

Kokino: Platforms, Lunar Calendar and Directions

The ancient observatory at Kokino is arranged across two platforms with an elevation difference of 19 metres between them. Kokino is located on the prominent rocky hill of Tatichev Kamen, at an altitude of 1,013 metres. Two markers were used to measure the length of the lunar months and create a calendar based on a periodic cycle of 19 lunar years. The elevation and astronomical calendar function offer two distinct ways to explore the site’s archaeological significance. Kokino is listed as a cultural property on North Macedonia’s UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List.

For your journey, it is important to know that Kokino can be reached by a paved road; the final 500 metres to the observatory must be covered on foot. Check the road conditions before setting out, as they may change.

Churches, Frescoes and Architectural Features

The Church of St George in Staro Nagorichane was renovated in 1313 by the Serbian king Stefan II. Its frescoes date from 1318 and were created by the Thessalonian painters Mihailo Astrapa and Evtihij. The church holds one of the most significant and outstanding places in the history of medieval Byzantine art in Macedonia. The hermit’s cave of Saint Prohor Pcinjski is located immediately beside this church in the centre of Staro Nagorichane.

The Church of St Petka in Mlado Nagorichane has no eastern apse; it is considered the only example of its kind in Žegligovo. Its frescoes and architecture were conserved in 2003. It should not be confused with the Church of St George the Victorious, also in Mlado Nagorichane: this is a 16th-century cultural monument.

The church of Karpino Monastery in Suv Orah dates from 1592. The monastery was an important cultural and literary centre with an extensive library. In 1857, icons were created at Zabel Monastery by Dico the icon painter and Zafir Vasilević. These sites illustrate different aspects of religious heritage: frescoes, architecture, a monastery’s former literary role and dated icons.

Memorial Sites and History

The Zebrnjak Ossuary Monument in Mlado Nagorichane commemorates the victims of the First Balkan War who died in 1912 at the site of the Battle of Kumanovo. The monument was built of grey basalt in 1937 and is considered unique in the Balkans for its architecture.

The ASNOM Memorial Centre in Pelince is a cultural and historical centre, as well as a sports and recreation centre. It is dedicated to the first ASNOM meeting, held on 2 August 1944. The centre includes the ASNOM Museum and a replica of the room in Prohor Pcinjski Monastery where the first meeting took place. Documents relating to the creation of the Macedonian state are displayed in the centre’s memorial room. The dates set these two memorial sites apart: Zebrnjak commemorates events of 1912, while the centre in Pelince commemorates the 1944 meeting.

Landscape, Settlement History and Thermal Waters

Kostoperska Karpa is a prominent basalt rock of volcanic origin near Mlado Nagorichane. A settlement existed at the site from the Copper Age. It was abandoned in the 3rd century BC and resettled in Roman times. The rock thus combines a geological feature with traces of settlement from different periods.

The Strnovac Geothermal Bath is located in the village of Strnovac; its thermal water has a temperature of 39 to 40 °C. The facility is about 2,800 metres from the centre of the Municipality of Staro Nagorichane. The final 500 metres of the access road are unpaved. At Kokino, by contrast, the last 500 metres from the paved road are a walking path. Check the condition of the road to Strnovac before your visit, as road conditions may change.

Discover more destinations: Vojnik, Bitola, Struga, Prilep, Mavrovo and Rostuša, Negotino, Kratovo, Municipality of Pehchevo.

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