The Church of St. George, which contains outstanding wall paintings of
the late 13th and early 14th centuries, was constructed on the remains
of an earlier church, founded probably by the Byzantine Emperor Romanus
IV Diogenus (1068-1071).
The archaeological excavations did not provide the precise date of
the foundation or the type of the earlier building but confirmed the
monumental dimensions of this structure, built of very large blocks of
stone. We do not know when the church was demolished but it was rebuilt
in 1313, by the Serbian king Milutin, after his victory over the Turks.
The main elements of the new structure of the five-domed church are the
twin-domed narthex, the subsidiary chapels in the altar, and the domed
ambulatory nave. Built as the
catholic-icon of the former monastery complex. It represents a five
domes building of modified type of cross-shaped Byzantine church. The
outer walls up to the window zone are made of huge smooth "trachyte"
stone blocks. The upper wall is built of the same stone combined with
bricks, enriched by brick ornaments over the window openings.
The plan and the spatial structure of the Church of St. George result
from the architectural innovations of the Late Byzantine architecture,
when a new representative type of church appeared at the beginning of
the 14th century. The genesis of this type can be found in the
Constantinopolitan architecture, brought rapidly to Macedonia via the
important art centres, such as Arta and Thessalonica.
The model of this original building can be seen in the hands of the king Milutin, portrayed on the northern wall together with his wife, the Byzantine princess Simonida. (See photo below)
King Milutin together with his wife, the Byzantine princess Simonida
The wall paintings count among the most remarkable works of Michael and Eutychius from Thessalonica, the famous painters who worked at the end of the 13th and the beginning of the 14th century.
Close up of Entrance: Mary the mother of Jesus dies
Having completed their first work, the wall paintings in the Church of
the Holy Mother of God, Peribleptos in Ohrid (1295), which bear their
signature, they became the favourite painters at the court of the king
Milutin, and decorated many churches founded by Milutin, such as the
Holy Mother of God, Levishka, in Prizren (1310-1313), the Church of the
Saviour in the Monastery of Zhicha (1309-1316), the King’s Church (St.
Joachim and Anna) in the Studenica Monastery.
Jesus surrounded by people
This work is a painting in the new Paleologian style, very similar to
the well-known masterpieces of the workshop at the court of Emperor
Andronicus II Paleologus.
Great Feast of The Last Supper
The paintings are harmonious and serene. The scenes, such as the Great Feasts, the Passions, the Miracles and Parables, the Calendar, the life of St. George and St. Nicolas and the Akathistos of the Virgin, illustrate the artists’ religious education and talent.
Great Feast
The bell-tower is located at the northern yard entrance. It is a
stone building with rectangular basement, the upper parts of have
decoration similar to the church.
The archaeological excavations did not provide the precise date of
the foundation or the type of the earlier building but confirmed the
monumental dimensions of this structure, built of very large blocks of
stone. We do not know when the church was demolished but it was rebuilt
in 1313, by the Serbian king Milutin, after his victory over the Turks.
The archaeological excavations did not provide the precise date of
the foundation or the type of the earlier building but confirmed the
monumental dimensions of this structure, built of very large blocks of
stone. We do not know when the church was demolished but it was rebuilt
in 1313, by the Serbian king Milutin, after his victory over the Turks. 
Been here many times. St. George is a beautiful place. I didn't see a picture on the golden hand with the precious jewels?
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