CULTURAL HERITAGE: - Macedonian Information Centre

3 - Pasko kuzMan
Lihnitids (Ohridians) into Christian religion. From the 4 th to the 6 th
century two early-Christian basilicas were erected on this space with
monumental dimensions: the one of a quadrifoliate shape, the other
five-naval, and both with glorious architectural elements and luxurious
mosaics on the floors. These sacral architectonic facilities tell us that it
was exactly on this space that operated the bishopric center of the New
Epirus province. In the middle of the five-naval early Christian basilica,
late on (at the end of the 6 th and the beginning of the 7 th century), a small
three-leaf church was built. At the end of the 9 th century St. Clement
restored the small three-leaf church that had been destroyed and he
dedicated the restored church to Saint Doctor Pantelejmon. Later on,
St. Clement additionally expanded this building to the west probably
with walls. On this space and at that time he started his historic mission
that occupies an exclusively important place in the Macedonian sacral
and secular history. Namely, in the frameworks of this compound the
strong Christian, enlightening, and literature activity of St. Clement of
Ohrid was developed, who was one of the best pupils of Ss. Cyril and
Methodius, who managed to raise his academy, with his activity, to the
level of a university, an educational and enlightening institution that met
the criteria of that time. In 916, following his death, he was buried in the
Church, in the grave that he had built while he was alive. At the end of
the 15 th century, after being totally demolished, over the remains of St.
Clement’s Church Sultan Mehmed Mosque was erected, but after some
time it had stopped being used in religious purposes.
Since at one place, in important periods of world’s history, pagan
temples used to be erected, including early Christian churches, Middle
Age Christian churches, and a mosque, Plaosnik is actually one of the
most sacred places in the world.
Plaosnik experienced its revival on the outset of the third millennium.
On the occasion of 2000 years of Christianity in Macedonia and in the
world, the first phase of the big project was completed: the restoration of
St. Clement’s Church St. Pantelejmon on Plaosnik in Ohrid. The second
phase of this project is the restoration of St. Clement’s University, which
has finally lived to see the light as a national project of the Republic of
Macedonia.
The Government of the Republic of Macedonia decided to restore
this cultural and enlightening monument of the Macedonian history and
together with St. Clement’s Church St. Pantelejmon on Plaosnik the
totality of the church and secular focus will flash again on the most sacred
place for Macedonia and for the entire Slavic race (Plaosnik). The restored
university is projected to have galleries of icons, libraries, seminars, places
for literature, scientific, and other centers, and an educational system within
the Macedonian Orthodox Church, which means that a theological school