Christianity in the region of Strumica or Tiberiopolis – a name which was used mostly by the Byzantine administration and the church tradition, began to spread during the first centuries AD. The town is connected with the cult of the Holy Fifteen of Tiberiopolis, who suffered for Christ during the reign of the emperor Julian the Apostate, by the end of the 4th century. It is here where the Holly brothers Cyril and Methodius started their first mission 845-855 AD for spreading the word and truth of God, and according to tradition St. Clement of Ohrid had origin from Strumica, thus he was sometimes stated as Clement the bishop of Tiberiopolis.
Tour itinerary
Tour features
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08:00 Departure from Skopje
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10:30 Monastery of Holy Mother of God Eleusa
On the lintel of the door to the church there is a marble plaque with the founder's inscription from 1080 "This church of the Most Holy Theotokos the Merciful (Eleusa) is built from the foundations by the monk Manuel, who became episcope of Tiberiopolis in the year 6588 (1080 AD) induction 3". About the church construction and its founder, Episcope Manuel, as well as about the order of spiritual life and generally about the daily catholic life of the first monks, we find original historical data also in the Rule (Typikon) written personally by him between 1085 and 1106. This is one of the oldest known typikons in the history of Orthodox monasticism, which is a witness to more than thousand years old monastic tradition in Macedonia., village of Veljusa
About seven kilometers west of Strumica, on a rock plateau above the village of Veljusa, in 1080 with the personal means of the monk Manuel the monastery of The Holy Mother of God Eleusa was built.
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12:00 Monastery Vodocha
Visiting the monastery of Saint Leontie from the 11th century, the most famous historical monument around Strumica the locals also call it Vodocha, which means poking eyes (vadi-ochi). The legend states that it was here where the 14 000 soldiers of king Samoil were blinded by the Byzantine Emperor Basil II.
The monastery of Saint Leontie from the 11th century is the most famous historical monument around Strumica. The locals also call it Vodocha, which means poking eyes (vadi-ochi) for the legend states that it was here where the 14 000 soldiers of king Samoil were blinded by the Byzantine Emperor Basil II.
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13:30 Lunch at a traditional restaurant in Strumica
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15:00 Basilica under the Orta Mosque The church was built in the late XI and early XII century. It was most likely dedicated to Holy Mother of God as it is mentioned in the charters of Serbian Tsar Stefan Dushan (1331-1355) and Byzantine Emperor John VI Cantakuzenus (1347-1354). The church burnt down in XIII century and was replaced with necropolis. After few centuries in 1613/14 a mosque was built on that place called Orta, or Middle Mosque.
A remarkable example of the cultural tradition and spiritual diversities of Macedonia. At one place a Hellenistic and a Roman temple, Late Ancient basilica and a Middle Ages church can be found, under the XVII c. Ottoman Orta (Middle) mosque.
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15:30 XV Holy Hieromartyrs of Tiberiopolis - XV Teveriopolski Machenici
The discovery of the complex of churches dedicated to the 15 tiberipolian martyrs, with the central tomb in which their relics are found, located in a late antique necropolis, indicates the cult towards these martyrs created in this Macedonian town where they were killed. According to the hagiographic manuscript of Teofilact of Ohrid, during the persecution of the preachers of the Christian faith, in the time of Julian Apostata (361, 363), a group of 15 martyrs perished.
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18:00 Arrival in Skopje
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