The frescoes found inside the Church of St. George in North Macedonia are a rare example of Byzantine art in the Balkan region. The governments of North Macedonia and Greece – alongside the European Center for Byzantine Monuments – have agreed to ensure the preservation of the frescoes.
ADVERTISEMENTHigh in the mountains above Lake Prespa that connects North Macedonia with Greece and Albania is the 12th-century Church of St. George.
The frescoes found inside offer interesting and rare examples of Byzantine art in the Balkan region and constitute an important part of European cultural heritage.
“According to some scientists, we can see the first signs of the pre-Renaissance period, which we can see in the expression of the saints (but) also in their clothing,” explains Olivera Makrievska from the Institute for Monument Protection- museum. Bitola.
The governments of North Macedonia and Greece – alongside the European Center for Byzantine Monuments – have signed an agreement to protect and preserve the frescoes.
And this is the challenge facing the restoration teams of the two countries responsible for the delicate maintenance of these centuries-old masterpieces.
“Paint mainly comes from minerals from stones, plants or even animals,” explained Babys Apostolidis of the European Center for Monuments of Byzantium.
“The paint came from powder, very fine powder, and they mixed this powder with lime in water (…) The painter then applied the paint to fresh mortar before the mortar dried.”
Since North Macedonia and Greece signed the Prespa Agreement in 2017, bilateral relations have intensified.
A concrete result is the joint project aimed at preserving the rich cultural heritage of the Lake Prespa region, whose waters constitute the border between the two countries.
