Црква „Св. Богородица“ Калишта

Crkva „Sv. Bogorodica“ Kališta


Useful Information

photography
Cave Church "Holy Mother of God" Kalishta, North Macedonia. Public Domain.
photography
Cave Church "Holy Mother of God" Kalishta, North Macedonia. Public Domain.
Location: Kalishta 6333.
A2 Struga towards south, at Frangovo turn left towards Kalishta, across R1208 to the end of the road.
(41.144780, 20.650188)
Open: All year daily.
[2024]
Fee: free.
[2024]
Classification: SpeleologyKarst Cave ArchaeologyPainted Cave SubterraneaCave Church
Light: bring torch
Dimension:  
Guided tours: self guided
Photography: allowed
Accessibility: no
Bibliography:  
Address: Crkva „Sv. Bogorodica“ Kališta, Tel: +389-.
As far as we know this information was accurate when it was published (see years in brackets), but may have changed since then.
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History

11th century monastery founded.
14th century cave church built.
18th century Church "Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary" built.
1977 Church "Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary" renovated.
1990 Church "St. Peter and Paul" built on top of a healing spring.
08-MAY-1997 Church "St. Peter and Paul" consecrated.

Description

photography
Cave Church "Holy Mother of God" Kalishta, North Macedonia. Public Domain.
photography
Cave Church "Holy Mother of God" Kalishta, North Macedonia. Public Domain.
photography
Cave Church "Holy Mother of God" Kalishta, North Macedonia. Public Domain.
photography
Cave Church "Holy Mother of God" Kalishta, North Macedonia. Public Domain.

Пештерна Црква „Св. Богородица“ Калишта (Pestera Crkva „Sv. Bogorodica“ Kališta, Cave Church "Holy Mother of God" Kalishta) is a small cave church located in the Monastery of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Kališta or short Калишкиот Манастир (Kalishta Monastery). Another version of the name is Рождество на Пресвета Богородица (Roždestvo na Presveta Bogorodica, Nativity of the Holy Mother of God). Another version of the name, which actually means the same, is Црква „Успение Богородичино“ Манастир Калишта (Crkva „Uspenie Bogorodičino“ Manastir Kališta, "Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary" Church Kalishta Monastery). The monastery is a Macedonian Orthodox womens monastery and was It is also the summer residence of the head of the Macedonian Orthodox Church.

The church was built, like all the other cave churches around Lake Ohrid, in the 14th century. And like all the other churches, it is impossible to date it, as there are no documents from this time. Beneath the church there are three monk cells, two on the first floor and one on the second floor. The chuch is much bigger than other cave churches in the area, which generally consist of a single chamber. The cliff face was covered by a three-story-high wall, and there is a stone staircase inside. Close to the cave church are two springs dedicated to Saint Peter and Saint Ananias, both are said to have healing waters.

Healing is an important aspect of the monastery. The icon of the "Black Virgin", a depiction of Mary with the child, which both have black faces, was found in the cave church. Why they are black is unknown. But the icon is believed to have tremendous healing power. Due to the restricted space in the small cave church, the icon is today in the other monastery church, the above ground church in front of the cliff. This is the church "Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary", which is the main monastery church.