St. Mary's Church, Maligrad Explained

St. Mary’s Cave Church
Native Name:Albanian: Shpella e Maligradit
Religious Affiliation:Eastern Orthodox Christianity
Coordinates:40.7920°N 20.9317°E
Location:Maligrad, lake Prespa
Country:Albania
Architecture Style:Serbian Orthodox Art
Founded By:Kesar Novak
Year Completed:1369

The St. Mary's Church or Virgin Mary's Church is an Eastern Orthodox cave church on the island of Maligrad, in the Albanian part of Lake Prespa. It is a Cultural Monument of Albania.[1] The church is dedicated to Saint Mary and was built by Serbian nobleman Kesar Novak (alb. Qesar Novaku[2]), in the year 1369.[3]

The church has frescoes and Greek inscriptions dated to 1369. Frescoes exist of the family of Kesar Novak, with his Greek wife Kalia.[4] [5]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Religious buildings with the "Culture Monument" status. Republic of Albania National Committee for Cult. October 28, 2010. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20110706071224/http://kshk.gov.al/index.php?fq=brenda&gj=gj2&kid=19. July 6, 2011.
  2. Book: Anamali, Skënder. Historia e popullit shqiptar në katër vëllime. I. 2002. 294–295. Botimet Toena. Albanian. 52411919.
  3. Dr Vlad. R. Petković, Stari srpski spomenici u Južnoj Srbiji: "Na PRESPI kesar Novak podiže 1369. god. crkvu Bogorodici (na ostrvu Mali Grad)."
  4. Web site: Archived copy . 2014-05-04 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20111006154644/http://www.ni.rs/byzantium/doc/zbornik4/PDF-IV/Zure.pdf . 2011-10-06 .
  5. Ivan M. Đorđević, Zidno slikarstvo srpske vlastele u doba Nemanjica. OCLC 34957313, sl. 84 i 85