North Macedonia (country#75) was on our itinerary on a recent trip to Europe. Information and photos from our trip to Lake Ohrid are below.
Ohrid Lake is a natural border between North Macedonia and Albania. Ohrid is the Cultural capital, and on the North Macedonian side of the lake, it is mostly Muslim, but you won’t see many mosques. The other side of the lake is mostly Christian Orthodox. There is a system of three lakes: one shared by Albania and North Macedonia; one shared by North Macedonia and Greece; and a third that is shared between Albania, North Macedonia, and Greece. Ohrid Lake is approximately 294-301m deep, and the largest part of the lake is in North Macedonia. Ohrid had other names, including one that means “city of light.” The lake is one of the most transparent and deepest in Europe, and it is home to a fish that is similar to trout. This area was inhabited by an Illyrian tribe, and then by a Desaret tribe with a Greek background. It is said that Alexander the Great’s mother was Albanian.
Interesting Fact: 30% of North Macedonians are Albanian because of how the country was split many years ago.
This amphitheater was used for fighting, and was excavated in 1965. It has been well maintained since that time. It has capacity for 6500 people, and many citizens had their own seats, making it one of the first entities in Macedonia that had a membership. They still hold events here from time to time.
The church of St. John is used to market Ohrid due to the scenery behind it. There used to be 365 Orthodox churches in this area, “one for every day of the year.” It was referred to as the Jerusalem of the Balkans. They also think the first university was started here by the Greeks, and that the Cyrillic alphabet was started here and then translated to a Slavic language for the Orthodox Liturgy.
St. Naum’s Monastery has always been a part of the Macedonian border except for 6 months in 1925. The church was built in the 12th century with one chapel, and was slightly smaller than it is today. The foundation of the church is almost in the lake. They then built the monastery around the church, and have the best preserved frescoes due to how well they took care of the monastery. The complex was also used as a school for monks in the 16th century.
Interesting Fact: July 2 is Patron Saint Holy Day.
Overall, a short visit to a small portion of a beautiful nation. Definitely a country we hope to explore more in the future! Until next time, take care and be well…