Kumanovo, 25 December 2024 (MIA) - The conservation of the frescoes in the church of St. George in Staro Nagorichane village, is underway as preparatory activities have officially begun, the authorities said Wednesday.

Minister of Culture and Tourism Zoran Ljutkov, along with National Conservation Center representatives, visited today the church.

The Ministry of Culture revealed plans to allocate funding for fresco conservation from 2025, extending over a period of three to four years.

“Today we are in Staro Nagorichane at the church of St. George, which dates back to the 14th century and is not only a masterpiece of architecture, but also of painting. It is important that after a ten-year pause in activities, we are beginning a significant project for the conservation of fresco painting inside the church. We will allocate approximately 5.5. million denars for the work. And this will be a multi-year funding over next three, or perhaps four years, ensuring no interruptions in the conservation of the frescoes. As a Ministry of Culture and Tourism, we are prepared to support many other significant projects in 2025,” Ljutkov said.

Preparatory activities are currently underway, and conditions for the work are being secured. The National Conservation Center expressed satisfaction that the Ministry will allocate funds over the next three to four years for the conservation of the wall paintings in this impressive structure.

“What is encouraging is that in the next three to four years, there will be continuous funding provided for the conservation of the exceptionally valuable fresco painting in the church of St. George in Staro Nagorichane. This church is categorized as a cultural heritage site of the highest category, of exceptional importance. It is truly honour and a pleasure that the National Conservation Center has territorial jurisdiction over such an imposing and monumental structure,” National Conservation Center director Cvetanka Hadzi-Pecova said.

The institution announced that they would engage all their professional resources and entire staff potential to provide expert and appropriate conservation treatment of the wall paintings, created by master painters of the 14th century, who were highly esteemed during their time.

The project manager, Vlado Mukovski, said that the preservation of this valuable fresco art is of exceptional importance to the nation, particularly given the fact that it will be carried out in the next period. Regarding the damage, he stated that prior to the start of the preparatory activities, monitoring was conducted, and no significant changes were seen compared to the condition a decade ago.

The fresco conservation work will involve teams from both the National Conservation Center and the Conservation Center in Skopje.

The church will remain open to visitors, attracting many local and international tourists. Conservation work will continue without interruption, and the church will maintain its regular operations.

According to information released by the Staro Nagorichane municipality, the church of St. George in Staro Nagorichane is one of the most significant sites in the history of medieval Byzantine art in Macedonia. The church is a true treasure, showcasing an unparalleled gallery of frescoes, a masterpiece of 14th-century Byzantine classicism, and an iconic example of medieval art in Macedonia, the Balkans, and beyond.

Photo and video: MIA