Geographical position
Voskopoja is located between Gora and Opar (20km). The village is surrounded by high hills and fern forests. The climate in this village is cool summer and cold winter with snowfall during most of this season. There are also several natural ski slopes here. This village is known for its clean air and the healing power of respiratory diseases. This village can be called a pearl of the Albanian landscape.
Background
Voskopoja, once a center of economic, cultural and artistic development, full of prosperity, recognized the rhythm of trade of the time with other important centers of Albania, the Balkans and beyond. Trade with the west and the east, as a crossroads where the cultures of the time met, gave the city comprehensive development.
Its foundation is thought to be around the year 1330, by a Vlach community, also inhabited by Albanians, while the Saint Friday Church, built on a hill, was the oldest church (today rebuilt on the ruins of the burnt church ), around which the first houses were built. The architecture of the churches, the masters of icons and frescoes such as David Selenica, the Zografi brothers from Korça, Konstandin Ieromonaku, master of the iconostasis is still this wealth, which has resisted time, wars, damage by the hand of man, as a unique witness of that civilization, are those that show its unique values.
Voskopoja showed special interest in the development of Byzantine language, culture and art of the time. Having a special status for the time under the Ottoman Empire, the Voskopojars were able to build and develop the vital structures for a city. Therefore, the construction of Byzantine-style churches, which can still be visited today for their original frescoes, for their architecture and arches or painted domes (24 churches in total and the monastery of Saint-Prodhrom), still amaze many visitors. The establishment of the “New Academy” – the school, which educated thousands of students and housed them in its dormitory, the first printing press in the region, after that of Constantinople as a cornerstone for the city, which brought to light numerous publications, helping the development of language, culture and art, rich library with books of philosophers, great European scholars, with orphanages, characteristic stone houses, bridges, cobbled streets, etc.
Being an important cultural center in the region, there are several languages spoken in Voskopoja, such as Armenian, Albanian and Greek, the latter being the language of the culture of the time.
Customs and traditions
Voskopoja developed over the years and continued to preserve the customs, history and traditions created long ago. Its twenty-four churches turned into important centers of liturgical education, preservation and spread of the Albanian language, preservation of cultural heritage, customs and customs.
Voskopoja is distinguished for the preparation of handicrafts based on local craftsmanship and natural resources, especially for woodworking, weaving woolen clothing and many other valuable works.
With a library, an Academy, cobbled sidewalks, with many prominent painters of the time such as David Selenica, Kavalioti, Grigori, etc., with a rich folk tradition and craftsmanship, Voskopoja is already an important economic and cultural center.
Traditional holidays
The tourist season in Voskopoja opens with the celebration and fair that is organized on June 24 every year in the Saint Prodhrom Monastery, in Voskopoja. Other festive events are Midsummer’s Day, Christmas, etc.
Traditional dishes
The summer season in Voskopoja is always the most attractive for many tourists. It is enough to go for a walk in the mornings or evenings, to breathe the fresh air, to enjoy the water of the many springs or taps in the village, to go camping or excursions. Far from the noise, heat, dust or commitments at work, in Voskopojë you can also find the traditional dishes of the area. You can’t leave without tasting the lakrori on the saç, the lamb on the skewer, the plum brandy, the fried pancakes, the patak, the petanik, the kulaçi, etc.
Churches of Voskopojë s
Of the 22 former churches, five churches and a monastery not far from today’s village still remain standing in Voskopoja. The churches, all of the basilica type, were badly damaged not only by looting and vandals, but also by two world wars, during which they were even turned into ammunition depots. A powerful earthquake that struck the area in 1960 added to the damage even more. In recent years, the churches and the monastery of Voskopoja have been restored. You can start their visit from the center of the village, where you will see its first churches. Be careful! To visit them you must first meet their guardian who lives somewhere in the center or, even better, the village priest. In general, all residents are welcoming and smiling people. Ready to help you with anything. A tip: you can travel anywhere in Voskopoja by car, but you will feel better if you visit the churches on foot. You will have the chance not only to enjoy the old church stories, but also to enjoy the real life and nature of Voskopoja. Today’s churches of Voskopoja are:
Monastery of St. Prodhrom
The monastery of St. John the Baptist (Prodromios) was founded in the 14th century and during the flourishing period of Voskopoja, in the 17th and 18th centuries, it became one of the most powerful economic and ecclesiastical supports of the Archdiocese of Ohrid. The church of this monastery was built in 1632 according to the Athonite type, three-conch, with a cross-shaped plan covered with a dome placed on a high drum. The interior of the church was decorated with paintings in 1659. The narthex of the church was built and painted at the end of the century. 17th, or the beginning of the 18th century. The monastery lodges and the church itself were severely damaged by German Nazi bombing during World War II.
Church of Saint Athanasius
Church of Saint Athanasius was built on the hill of the same name, which also served as the cemetery of the city of Voskopoja. Saint Athanasius Church is the fourth church of the same type, a basilica with curved roofs, built in Voskopoja. The church was built during the years 1721-24, where the nave was completed in 1721 and the arcade was completed in 1724. The narthex was destroyed by the earthquake of 1960. The painting of the nave and the arcade was completed in June 1745 by the brothers Konstantin and Athanas from Korça. The paintings of the nave are distinguished by the extremely empty iconographic program, where a very extended cycle is presented with numerous scenes of the martyrdom of the saints and where the detailed, somewhat macabre treatment of their torture exceeds the viewer’s imagination. In the paintings of the arcade the brothers Konstantin and Athanas have skillfully presented an extended cycle of the Apocalypse, which is considered the most complete cycle presented in frescoes up to that period.
Cathedral Church “The Dormition of Saint Mary”
This is the largest church in Voskopoja and served as the cathedral of the former city. It was built around 1699 serving a perfect combination of the basilican plan with curved roofs, arches and domes. The church was painted in 1712 by three painters from the province of Agrafa in Greece, Theodhori, Anagnosti and Steriani. Part of the church of Saint Mary was also the church of Saint Marena, now destroyed. Meanwhile, from the entirety of the former construction, the nave and bell tower are still standing. In the iconographic program, the main place is occupied by the “Akathist Hymn” dedicated to Saint Mary, from 24 scenes, as many stanzas as the hymn.
Church of the Archangels, Gabriel and Michael
The Church of the Archangels, Gabriel and Michael, known for short as the church of “St. Michael”, is of the basilica type, with a curved roof, with frescoes, represents a continuous interest for its architecture. Built at the end of the century. of the 17th, around the year 1696, and painted at the beginning of the century. of 18, around 1722 by an unknown painter, the values of the frescoes of this church are excellent and valuable. An integral part of the church of the Archangels, were also the churches of Saint Spyridon and Saint Varvara, which did not withstand time or the destruction that Voskopoja suffered over the centuries. Meanwhile, the part of the porch of this church was destroyed by the earthquake of 1960, we can still visit the nave and part of the narthex, as one of the most important churches.
Church of Saint Kolli
Saint-Kolli Church is located in the center of Voskopoja and is the most important church for its architecture with all the elements of the post-Byzantine basilica type, which has survived until today. This church has it all: nave, narthex, arcade and belfry. It was built from June 1721 to September 1722, while the bell tower is thought to have been built later. Its last reconstruction was done around 1936.
Part of the church of Saint Kolli was also the church of Saint Efthimi, in its southern part, now completely destroyed. The nave was painted around 1726 by David Selenica, one of the best masters of the 20th century. the 18th. His style belongs to the traditional art school of the Palaeologists, also known as the Macedonian school. While the arcade was painted around 1750 by the brothers Athanas and Kostandin from Korça, nicknamed “Zografi”. They have painted numerous scenes from the cycle of the Apocalypse, second only to the one reflected in the church of Saint Thanas (the two cycles are not copies of each other, but each presents creative features).
In 1960, part of the arcade suffered serious damage due to a powerful earthquake, detaching about 28 cm from the nave. While a restoration expedition, undertaken in 1962 by the Institute of Cultural Monuments, for its restoration and consolidation, did an excellent and professional job. The iconostasis of this church was carefully worked by Constantine the Hieromonk around the year 1722-1726, one of the greatest masters of icon work at the beginning of the century. the 18th. Today, some of the original icons are an integral part of the Museum of Medieval Art in Korça.
What can you do in Voskopoja?
– Visit the post-Byzantine style churches and basilicas in Voskopoja
– Explore nature trails
– Walk through the characteristic stone streets of Voskopoja
– Do not miss a horse ride
– Don’t leave without tasting the organic traditional foods of the area and characteristic drinks
– Camping