St Nicholas Church, Mavrovo

For others dedicated to St. Nicholas, see St. Nicholas' Church (disambiguation).

St Nicholas Church
Свети Никола Летен
View of the church submerged under water
Religion
Affiliation	Macedonian Orthodox (Eastern Orthodox)
Location
Location	Mavrovo, Mavrovo and Rostuša, North Macedonia
Geographic coordinates	41°39′26″N 20°44′07″E

St Nicholas Church (Macedonian: Св. Никола Летен) is an abandoned church in Mavrovo, North Macedonia which is submerged in Mavrovo Lake. Built in 1850 with icons painted by Dicho Zograf, the church served as the main village church of Mavrovo. With the construction of the hydroelectric power station in Mavrovo and the artificial Mavrovo Lake, the church got submerged under water. During summer periods of drought, the church is accessible through land.[1]

Despite being submerged in water, the church has preserved its initial construction. Its bell tower still exists, although the church's interior is destroyed and the roof has completely caved in. The church was included in the list of abandoned churches published in 2013 by The Huffington Post.[2][3]

Construction

Construction work around the church started in 1850 by local construction workers from the Mavrovo region and the church was completed in 1857. Materials used to build the church included marble and granite. The altar was also made of marble. The iconostasis and the icons were painted in 1855 by painter Dicho Zograf of the Debar Art School movement, who in North Macedonia is seen as an ethnic Macedonian[4][5] while in Bulgaria as a Bulgarian.[6][7] Some were also later painted by Maletij Bozhinov.[8][9] It was built with a five-sided apse, a bell tower and an iconostasis.[10]

Submersion

Towards the end of 1952, with the construction of the artificial Mavrovo Lake and the accompanying hydroelectric power station in the village of Mavrovo, the icons and other religious objects found inside the church were moved to the one located across it. During the submersion, the wooden iconostasis, icons, books and religious objects were forgotten inside although they were later taken and reconstructed. In 1953, the church was submerged in the lake. The following years, the church alternates between being partially submerged in water and accessible through land (mainly during summertime), depending on the water content of the lake.[10][11]

Reconstruction plans

In 2014, the Teatrix company from Skopje announced a plan to convert the church into a tourist attraction by sanctioning and protecting the church. Plans were also announced to keep the initial construction of the church, reconstruct the walls and the roof.[1]

Gallery

Inside

• 
  The inside of the church
• 
  The inside of the church
• 
  Look from inside to the bell tower of the church
• 
  Look from inside to the bell tower of the church
• 
  The inside of the church

Outside

• 
  A view of the church together with Mavrovo
• 
  A view of the church with Mavrovo in the background
• 
  A view of the church when not submerged in water
• 
  The church in winter
• 
  A view of the church under water

See also

• Mavrovo

References

1. Popovska, Nevena (22 June 2014). "Потопената црква "Св. Никола" во Маврово е проколната убавина". Republika (in Macedonian). Retrieved 15 March 2020.
2. Hafiz, Jasmin (22 September 2013). "Abandoned Churches Are Eerily Beautiful (PHOTOS)". The Huffington Post. Retrieved 15 March 2020.
3. "Потопената црква му одолева на времето". Utrinski vesnik (in Macedonian). Skopje. 24 September 2013. Retrieved 15 March 2020.
4. Kosta Bojadžievski, Cvetan Grozdanov (1989). Macedonian National Treasures. Makedonska kniga. p. 278. ISBN 9788636900901.
5. "Macedonian Review Volume 21, Issue 3". Macedonian Review (Kulturen Zhivot). 21 (3): 229. 1991.
6. Vasiliev, Asen . Bulgarian Revival masters: painters, carvers, builders. Sofia, Science and Art, 1965. p. 179.
7. Čeliković, Borisav (2017). Old Serbia and Macedonia . White City. p. 179.
8. "Иконописното творештво на Дино Зограф во Скопје и Скопскиот регион". Spisanie Premin (in Macedonian). MPC-OA. 10 October 2008. Retrieved 15 March 2020.
9. Aleksiev, Emil (18 October 2008). "Дичо Зограф - еден од најистакнатите македонски зографи". Spisanie Premin (in Macedonian). MPC-OA. Retrieved 15 March 2020.
10. "И животните вљубени во црквата "Св. Никола" во Маврово (ФОТОГАЛЕРИЈА)". Mkd.mk (in Macedonian). 16 June 2014. Retrieved 15 March 2020.
11. "Земете здив:"Св. Никола Летен" – Маврово ,најмагичната потопена црква на светот". Radio Slobodna Makedonija (in Macedonian). 28 November 2016.