RECOMMENDATIONS FOR ACCOMMODATION CAPACITIES: In the town of Gradsko there are several apartments for overnight stays. The apartments have three apartments of 2, 3 and 4 beds each with their own bathroom.
The price is MKD 600 per bed.
For an information please contact:
e-mail:
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Destinations
ST. ARCHANGEL MICHAEL - GORNO CHICHEVO, GRADSKO
The monastery complex ``St. Archangel Michael`` is located in the area of the village of Gorno Chichevo, in the center of the ethnogeographical area Klepa, not far from Gradsko. The monastery has two churches: ``St. Archangel Michael`` and ``Holy Mother of God``.
The monastery was built as a small church in the period between 1695 and 1705 by the monk Michael with the help and protection of Ago-beg of Veles. The year of the construction of the monastery is also confirmed by the bronze seal of the monastery (Orle), which does not exist as such a monastery anywhere, but in its content the name ``St. Archangel Michael`` and the image of Archangel Michael is included. The year 1705 is also engraved around the handle of the seal. The master of the seal was Simon Kostadinov, who is also the writer of the inscription.
In the second half of the 19th century, the old monastery church was restored, renovated and painted by the painter Hadji Krste in 1861, and thus got its present shape and appearance. Then the monastery got a new domed church, lights and a big high bell tower next to it.
Today, in the Museum of Macedonia in Skopje there is a larger group of fragments of fresco painting from the middle 15th century which originates from this monastery. Тhe representations of three bishops painted in medallions аре from the altar space of the former church. The first among them is the great wonderworker Saint Spyridon, Bishop of Cypriot Trimythous; next to him is painted a bishop whose signature has completely disappeared, and in the third medallion St. Methodius is painted. From the same church, from the part around the altar partition, come the representations of the highly respected bishop of Christ, St. Nicholas and the figure of the famous monk, the founder of Egyptian monasticism - St. Antony.
The church ``St. Archangel Michael`` is the main monastery church. It was built in 1861 by Andreja Damjanov, one of the greatest builders of sacred buildings in the Balkans. In 1981, the church was declared a monument of culture, while in 2013 a decision was made to completely rehabilitate the building and the icons, which were damaged by the barbaric behavior of the newly arrived residents, after the departure of the Turkish population, in the village of Vodovrati.
INFORMATION ABOUT OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES
The
Chicheov monastery has ideal conditions for cycling and hiking trails. The Klepa peak (altitude of 1150 m.) is near the monastery. There is a hiking trail that is properly marked by the environmental group ``Green Power`` from Veles.
Link from Bike trail “Pod Klepata”:
TRAVEL RECOMMENDATIONS:
If
you travel by car, the only access to the village of Gorno Chichevo is via Gradsko and it is 12 km. away. The road is asphalted but narrow and you should be careful when traveling. The last 2 km is dirt road and not asphalted.
To get to this monastery, drive from Veles towards Gradsko, and when you reach Gradsko, turn right up the street through the settlement, then continue along the local road that leads to the villages of Dolno and Gorno Chichevo. From both sides, through the car window, you can see only fields and wasteland, with rarely a few trees. As you travel through the terrain, you may wonder on how in the middle of this desolate wasteland there could be such a famous monastery. Because ``St. Archangel Michael`` is a monastery that in the past centuries was a very famous and important Orthodox sanctuary for the clergy and Orthodox believers from this region and beyond.
While you are still traveling, all of a sudden you’ll see a low-stemmed forest in the distance, through which the beautiful five domes rise high, four smaller and one larger in the middle with crosses, symbols of Christianity. As you approach, the monastery appears in front of you in all its grandeur and beauty – a true pearl of sacral culture.
Bicycle path
1. Bicycle path: Grncishte – Manastir – Gradsko
Link to the track: https://www.wikiloc.com/mountain-biking-trails/grnchishte-skachintsi-svekjani-vodovrati-gorno-chichevo-dolno-chichevo-gradsko-121173347
Start point: 164m
Total distance: 71.91 km
Max elevation: 660 m
Min elevation: 147 m
Total climbing: + 1,083 m
Total descent: – 1,083 m
Average speed: 11.1 km/h
Max Grade: 16.4%
Total moving time: 07:20:00 h
Download file:
GPX
KML
*For any outdoor activities, contact the site moderator.
**If you are interested in a hiking escort, contact us and we will provide you with a local mountain guide:
Hiking trails
Length in one direction: 13.95 km
Difficulty: 7/10
Climbing time: 6 hours & 5 min
Altitude difference: 687 m
Starting point: 611 m
Download file:
GPX
KML
*For any outdoor activities, contact the site moderator.
**If you are interested in a hiking escort, contact us and we will provide you with a local mountain guide:
BASIC INFORMATION ABOUT VELES BIKING:
Veles Biking Bicycle Group – Veles is the founder of this website. If you are interested in an escort for cycling or hiking tours, please contact us:
e-mail: velesbiking@gmail.com
web: www.velesbiking.mk
Facebook profile: https://www.facebook.com/velesmountbiking/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bikingveles/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/BikingVeles
Youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCiWUMfWbeG3OmjfElqCctmQ
mob. phone: +38976376040
STORY ABOUT THE LOCATION/REGION:
Initially, the monastery was founded as a small church in the period from 1695 to 1705 by the monk Michael, with the help of Ago Bey from Veles. The year of construction is also confirmed by the seal of the monastery with the name of “St. Archangel” and the image of Archangel Michael, which was made by the master Simon Kostadinov. In the second half of the 19th century, the old monastery church was restored by the brothers Jakov Zografski and Janko Georgiev, and was painted by Hadji Krste in 1861. The author of the church is the great master Andrej Damjanov.
