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Photo: Tosee, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
One of Macedonia's best-preserved medieval monuments. This 14th-century monastery is an endowment of Serbian nobility and features excellently preserved frescoes. Located on the slopes of Mount Osogovo, it was an important literary centre. Even prior to the actual establishment of the monastery, this secluded area was popular for hermits. The monastery is believed to have been established by St Gabriel of Lesnovo in the 11th century. Jovan Oliver, magnate of Serbian Emperor Dušan, began construction on the monastery church in 1341. It was dedicated to St Michael the Archangel. Lesnovo Monastery maintains an active fraternity of monks. There are three 14th-century cave churches nearby that belong to the monastery.
Lesnovo monastery, officially called Monastery of St Archangel Michael and St Hermit Gabriel of Lesnovo, is a medieval monument in North Macedonia. It is perhaps the best preserved endowment of a Serbian noble of the 14th century, with well-preserved frescoes.
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Zletovo is a large village of a few thousand. It is home to this church which dates from the 16th century, though sections of it are newer such as the west and south narthexes which were added in 1853. In the last several decades of Ottoman rule, this church belonged to the Bulgarian Exarchate, while a Zletovo church dedicated to St Elijah belonged to the Serbian church. The icons within the church are from the 19th century. Zletovo is also home to a monastery, established in 2010, with its church built in a Byzantine-revival style.