Art and Culture on the Territory of the Bishopric of Pelagonia

In this paper, we will discuss the cultural history of the Pelagonian bishopric as one of the most remarkable dioceses of the Archbishopric of Ochrid. It was located at the junction of the Roman road of Via Egnatia and had a great cultural and artistic influence on the whole region. Its early Christian roots were at the Roman town of Heraclea Lyncestis and around the 10th century it was transferred to the nearby medieval settlement of Bitola. According to the chrysobull of Basil II, the bishopric of Pelagonia consisted of Bitola, Pelagonia, Prilep, Debreshte and Veles with its 15 clerics and 15 servants. The throne of the Pelagonian bishopric had included the territory of medieval Varosh at Prilep as an important urban centre that contributed to the artistic and cultural profile of Pelagonian diocese. In the territory of Pelagonia a number of monasteries with some scriptoria and workshops continued the ancient tradition. The whole region was well known for the miraculous icon of Mother of God Pelagonitissa from the Komnenian and Palaiologian periods.