Church of Saint Sophia
Listen at the stop, then read the transcript and follow the sources behind the story.
Listen
Transcript
Saint Sophia became one of Ohrid’s principal churches and the cathedral of the Archbishopric of Ohrid. Much of its present form and major fresco programme belong to the eleventh century and later phases.
The archbishopric survived major political changes and served populations across the region. Under Ottoman rule the church was converted into a mosque before later Christian restoration.
That sequence shows why religious architecture must be read institutionally, not just stylistically. A building can change liturgy, decoration and legal ownership while remaining an urban landmark.
The medieval frescoes are important evidence of Byzantine artistic culture at a time when Ohrid’s political rulers and ecclesiastical jurisdictions were changing.
Sacred continuity is often built from administrative discontinuity.