Prilep, North Macedonia - Прилеп, Севернa Македонијa

Prilep (Macedonian: Прилеп is the fourth-largest city in North Macedonia. According to 2021 census results, it has a population of 63,308. In North Macedonia, it is known as the City under Mark's Towers (Mark's Fortress), due to its proximity to the fortress that belonged to the famous Marko Kraljević, the son of the Serbian king Vukašin. Prilep was also part of the Serbian Empire, where Emperor Dušan built his castle and often liked to stay in that city. It is the birthplace of Kraljević Marko. Below Mark's town (in ruins) on the main road Bitolj-Veles, there is the monastery of St. Archangel. The city of Prilep is located in the southern part of North Macedonia. The city is 132 km south of the capital Skopje, while it is 44 km north of Bitola. Relief: Prilep is one of the centers of the historical area of Pelagonia, the largest plateau in North Macedonia. The settlement is the most important settlement in its northern part. The city is located on the northeastern part of the plateau, approximately 650 m above sea level. Treskavac mountain stretches to the north, Babuna mountain to the east, and Selečka mountain to the south. A field stretches to the west. The climate in Prilep is continental. Waters: The Prilep river of the same name flows through Prilep, dividing the city into northern and southern parts. The river is in the basin of the Aegean Sea. The area of Prilep has been inhabited since prehistoric times, in the Neolithic period. Ancient Rome founded the city of Styberra (Styberra), whose remains still exist today. During the time of Empress Tevda (Teta), the city (old Prilep) was conquered with difficulty, with many casualties of Roman soldiers. At the beginning of the Middle Ages, the area of Prilep was inhabited by Slavs. In 1014, the Slavic name of the settlement "Prilep" is encountered for the first time. The medieval town was built on a hill that dominates the landscape. In 1334, Prilep entered the framework of Dušan's empire, as evidenced by Dušan's charter in the Treskavec monastery. In that period, Prilep experienced its "medieval zenith", when the city was one of the most important centers of the empire. After 1365, the city belonged to King Vukašin, and then to his son, the famous Marko Kraljević. In 1395, the Ottomans conquered Prilep and the city and its surroundings would remain under them until 1912. During the last decades of Ottoman rule, Prilep grew into a large trading center.Between the two world wars, Prilep had three Serbian Orthodox churches: St. Annunciation, St. Transfiguration and St. Cyril and Methodius. In 1938, the Church of the Annunciation celebrated its centenary. He is widely known for the very artistic carving of the walnut temple. It was made by the master Dimitrije from Reka in 1835-1838. years. By the way, it was the first city church in Prilep at the time, and until then the Orthodox population had to go to the church in the nearby town of Varoš (Mark's Town). It is the merit of Rista Hadži Damjanović, who went to Constantinople and begged permission to build a church there. The people of Prilep gave him the name "logoted" and prepared a festive welcome, when he returned with the sultan's firman. The second Prilep temple, St. Cyril and Methodius, was started in 1926 on the site of the destroyed chapel. It was built in honor of the Serbian King Peter the First Liberator, in the Byzantine style according to the design of the architect Momir Korunović, and under it there is a large military ossuary in the crypts - the remains of 1500 Serbian soldiers who died for the liberation of Prilep in the wars of 1912-1918. years. At the entrance to the city, near the former Teacher's School, there is the grave of Archimandrite Danilo, head of the Treskavac monastery. In 1838, he responded to the invitation to participate in the consecration of the city church on Easter, but not wanting to attract the attention of the hostile Turks, he left at night and took a detour to Prilep. There at the entrance, in the dark, a subasha met him and shot him with a rifle, not knowing who was coming to meet him. Archimandrite was buried in the place where he died, and two stone pillars, brought from Chepigov, and the ancient pagan town of Dioripo, were placed there as a monument. Economically, Prilep is known for its tobacco, metal processing, electronic, wood, textile, food and marble ("Sivec" mine on Babuni mountain) industries.