St. Nicholas Church, Ohrid

Saint Nicholas Church (Sveti Nikola) is a significant religious site situated in the city of Ohrid. It serves as the primary church of the Ninth Ohrid Parish within the Ohrid Bishopric, which is part of the Debar-Kicevo Eparchy under the Macedonian Orthodox Church - Ohrid Archdiocese.

Constructed in 1863 during the episcopacy of Metropolitan Meletii of Prespa and Ohrid, Saint Nicholas Church was built by the Vlachs who migrated to Ohrid following the devastation of Moskopole by Ali Pasha Yaninski. The church's architecture is characterized by its single-nave structure vaulted with two blind domes. The construction prominently features stone, while limestone is used for the corners, roof cornices, and the five-sided apse facing east. In subsequent years, a school was established adjacent to the church's west side, which later became a space utilized by priests. Enhancements made between 2006 and 2009 included the addition of a porch and a bell tower.

The church's interior is adorned with murals painted towards the end of the 20th century by Dragan Risteski, a local artist from Ohrid. Elements such as the doors of the iconostasis and the crucifix are believed to have originated from a church in Moskopole that had been destroyed by fire.

One of the church’s notable features is its iconostasis, which includes six prominent capital and festive icons painted by Dicho Zograf in the same year the church was built. Also from 1863 is the icon of Saint Cyril, Saint Clement, and Saint Methodius, forming the central part of the Septuagint composition. Saint Nicholas Church not only stands as a beacon of faith in the community but also as a repository of rich historical and cultural heritage within the Macedonian Orthodox tradition.