Vodoca monastery

elevation / altitude

274 meters

distance

4.14 km from main square / Strumica

visiting Vodoca monastery

Guided tour, individual, access for invalids.

  about Vodoca monastery

Vodoca is the name of the village located 5 kilometers from Strumica. The 5^th monastery is dedicated to Saint Leontius. In the Vodoca monastery area are the new church and the ruins of the original church. There are some frescoes from the 11^th century.
Vodoca is magnificent medieval center of the metropolitans in Strumica. Monastery that holds the remnants of several ancient churches since the 7^th century, on whose foundations is built the beautiful temple dedicated to the Saint Leontius in the 11^th century, and to Eleusa. This is a site where more than 1.000 medieval tombs were discovered alongside with jewelry and ceramics from the 14^th century - one of the richest archaeological sites in Macedonia.
The mountain surrounding intensifies its spiritual beauty and makes this church different in every season of the year.
Parts of the church were rebuilt in the 11^th and 12^th centuries with some renovation performed in the 20^th century. Frescoes from the 11^th century still exist.
According to a Hylendar act, this monastery is considered a bishops residency in the Strumica region. It is claimed that in this monastery St. Clement held education and worship.
Not far from here, near the local school, is the Struma Tomb.
Today, the Vodoca monastery is open to visitors and they have quarters for monks and residential quarters for the visitors.