Historic Macedonian Church Preservation Project Completed With Support from U.S. Ambassador's Fund for Cultural Preservation

The governments of the Republic of Macedonia and the United States jointly marked the completion of project to restore and protect the historic Church of the Holy Savior (Sveti Spas) in Skopje on November 12, 2004. With the support of a grant from the U.S. Ambassador's Fund for Cultural Preservation, a project of the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, architects, specialists and craftsperson's from Skopje's Institute for Cultural Preservation carefully reconstructed and restored the church's roof and walls to give a more authentic historic appearance, and to protect the valuable carvings and icons within. U.S. Ambassador to Macedonia Lawrence E. Butler and Macedonian Minister of Culture Blagoj Stefanovski observed the end of the two-month preservation project by unveiling a plaque acknowledging the U.S. support.

(Ambassador Butler and Minister Stefanovski unveiling the plaque)

At a brief ceremony, Ambassador Butler noted that “Sveti Spas is not only an important historical, cultural and spiritual landmark, but also a beautiful and visible testament to the history of Macedonia and the region. Now this central piece of history can be seen by future generations in a finer form.”

(Ambassador Butler viewing the iconostasis)


(Curator Branka Ilievski explains details of the
religious artwork to Ambassador Butler and Minister Stefanovski)

In his remarks, Minister Stefanovski emphasized the active role the U.S. has played in the field of culture, supporting Macedonia not only in its political and economic efforts, but also in needed work to protect the country's extensive cultural heritage and to present it to the world. Among the “very positive examples” of U.S. support, the Minister noted Sveti Spas Church and previous projects funded under grants from the Ambassador's Fund for Cultural Preservation, as well as the opening of the Macedonian Cultural Center in New York and the presentation of several important Icons from Macedonia in a major exhibition at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York earlier in 2004.

(The Church of the Holy Savior prior to the restoration)


(The Church of the Holy Savior after the cultural preservation
project. Plaster was removed and original stonework restored.)

Ambassador Butler commented, “I am proud of the work we have accomplished as a team to restore the Church of Sveti Spas through the Ambassador's Fund, and I hope to continue the strong Macedonian-American partnership in the field of culture in the years to come.”

(Ambassador Butler viewing a 19 th century fresco uncovered
during the restoration project, on the church's southern wall.)

• Ambassador Butler's Remarks.
• A brief history of the Church of the Holy Savior.
• Information on the Ambassador's Fund for Cultural Preservation.

- From the President: Diplomatic Archaeology, [A little-known U.S. program supports cultural heritage abroad - The president of the Archaeological Institute of America wrote a column in (January/February 2005) issue of on Archaeology on the Ambassador's Fund for Cultural Preservation].