Zemenski monastery “Sv. Joan Bogoslov” (“St. Joan Theologian”)

The church of the temple is without any outer magnificence, with strict and simple architectural lines. It dates back from the XI and XII centuries. According to the art specialists the wall-painting of the monastery are extremely different from the Byzantine religious style.On the top of the church there is a dome, which resembled a cylinder, decorated with two lines of arches.This unique architectural decision makes the church to be an unique monument on the Balkans. In the church of the monastery are painted important scenes from the Gospel : “The Last Supper”, “Juda and his betayal” and many others.A significant subject shoul be marked here – “The Forging of the nails” from the Crucifix is the only scene which tells about this moment from the life of Jesus on his way to Golgota. It is not met in the whole wall-painting of the Middle Ages.This scene is unique. It is a creation of the painter’s imagination, because this was not said in the Gospel. The monastery is situated at the foot of the Konyavska mountain. 2 km. south from Zemen. In the yard of the cloiser was found a necropolis from the XIII century.