The National Institute of Cultural Heritage (IKTK) continues to monitor restoration projects aimed at preserving and promoting our cultural heritage.

Specialists from the IKTK are carrying out field expeditions, overseeing and advising on the restoration of the Churches of St. Mary, St. Michael, and the Monastery of St. Prodromos in Voskopoja.

In collaboration with the Regional Directorate of Cultural Heritage in Korça and the company “Leon Construction,” efforts are focused on conserving the murals and iconostases as part of the project aimed at enhancing cultural tourism potential through interventions at cultural heritage sites in Voskopojë.a

Among the most significant churches in Voskopoja is St. Michael’s Church, completed in 1722. It is a three-aisled basilica with two rows of columns dividing the naos into three parts, two lateral aisles and one central aisle, arranged according to the height of the naos’ volume. The columns are connected by arches in both directions, with domed covers in all aisles.

Each dome is unique, with variations evident in the architectural layout. The eastern apse extends outward and is treated with pilasters. The narthex is located in the western section of the church and has a similar construction to the naos, though without aisles. All coverings in the narthex are square-branched domes, raised higher than in the naos.

The portico was destroyed many years ago, though traces of it are still visible today. In 1996, the church was vandalized, and 23 paintings of saints were severely damaged.

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