LESNOVO CAVES

The Lesnov monastery contributed to the construction of other holy places – smaller monasteries, caves, small prayer rocks, as well as cave churches, which are still visible today. In the immediate vicinity of the monastery complex there are three cave churches: the Church of the Dormition of the Holy Virgin, the Church of the Transfiguration and the Church of St. Elijah.

The stone mill “Lesnovo” was known and sought after for its high quality. Many families for generations have lived off this stone. Thus, almost every created cave belonged to a family from Lesnovo, from where they carried the heavily loaded and processed stones (the famous millstones) all over the Balkans with carts. The millstones that remained unquarried, which in the past were the main source of the population’s existence, can still be seen today from the rocks in this area.

In the distant past, hermit monks also lived in these caves. In 2016, a project for lighting the caves was implemented, which cost about 1.5 million BGN, of which 450,000 came from the municipal budget of Probištip, and the rest was a donation to the Swiss government through the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation. The environment around the caves is well arranged with gazebos, viewpoints, a part is fenced and paved with natural materials.