The monastery “St. Erasmus” is unique in Macedonia. It is located on the northwest side of the shores of Ohrid Lake, on the southernmost branch of the Mazater of Plakenska Mountain, embedded in a large rock on Gababski Hill. From Koselska River to the monastery, the locality is known as St. Erasmus, and in the cadastre it is registered in the village of Dolno Lakocerej under the name Gabavci, because here there used to be a small village Gabavci.
In the monastery “St. Erasmus” there are two churches dedicated to Saint Erasmus.
The oldest, and miraculous, is the cave church. Its frescoes are from the 13th century, but are quite damaged. You can notice the character of St. Erasmus, then St. Constantine and St. Elena, St. Macrin; in the upper part of the half-corner is St. Mary the Virgin with wide arms, on whose chest in a medallion is the little Jesus Christ.
Most of the frescoes are from the 17th century.
About fourteen steps below the floor of the cave church is the floor of the church built in the 19 century, in which is performed a worship. The second church is stuck to the cave church. It is so successfully integrated that the two churches are covered by one facade and act as one whole. It’s frescoes are new.
Along the asphalt road you can arrive to the both churches and through the corridor you can arrive to the new lodgings, which also have supporting rooms.
At 200 m. from “St. Erazmo”, northwest, is the cave church “St. Ekaterina”. For this church you can read more on the following link.
Between the new and old road, on a monastery property, there is a fenced tap, known for the healing of its water.
However, in the construction of the new road, heavy machinery disrupted its flow, its wire was lost, and now there is a tap from the water supply.
For the maintenance of the monastery, the Metropolitan of Ohrid appoints a clergyman (or clergywoman), which is now done by Mrs. Vesa Grazhdani.
According to the property list no. 87 of the village Dolno Lakocarej, the monastery “St. Erasmus” has a property of 66,707 m2, divided by three plots under the same number – 487. This property was registered in the cadastre in 1937. The same position was also ascertained at the end of 1956. There are no changes in the property status, officially, in the documentation, until today
However, the Ohrid-Kicevo highway, which was put into traffic in 1975, goes under the monastery through its property. This means that from the monastery has been seized a large area illegally, and that’s why it’s happening what’s happening on the road.
Currently there is a procedure for seizure of 1204 m2 from the property of St. Erasmus in accordance with the Law on Expropriation (“Official Gazette of the Republic of Macedonia” No. 95/12, 131/12 and 24/13) for the Ohrid-Kicevo highway.
The property and the immediate surroundings of the monastery “St. Erasmus”, as recalled by Mr. Blaze Jovanoski from the village of Podmolje, most benefited during the service of the clergyman Alexo. Then it was an example garden for the whole environment, in which there were planted: apples, plums (a stenley, like none in the surrounding area), cherry, blackberries. There were almonds, and mostly figs. The vineyard was on the side of Gabavci.
The last “resident” in “St. Erasmus” was “Grandma Kata”. She had no one because she was an immigrant, and she died here.
The spiritual and secular persons who took care of the monastery and his property, were helped by believers.
From the property of “St. Erasmus” exactly what remained, except the part under the monastery to the new road, is not known, because it is not tamed. It is a necessity for neighbors to find out what’s their.
The monastery “St. Erasmus” has a wonderful location. It dominates above the surrounding area, from where, as on a palm, you can see the Ohrid Lake and its surroundings.
“St. Erasmus” is an ideal place for spiritual life, for meditating from his three churches, from the terraces of new lodgings, in its own courtyard. And in the wider surroundings called “St. Razmo” the monastery influences with its spirit of calmness and relaxation.
And with the location of the temples of the three miracle-makers of Ohrid, they are visually interconnected. The three of their high-rise temples watch and bless all the inhabitants of the area, protecting them with their presence through their numerous graces.
