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Morodvis Ancient Church Traditional Cache

Hidden : 5/5/2014
Difficulty:
2 out of 5
Terrain:
3 out of 5

Size: Size:   regular (regular)

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Geocache Description:

Cross the Bregalnica River from Kocani, turn right at the yellow Monrodvis sign, and left a couple of kilometers later at the sign for the archeological site.The two high white columns are a good landmark on the left. The crypt itself is entered by crawling down a sloping rockway (it was probably once a staircase). The afternoon sun beams in, and it is dry. No spiders or snakes !

 


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This geocache is located in the crypt photo Picture11_zpsfa61ecb3.jpg beside and beneath an ancient church which has been partly studied and restored. photo 065_zps90e2bd46.jpg The people are friendly, what few there are. You might be met by a neighbor who will offer you a pair of coveralls and a flashlight. He would probably take a tip, but doesn't seem to expect one. Out of sight, a few hundred feet to the west is a new building housing a general store below with an Ethno House above. The shop-keeper has a key to this cultural museum and will give it to you willingly. The artifacts from the ancient church are at the National Museum in Skopje. They may be seen on demand, but are not on display. Noteworthy all around are the small fields and superb stonework typical of the Turks and Macedonians of this region. The access road is good and well paved. On a gloomy morning you will need a flashlight, or use your camera, to find the cache. Help yourself to a button, one of a set we will offer for all our caches.

 

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The village of Morodvis is located in the base of mountain Plackovica, seven kilometers south of Kocani. This is also the location of Crkviste - Morobizdon, a complex of late-antique and medieval localities. It is a settlement where life unfolded in the period from the V to the 7th century, when it was abandoned, only to return to life again during the 9th century, when it was colonized by the Slavs. 

Archeological site Morobizdon

 

In the period from the 10th to the 15th century, this locality reached its culmination, representing a religious center of the Bregalnica region, during the era of the Samoil state, becoming bishopric center in the framework of the Ohrid bishopric. The prosperity of the city of Morobizdon and Morodvis bishopric ended towards the end of the 12th century, a time when Serbian church became the ruler of this region, and in 1347, as a result of a decision by the church council at its meeting held in Skopje, the headquarters of the bishopric was moved to Zletovo.

As a result of scientific research, a church dating from the V century was discovered on this location, with a tomb as its integral part. Judging by the construction method, marble flooring and pillars and capitals decorated with medieval motifs, it has been concluded that this church represents a great example of the highest technical level of construction and decoration. A Romanesque church has also been discovered, and it originates from the time of greatest prosperity of the city, both economically-politically and culturally. This church represents the medieval architectural concept, fresco-painted, with flooring made in sextuple technique and church furniture made of carved stone. Research shows that on top of this church, during the 13th century, a new smaller church was built, around which a necropolis was discovered, dating between the 12th and the 19th century, with more than 350 graves that contained artifacts made of gold, bronze, bone, glass and textile.

 

 

 

 

Additional Hints (Decrypt)

ybbx va gur svefg pnivgl, nobhg purfg uvtu haqretebhaq ba gur fbhgu fvqr...oruvaq gur ybbfr ebpx. Gurer vf n crefvfgrag zhttyr jub vf cebonoyl ernqvat guvf. Vs gur trbpnpur vf zvffvat, pbzr gb gur Meabipv Bcfgvan (pvgl unyy) naq nfx sbe Oyntbw be Tnel (gur Nzrevpna). V xrrc na nygreangr ybt naq gur cebzvfrq yvggyr onqtrf.

Decryption Key

A|B|C|D|E|F|G|H|I|J|K|L|M
-------------------------
N|O|P|Q|R|S|T|U|V|W|X|Y|Z

(letter above equals below, and vice versa)