Vishni

Cave church of St Spas near Visni
Cave church of St Spas

The mountain village Visni (Vishni) is located about 5 km north-west of Struga, along the road to Gorna Belica.

About 3 km from the village is a Cave Church dedicated to St Spas, the Holy Savior. The cave church was built in the 15th century. The very pleasant and picturesque 3 km walk to the cave church is along a brook, and takes you through a forest from a fairy tale.

According to legend a Christian girl from Vevchani named Spasica lived in the cave church. After her death the villagers from Vishni took her skull to Struga and asked the best goldsmith to make a silver mask to protect the remains of St Spasica. The mask became the most revered relic of the cave church. Every year the girls from Vishni and surrounding villages go on a pilgrimage on the day of St Spas. This is believed to help them find a loved one and be happily married. The honor to carry the relics of St Spasica are for the oldest unmarried girl from the village.

Cemetery church in Vishni
Cemetery church in Vishni

The Church of St Atanasie is located on the cemetery of Visni. It was closed when we were there, and we didn’t try to find the key in the village.

Church of St Nikola in Vishni Visni in Macedonia
St Nikola

The Church of St Nikola is located a bit outside of Visni along the road to Gorna Belica. According to an inscription in a stone it was erected in 1999. A sign in the village mentions that there are also churches dedicated to St Kliment, St Nedela and St Petka in Vishni, but we did not find them.

Monument in Vishni Visni in Macedonia
Monument

A concrete monument with a fountain in Visni commemorates fallen freedom fighters.

Vishni hike to Albanian border near Lake Ohrid in Macedonia
Vishni hike

You can hike from Visnhi to the border with Albania (17 km), with some good views of Lake Ohrid.