ASSESSMENT OF THE PHYSICAL CONDITION OF BYZANTINE CHURCHES IN NORTH MACEDONIA

The Byzantine civilization is one of the longest-lived cultures, well known by the large number of religious buildings, which today represent part of the world cultural heritage. Byzantine churches are great part of North Macedonia’s tangible heritage, as one of the most valuable and numerous medieval monuments, with exceptional architectural and artistic values. Several characteristic concepts are present: basilica, conch, cross in square and smaller single-nave buildings. During their existence these buildings are exposed to diverse impacts including earthquakes, so despite the visually good condition, many hidden weaknesses may be present. The condition of these buildings needs to be carefully considered, in order to prevent further damage. This paper presents the investigation campaign carried out on 50 Byzantine churches in North Macedonia, including archival searches, review of current documentation and field inspections. The main objective was to assess their current condition using a defined uniform screening methodology with clearly defined criteria for assessing the physical condition. This research resulted in a data base of Byzantine churches and classification to several criteria: dating, typology, condition and authenticity. From all the collected information comes the final aspect that refers to future measures graded as: monitoring, regular maintenance, repair or emergency protection. Additionally, the data base contains relevant information regarding the conservation/restoration processes and risk assessment related to potential natural hazards or climate changes.