Basilica of the Mother of God Eleusa

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Not to be confused with the basilica of the same name on the coast of the Black Sea in Bulgaria, this Basilica of the Mother of God Eleusa sits atop a plateau in the Belesica mountains of Macedonia. The basilica is part of a monastery complex and is the center of life in the small village of Veljuša. Sometimes called the Veljuša Monastery, it is an active convent where a few dedicated nuns keep traditional religious handicraft skills alive. They have private studios where they make handmade veils, vestments, and icons for religious ceremonies. While most of their private living quarters are off-limits to the public, visitors are more than welcome to admire the 11-century basilica. A bakery, a small hotel, and a clock tower were installed next to the monastery in the 20th century to round out Veljuša, but it remains an agricultural town.