Thanks to the communique of the Holy Assembly of Bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church, issued after their last year’s regular meeting, we were able to recall that in 2021 three anniversaries connected with the saintly image of Nicholai of Ohrid and Žiča were celebrated. One hundred and forty years have passed since his birth in the village of Lelić in the middle of Podgorina, a village which became famous precisely because of him. Just as Nazianz is known after St. Gregory the Theologian, Lelić became famous after Nicholai. It has also been sixty-five years have passed since Nicholai’s blessed death, as well as thirty years since the transfer of his miraculous relics. It seems that “everything” has been said about St. Nicholai of Ohrid and Žiča, however, our need for a word in the Glory of God and the Saint’s honor is motivated by the desire that this beloved of God could be seen again and again on the basis of his imperishable deeds. Nicholai’s legacy, in this way, becomes the lens of our recognition in the hagiological reflection of his mystical presence among us until today. The very complex topic of his achievements, which postulates numerous researches, will be reffered to in the upcoming presentation, focused on the text of the Troparion from the Service to the Saint. The backbone of the presentation on the announced topic is an empirical experiment with the aim of pointing out the significance of the works of St. Nicholai of Ohrid and Žiča. With the deep conviction that many Orthodox Christians share such experiences in an immediate way, the author’s reflections on the mentioned topic are conveyed. At the same time, the acquired knowledge indicates a high degree of analogy with the content of the Troparion from the service to St. Nicholai of Ohrid and Žiča. Key words: Saint Nicholai Velimirovich of Ohrid and Žiča, Lake Ohrid, Lelić, Bialystok, Petar II Petrović Njegoš.

Although our theoretical consideration of the former churches in the area of Crna Reka is based exclusively on the analysis of the foundations of the churches and indirect observations and analogies, the hitherto sporadic interpretations, based on tradition, are thereby called into question. The historical context, therefore, is important for the goals of recontextualizing the mentioned monuments as well as the continuity of church life. As the thesis was presented that the mentioned two churches belong to the Middle Byzantine period, this issue becomes significant for the assessment of the continuity of Christian culture in the area of Crna Reka. All this points to the need for additional research through archaeological excavations, as well as the historical contextualization of the subject of research. Therefore, our research can be understood as a step in that direction.