Church of the Ascension of Jesus, Skopje

{{short description|Macedonian Orthodox Church in Skopje, North Macedonia}}

File:Sv Spas.jpg

File:Goce Delčev sarkofag.JPG]]

File:Ottoman figures, Iconostasis in the Church of Sveti Spas, Northern Macedonia.jpg of the Church from 1867. The Beheading of John the Baptist is carried out by figures stylized like Ottoman Turks.]]

File:Crkva Sv. Spas, Skopje.jpg

The Church of the Ascension of Jesus ({{langx|mk|Црква „Св. Спас“}}) is an Eastern Orthodox church in Skopje, North Macedonia. It is situated east of Kale Fortress.

The church was built in the mid-16th century[http://www.soros.org.mk/konkurs/076/makver/crkva_svspas.html www.soros.org.mk, Crkva Sveti Spas, Skopje] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120308092312/http://www.soros.org.mk/konkurs/076/makver/crkva_svspas.html |date=2012-03-08 }}{{in lang|mk}} and is three-nave, with the middle vessel arched and flat pages covered with gains in domes. In the west is the gallery for women. On the south wall, above the present level of the floor during the repair of the church year 1963-64 was discovered a flat painting dating from the 16th-17th century. During the 19th century the church was given the final look. In 1824 the iconostasis was completed and in 1867 it was part of the throne icons. The iconostasis and icons were made by cooperatives and traders from Skopje.

The Eastern Orthodox congregation under Ottomans was included in a specific community under Greek domination. With the rise of nationalism, the Slavic population of the area voted in 1874 overwhelmingly, by 91% in favour of joining the Bulgarian Exarchate.Църква и църковен живот в Македония, Петър Петров, Христо Темелски, Македонски Научен Институт, София, 2003 г. стр. 219. This remained so until 1890 when it was taken back by the Greek priests. In 1901 the church was taken from the Serb community and became the seat of the Skopje Metropolitan, Firmilijan and his successors.N. Makuljević, Umetnost i nacionalna ideja u 19. veku, Belgrade 2006, p. 321

The door for entering in the yard is heavy and made from oak. In the yard is a white sarcophagus containing the remains of the revolutionary Gotse Delchev.