A couple of weeks ago, Frank and I were walking by this damaged Serbian Orthodox church.  The other times we had walked by, the gates had always been locked in the front, but this particular day they were unlocked.  As at all Serbian churches in Prizren, there is a 24-hour guard, so we approached him and inquired about going inside the church.  He didn't speak English, but we understood that if we left our drivers' licenses with him, we could go inside.  The church is named the Church of Our Lady of Ljevis, and it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site that dates back to the 9th to 11th centuries. It has a unique architectural design of alternating layers of brick and limestone and is one of the best surviving examples of late Byzantine architecture anywhere in Europe. 

Bell tower of the Church of Our Lady of Ljevis

Fresco on a pillar inside the church with an offering tray and icons.  The tray actually had a 20 Euro bill in full view.  There was also somebody's electric bill next to the offering tray....we guess that the person left it there in hopes that someone would pay their electric bill rather than give an offering for the church restoration.

The frescoes inside the Church of Our Lady of Ljevis are of high quality and depict scenes such as the Wedding at Canaa, the Healing of the Blind, and the Blessed Virgin. 

More interior views of the church.  The church was converted into a mosque by the Ottomans, but this was reversed when the Ottomans departed in 1912.   During the Ottoman rule, a minaret was even placed on top of the church, but it was removed in 1923.  Turkish-speaking Prizrenites still refer to the building as "Cuma Camili" or "Friday Mosque."

Italian experts have confirmed that most of the famed frescoes can be restored.