After a very steep climb on my hike from Prilep to Treskavec Monastery in Macedonia, I was greeted by this model of a church in the middle of a field which will never be harvested due to its inaccessibility and altitude. I thought I had been duped and that there wasn’t any real monastery and that I had hiked for 10 km into the mountains under the glaring sun to see this toy.
I didn’t mind because the view was spectacular.
After a long rest (with lots of healthy fruits for lunch) I continued and finally found the real Treskavec Monastery.
I actually saw these models of churches many times in Macedonia, often outside the real church, sometimes isolated. Does anyone know anything about their purpose?
The Happy Hermit 
I once heard in Greece that the small churches are placed where someone died or in a peculiar place that the dead person used to love.
I prefer to think that they were normal churches once and that an evil genius shrinked them with everything inside, so if you open the doors you may find little monks shouting their anger for everybody passing by and no one setting them free…
Hahaha, I love your fantasy!
I always understood that these were simply wayside shrines. I know they have a lot of them in Greece.
Usually this kind of “churches” in Macedonia can have two meanings: someone had a dream that has to build church at some particular place,but as you said,he didn’t have money for the real one,second,if there is some extremely dangerous place on a highway(probably you saw a lot at the starting point on a highway between Prilep and Skopje),or,someone had lost his life on a road and family had build a church there,which is rear,they rather put picture and flower…
For the small church you saw near Treskavec monastery,there is a legend that says that the church and the monastery,many years ago,was started to be build at that place,but during the night,every night,all the things were mysteriously dislocated at the place they are builded now :) Lots od legends in Macedonia,we are wonderland! :)
Thank you for promoting our country here Andreas,especially Prilep and his wonderful nature ;)
Thank you! And thank you also for the wonderful stay at your Hotel Breza in Prilep, which I am happy to recommend to anyone coming to Prilep.
You are always welcome :)