ARCHAEOLOGICAL DEPARTMENT
The Archeological Department exists from the very opening of the National Museum in Ohrid in the renowned Ohrid house of brothers Robevi, in May 1951. There were no professional archaeologists employed then, but Foti Masin, assistant conservator and administrator and Abdul Kerim, assistant conservator were responsible for the archaeological exhibition. Then the archaeological exhibition occupied most of the exhibition space in the museum, the ground floor housed the lapidary with stone and marble monuments, mainly epigraph with ancient Greek and Latin inscriptions, which were placed before in the yards of the churches of St. Nicholas and Holy Virgin Chelnichki, St. Sophia and Holy Virgin Peribleptos. Among them were even then known two relief slabs with Dionysus and the Muses from the Antique Theater, several epigraph tombstones and other monuments. In the showcases, placed on the floors of the museum house, there were archaeological objects found and preserved from the time of the Office of Antiquities in Ohrid and before it, as well as purchased items, something obtained with the first archaeological research (villages Orman, Trpejca) so in 1952, the Archeological Department had 291 items, chronologically from the prehistoric, antique and medieval periods.
With the employment of the first experts Vasil Lahtov, curator head of the archaeological collection and Radmila Pasic, curator archaeologist, the Archaeological Department in its professional structure had at least two, and most four employed archaeologists. Under the authority of this department are the epigraph monuments and the complete numismatic material.
Since its establishment until today, this department is a holder of significant archaeological research including necropolis Trebenishta, Basilica Studenchista, Antique Theater, Basilica and necropolis of St. Erasmus, the necropolis and basilica Deboj, Neolithic settlement Lower Trnovo, the ancient family tomb Vidobishta, underwater archaeological excavations on Ohrid Lake-prehistoric settlement Plocha Michov Grad (Bay of the Bones), Samuel's Fortress, Plaoshnik and many more, mainly protective archaeological interventions in Ohrid, under the waters of Ohrid Lake and in the Ohrid region.
Today the Archeological Department at NI Institute and Museum-Ohrid is responsible for over 250 recorded archaeological sites in Ohrid and Ohrid region, museum treatment of over 100.000 movable archaeological items and 20.000 coins from ancient and medieval periods.
ETHNOLOGICAL DEPARTMENT
Ethnological Department exists since the establishment of the Museum. The collection and recording of many museum objects has began since the early 50's, as well as the work on research, documentation and presentation of outstanding heritage jealously guarded in Ohrid houses, warehouses, drawers and old trunks. Initially material originating from Ohrid and Ohrid area was researched and documented, but after several years credentials have been extended towards Resen, Struga, Kicevo, Debar and Makedonski Brod communities. Then was performed research on folk material culture, which later resulted in the drafting of the ethnological map of Ohrid area that gives a clear picture of folk life represented by the costume, the house and occupation with the most distinctive features. This department works on research and collecting folk costume of Macedonians and nationalities and also of materials and data relating to old crafts. Ethnological Department at that time was housed in the House of Urania. Besides the permanent museum exhibitions, numerous thematic exhibitions, presenting ethnological heritage, have been realized. The tradition of the work of the Ethnological Department continues to this day. It continuously works on the research both the material and spiritual culture. The material heritage is regularly being presented at thematic exhibitions in Ohrid Museum. The fund of museum objects constantly is enriched. The items are purchased or are obtained as gifts to the the museum.
HISTORICAL DEPARTMENT
Historical Department exists since the very beginning, i.e. the restoration of the National Museum in Ohrid and its main activity is carried out through research, acquisition, management, professional and scientific processing of historical museum material and museum objects, their storage and protection, as well as their presentation by organizing permanent and temporary exhibitions, lectures, seminars, research projects, scientific conferences etc. The results of the overall work of the Historical Department are published in the form of articles in various specialized magazines, collections of papers, periodicals and monographs.
The activity of the Historical Department in the very beginning is marked by two large thematic exhibitions: "Ilinden 1903 in Ohrid region" and "People's Revolution in Ohrid region 1941-1944".
The exhibition "Ilinden 1903 in Ohrid region" was opened in 1953 to celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of the Ilinden Uprising in order to inform the visitors about the overall pre-Ilinden, Ilinden and post-Ilinden revolutionary activity.
Since the very beginning of its work, the History Department started with collecting documents and other materials for the preparation and opening of the exhibition "People's Revolution in Ohrid region 1941-1944". The opening of the exhibition was financially supported by the Association of veterans from Ohrid. The collection of materials and other preparations for this exhibition were completed in the summer of 1956 and the official opening was on July 4th, in honor of Fighter's Day.
Special emphasis in the work of this department is on the period under Ottoman administration, national liberation and revolutionary movement since the Ilinden period and after, the Balkan wars and the First World War, the period between the two World Wars, the National Liberation and anti-fascist struggle of the Macedonian people during the Second World war, the period within Yugoslavia and the modern development of the Republic of Macedonia as an independent state.
In the rich fund of museum items that are kept in the historical collection that is the responsibility of this department, there are also some original museum objects which have incalculable importance, not only for the cultural history of Ohrid and Ohrid region, but also for the history of Macedonia.
One of the most important documents is the photocopy of the last letter of Hristo Uzunov, organizer of the revolutionary committees in Ohrid, and Head of the Ohrid-Struga rebels. On April 11, 1905, he and his squad were surrounded and suddenly attacked by a numerous Turkish army in the village of Cer (near Kichevo). Finding no other way out, he and his rebels committed suicide, and shortly before his death he wrote that letter which contains important information.
Among the significant relics, that are lesser known to the public, are the beard and the purse of this great revolutionary and visionary. The story about the beard of Hristo Uzunov begins on the day of his death, when he took his life with his own hand in order not to fall alive into the hands of the enemy. Before being buried, a woman cut off his beard to send it to his mother. It is not known how the beard has traveled and how it came to his mother Anastasia, but it is known that it was kept for many years in the family as a rare memorial that reminded of Hristo Uzunov. However, the purse that this revolutionary had with him in the last moments of his life, when the drama took place in the house in Cer, is mentioned in his farewell letter to his mother, where he explicitly states that he has hidden the purse with the money of the Ohrid organization in a hole in the wall across the staircase where he was at the moment. The purse has arrived in Ohrid through secret channels from Bulgaria, where it was in possession of the descendants of Hristo Uzunov i.e. his brother Angele.
During its extensive work, the Historical Department at the Institute and Museum in Ohrid, established contacts and cooperation with many similar institutions in the country: the Museum of Macedonia, the Institutes and Museums in Bitola, Prilep, Shtip and Strumica and others. Close cooperation has been established with many scientific and educational institutions in the country and abroad: Institute of National History, the State Archive of the Republic of Macedonia, the State Archive of the Republic of Bulgaria, as well as close cooperation with numerous distinguished and eminent researchers and scientists from the country and abroad.
DEPARTMENT OF ART HISTORY
This is one of the oldest departments in our institution that functions since the very beginning of the work of the National Museum in 1951, and in June 1953, the Art Gallery, established on August 2, 1952 as an independent institution with 68 artworks (paintings and prints), donated by the Council of Education of PRM and the Art Gallery in Skopje, was added as a separate unit. Since its establishment until today, the collection of works of contemporary art is constantly enriched and today it counts 500 works, paintings in various techniques, graphics and sculptures made of different materials.
The Department of Art History deals with research, documentation, preservation, publication and presentation of medieval sacral art, fresco painting and especially icon painting as the Icon Gallery, which is part of the Institute and Museum in Ohrid, owns one of the most significant, most valuable and most beautiful collections of icons in the world. The experts of this department perform investigations, recording, evaluation and revaluation of immovable and movable heritage on the territory under the jurisdiction of the Institute and Museum in Ohrid, which today covers four municipalities: Ohrid, Struga, Debarca and Vevchani.
They also explore and prepare full descriptive, photo and technical documentation of architecture, mosaics and wall paintings for the numerous churches in Ohrid region, starting from the numerous early Christian basilicas of the 5th and 6th centuries, through medieval churches from 11th to 14th centuries, until the sacral buildings from the beginning of the last century. They prepare projects for conservation and restoration of icons from the permanent exhibition of the Icon Gallery from the period between 11th and 19th centuries, in which realization in the National Conservation Center-Skopje our experts take active participation. One of the main activities of this department is the organization and realization of own and retrieved exhibitions at home and abroad. Numerous scientific articles in various magazines and collections of papers, catalogs of exhibitions with different thematic approach, organized in cooperation with other national and international museums and other institutions, give big contribution in the popularization of the cultural heritage.
In 1961, from 10 to 15 September the 12th International Congress of Byzantinologists took place in Ohrid and on that occasion the icons from Ohrid collection were exhibited in one place for the first time.
That exhibition was also the first attempt of this kind and to some extent had an experimental character since its very conception was made with the intention by displaying the finest examples of icons to illustrate the history of icon painting that was still unwritten at the time. Besides the large number of museums and churches from the former Yugoslavia who borrowed icons to this exhibition (92), the National Museum in Ohrid exhibited 25, most of them being now a part of the permanent exhibition of the Icon Gallery-Ohrid.
Starting from 1963, when in Ljubljana, Slovenia (then one of the six constituent republics of Yugoslavia) were exposed 4 icons, icons of our collection, now housed in the Icon Gallery-Ohrid have been presented in numerous exhibitions at home and abroad. In 1965 icons from Ohrid collection were exhibited in the Louvre in Paris, France; 1971 in Grand Palais in Paris; 1967 in the National museums in Tokyo and Kyoto, Japan; 1971 in Skenderija Center in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina; 1986 in Musei Vaticani, Vatican; 1987 in Muzejski Prostor in Zagreb, Croatia; 1999 in Musée National du Moyen Age Thermes de Cluny in Paris, France; 2000 in the Armory of Czartoryski Museum in Krakow, Poland; 1999 in Museo Nazionale del Palazzo di Venezia in Rome, Italy; 2000-2001 in Museo Diocesano in Padua, Italy; 2004 in Metropolitan Museum in New York; 2008-2009 in Royal Academy of Arts in London, UK; 2011 in Katarajnekonvent Museum in Utrecht, the Netherlands; 2016 in Pontificia Università Urbaniana,Vatican.
At home, the Section of icon painting in this Department has realized the following exhibitions:
"Great Feasts in the Ohrid icon painting from 15th to 19th century" in 1998 in the House of Robev family in Ohrid "From the Ohrid opus Dicho Zograph" in 1999 in the House of Robev family in Ohrid, transferred in the museums in Strumica and Shtip; "The presentations of Jesus Christ and Mother of God in the Ohrid icon painting" in 2000 in the lower space of the Icon Gallery-Ohrid; "From Ohrid treasures" in 2001 in the lower space of the Icon Gallery-Ohrid; "Slavic apostles Ss. Cyril and Methodius" in 2004 in the lower space of the Icon Gallery-Ohrid; "Graphic Leaves 18th-19th centuries from the collection of the Museum Prilep" in 2007 in the lower space of the Icon Gallery-Ohrid.
The Gallery of Contemporary Art "Robevci" is located in the house of the renowned old Ohrid family Robev. Exhibition activities in the field of contemporary art begins in the distant fifties, with the establishment of the Art Gallery and since 1994 the Gallery of Contemporary Art "Robevci" works intensively and is oriented to exhibiting the works of contemporary authors in the field of modern art. Over 140 authors have exposed their works in the gallery, in doing so encompassing artists from all generations, both national and international. Besides solo author exhibitions, the Gallery has organized numerous group exhibitions, as well as exhibitions of art colonies. It has realized exhibitions in the field of decorative arts such as calligraphy exhibition, exhibition of reproductions, photography, jewelry, exhibition of contemporary icons, exhibitions in the field of architecture, etc., both national and international. Besides independent author exhibitions gallery has organized numerous group exhibitions, as well as exhibitions of art colonies. It has realized exhibitions in the field of decorative arts such as calligraphy exhibition, exhibition of reproductions, photography, jewelry, exhibition of contemporary icons, exhibitions from the field of architecture, etc.
LIBRARY
The library was established since the founding of the National Museum-Ohrid in 1951. In 1973, when the two institutions, the National Museum-Ohrid and the Institute for Protection of Cultural Monuments have integrated, the library fund of the latter was included. Today the fund of the specialized library of our institution is about 12,000 titles: periodicals, journals, monographs, newspapers and other items, obtained through purchase, exchange or donated by individuals or related institutions. The library is of a vocational nature and is open to the public.