Twenty unique fragments dating from the 4th century AD, which were incorporated into the inner walls of the Episcopal Basilica in Stobi, have been displayed for the first time at an exhibition opened Friday in the National Bank of Macedonia (NBRM). They are the oldest preserved frescoes in Macedonia and one of the oldest in the world.

The US Embassy has provided $72.600 through the State Department's Ambassador's Fund for Cultural Preservation for the frescoes in the oldest Christian temple in Macedonia to be preserved.

Opening the exhibit dubbed "Early Christian Art at the Episcopal Basilica in Stobi", Culture Minister Elizabeta Kanceska-Milevska said that the archaeological site of Stobi had been intensively and systematically researched in the past several years.

"The significance of Stobi lies in the unique frescoes that ornamented the walls of the basilica and baptistery as well as the fragments of the floor mosaic and the magnificent marble kantharos," she stated.

US Ambassador Paul Wohlers said that Stobi was an example of the rich history and culture in Macedonia. The US Embassy has provided two grants through the Ambassador's Fund for Cultural Preservation in 2003 and 2010.

"The United States is proud with its partnership with Macedonia to preserve cultural heritage, such as this one, because we have a common goal - to allow future generations from the whole world to appreciate their beauty and history," Wohlers noted.

Governor Dimitar Bogov said that NBRM through its own museum was gradually established as a significant vault of the numismatic cultural heritage of the civilisations.

"NBRM is honored to host this exhibition, which hopefully is going to be the an interesting cultural event in June," he stated.

The opening of the exhibition coincides with the International Museum Day and it was decided the fragments to be displayed at the NBRM gallery to mark 20 years since Macedonia's monetary independence.