Stip is first mentioned in era of Rom imperator Tiberij (14-37), I century of n.e.
as being included within the ancient state of Peony, with the name of Astibo. At that
time Stip was one of biggest and most significant cities in Eastern Macedonia. Stip
belongs to the East part of Rom kingdom, after its partition, and under Byzantines was
name Estipion. With the arrival of the Slavs on Balkan Peninsula, at the end of VI
century, and beginning of VII century, the Bregalnica valley was colonize by Slav
tribe Sagudati, ad the city get the present name. Macedonian Slavs from Bregalnica
region in X century accept Christianity and Slavic literacy from Kiril and Metodij's
students between who is mentioned Konstantin Bregalnicki. The city was included in
Czar Samoil reign from its beginning to ruin (i.e. form 969 to 1018). In 1392, it fell
under Turkish rule, become a seat - kaza (nahija) and get the name Istip.
The present city has retained many cultural monuments from different periods which
give witness to the past of the city Stip. The old fortress is place on the hill of
Isar at the city center. There is also some churches. The church of St. Archangel was
build in 1332 and this is the oldest church in Stip. The churches of St. Spas and St.
Bogorodica are also from 14 century. There is also a large Turkish konak, which has
been turned into art gallery (named Bezisten). In the church of St. Bogorodica in Novo
Selo there is a permanent exhibition of icons. In the yard of this church there is a
school where at the end of the 19th century Goce Delcev, who was an ideologist of the
Macedonian national liberation movement, was a teacher.
