Krkardash is legendary location in the northern part of Bitola in the Bair neighborhood. Here according to the legend, occurred unequal fight between the local Macedonian population and the conquering Тurkish army.
Namely, the Turkish army during the 1382-1383 year in difficult and bloody fights, opposed by violent resistance of the local population, managed to conquer Bitola. According to the legend, ferocious resistance to the Turkish offered the monks from the seventy monasteries and churches that existed at that time in Bitola.
Evronos Hadji Bey who was at the head of the Turkish army revolted by the fierce resistance, gave three days free rein to his soldiers to do what they want in the newly conquered city.
One place where the resistance was especially fierce, was the fortress defended by the “forty brothers” (Turkish – kırk + kardaş).
Today on this place is the church “St. 40 Martyrs” which celebrates the first day of spring, when is visited by a large number of visitors from Bitola and the surrounding areas.
