Kaneo comes from the Latin word "caneo" which means silver.
“St. John the Theologian Kaneo” – one of the most famous churches in Ohrid, on the rocky hill above the beach Kaneo in the old part of town. Although there is no reliable historical data for the church, its life can be traced in general historical frameworks of development starting from the XIII century until the beginning of the XIV century. Today, Kaneo has preserved a good part of his original frescoes, although some modifications have been made in that regard, but he has retained his original charm to this day, which is quite good considering that the church itself has been abandoned for a long time.
More recently, it has been assumed that there has been neglect over a long period of time between the 17th and 19th centuries. This is proved on the basis of the oldest written year found on the oldest icon in the church (1676). In recent history, efforts have been made to rebuild the church itself, restoring the vaults as well as erecting annexes on the north-south and west sides that have now been eliminated. On the other hand, from an iconographic point of view, this church provides a lot of information about the history of medieval painting in Macedonia. According to the iconographic features, it is connected with the traditions of the art of the Comnenus. In a number of churches such characteristics are mentioned as St. Sofia in Ohrid, St. Constantine in the village Sveqani (Veles region) and St. Nikola in the village. Monastery. However, only Kaneo has a particularly pronounced modification of the comnenic elements, which helps to determine the chronology more closely. Today, Kaneo has preserved a good part of his original frescoes, although some modifications have been made in that regard, but he has retained his original charm to this day, which is quite good considering that the church itself has been abandoned for a long time.
From the appearance with the hierarchs, we single out the characters of the first Christian preacher in Ohrid, St. Erasmus of Lychnids and the patron saint of the City of Ohrid, St. Clement of Ohrid. The “communion of the apostles” is painted in royal costumes, which is a rarity in Byzantine painting.
Finally, we will emphasize that in this church, which captivates with its location and fresco painting, the Epirus despot Teodor and Angel Duka was crowned Tsar of Thessaloniki by the Archbishop of Ohrid Dimitrij Homatijan, in the first half of the XIII century, a time when it was built and lived. this church.