Kriva Palanka, North Macedonia, May 25, 2022
St. Joakim Krcovski. Photo: mpc.org.mk
The Macedonian Orthodox Church celebrated the canonization of an 18th-19th century monastic teacher and enlightener over the weekend.
His Eminence Archbishop Stefan of Skopje and other hierarchs of the Macedonian Synod celebrated the Divine Liturgy and liturgical glorification of St. Joakim Krcovski at St. Joachim of Osogovo Monastery in Kriva Palanka on Saturday, May 22, with his feast day established for the next day, May 23, reports the Macedonian Church.
Photo: koe.mk
The newly canonized saint’s relics are preserved at the monastery.
The Macedonian Synod earlier made the decision to canonize St. Joakim at its session on May 10. The hierarchs also canonized Fr. Kiril Pejčinoviḱ, another 18th-19th century monastic enlightener at that time.
Photo: koe.mk
St. Joakim’s feast day was then celebrated for the first time at the monastery the next day.
Photo: dveri.bg His Eminence Metropolitan Gregory of Kumanovo and Osogovo spoke about the saint a few days before his canonization:
In the Orthodox Church, we revere the saints as friends of Christ, as children of God. and heirs. Their righteous lives enable them to be our intercessors before God, to pray for us, and to intercede before God for us. The combination achieved by the Abbot Joakim Krcovski is described by the thought that knowledge without asceticism is philosophizing, and asceticism without knowledge is idolatry. Joakim Krcovski lived, preached, taught, enlightened, served, and was a God-pleasing ascetic at the turn of the 18th to 19th centuries, and the memory and glory of his holy life is generally respected today. Among other things, he is the author of the first book printed in the people’s Macedonian language in 1814. Joakim Krcovski’s books were written in a language understandable to every Christian and therefore had a faithful role in religious and moral education.
“St. Joakim Krcovski is our undiscovered Chrysostom,” His Eminence Metropolitan Agatangel of Povodarie said at the last memorial service for St. Joakim, served on the evening of May 21.
“Following the example of the great and eloquent Apostles, St. Joakim preached the good news of the Gospel of Christ among the people with great love and spiritual fervor,” he said. “Countless are the souls that Fr. Joakim saved and transformed, and which he offered to the Lord as pure wheat.”
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