Kriva Palanka, North Macedonia, September 2, 2025
liturgija.mk
Hierarchs from the Macedonian, Bulgarian, and Serbian Orthodox Churches came together on August 29, to celebrate the feast of St. Joachim of Osogovo at the monastery dedicated to him in Kriva Palanka, North Macedonia.
The Divine Liturgy was led by His Eminence Metropolitan Joseph of Tetovo-Gostivar, with the concelebration of Their Eminences Metropolitan Gregory of Kumanovo-Osogovo, Metropolitan Pachomy of Vidin from the Bulgarian Orthodox Church, Metropolitan George of Debar-Kichevo, and Their Graces Bishop Isaac of Velbuzhd from the Bulgarian Orthodox Church, and Bishop Alexei of Hvosno, vicar of Serbian Patriarch Porfirije, reports the Macedonian Diocese of Kumanovo-Osogovo.
liturgija.mk
The previous evening, a festal Vespers service was held at the Osogovo Monastery, presided over by Bp. Alexei, with Met. Gregory of Kumanovo-Osogovo also in attendance.
Following the Divine Liturgy, Met. Joseph delivered a sermon, after which Met. Gregory addressed the clergy and faithful gathered for the celebration. As a prayer gift on behalf of the Kumanovo-Osogovo Diocese, Met. Gregory presented episcopal Panagias to the visiting hierarchs.
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St. Joachim of Osogovo was an 11th-century ascetic of Slavic origin who lived his monastic life in the Osogovo Mountains near Kriva Palanka. He pursued his spiritual struggles in the second half of the 11th century at a place called Sarandapor, leading a life of Christian asceticism similar to his contemporaries Sts. John of Rila, Prohor of Pchinja, and Gabriel of Lesnovo. He died around 1105 and is venerated by the Serbian, Bulgarian, and Macedonian Orthodox Churches, each considering him part of their spiritual heritage.
This gathering follows a similar celebration in 2023, when the primates of the Serbian and Macedonian Churches celebrated the feast together at the same monastery, accompanied by a Bulgarian hierarch and a Romanian priest.
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