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I don't think much recognition is put on the fact that Macedonia and the town of Ohrid was where Slavic education and enlightenment first flourished. It's from the town of Ohrid where Slavic literature began and then spread throughout the Slavic world.
Being Macedonian, I am extremely proud of this, especially when where I originate from is only an hour or so away from Ohrid: the European Jerusalem. Today's Macedonians are the most original of all Slavs, and I just wanted to express this through this thread.
An article about Saints Cyril and Methodius:
http://meettheslavs.com/saints-cyril...avic-literacy/On the occasion of the 1000th anniversary of the Moravian Mission Saints Cyril and Methodius with the approval of a Slavic worship, the Catholic Church in 1880 determined that the world should celebrate the Day of the Slavic educators.One hundred years later in 1980 Pope John Paul II proclaimed Saints Cyril and Methodius as protectors of Europe.Twelve centuries ago, in the second half of the IX century, the brothers Cyril and Methodius of Solun (Greek by the request of Byzantine emperor Michael, and a plea of Moravian Prince Rostislav, received a task as monks-missionaries to go to Moravia (medieval state on the territory of today’s Czech Republic) and to preach the Christian doctrine among pagan Slavs. The Mission was supposed to ensure Byzantine influence in that part of Europe.Saints Cyril and Methodius undertook thorough preparations for the mission. They compiled a Slavic alphabet (Glagolitic) and translated numerous religious books from Greek to Macedonian Slavic language. By doing so they created the first Slavic literary language and became founders of the Slavic literature.After the death of Saints Cyril and Methodius, their students were expelled from Moravia. Some of them, including St. Clement and St. Naum came to the territory of today’s Republic of Macedonia. Thus, the students of the Holy Slavic brothers – St. Clement of Ohrid and St. Naum of Ohrid, began creating a new spiritual center of Slavic culture in the area of Ohrid, Macedonia. The greatest merit of St. Clement is a whole plethora of literacy educators who contributed to this part of the Balkans to reach the highest enlightenment level among all Slavic people of that time.
From Ohrid to other Slavic lands
From Ohrid, Slavic literacy and Slavic spirituality was spread outside of Macedonia. Macedonia has strongly influenced the spread of Slavic literacy and Slavic culture in neighboring South Slavic countries, especially in Serbia, Montenegro and Croatia, and later – after the conversion of the Slavs at the end of X century – even to Russia as far as Kamchatka and Vladivostok.The students of the Holy brothers Cyril and Methodius are respected alike in Orthodox South Slavic nations like Serbia and Montenegro and among South Slavs like Slovenes and Croats.Since the Western Catholic liturgy cannot mention any persons without the consent of Rome, in 1972 the bishops from Slovenia asked for permission from Vatican to introduce a memorial to St. Clement on 27th of July. Three years later the application was accepted. Nowadays there is no Catholic calendar in Slovenia and Croatia that does not mention the Saint from Macedonia – Clement on 27th of July.The Slavic literacy is one of the main things that unites all Slavic people and Macedonia is where it all began.
And unfortunately we are laughed at and disrespected by many people today.
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