A service of intercession was held Tuesday on the tomb of St. Cyril in the Basilica of Saint Clement as part of the event dubbed Macedonia Honoring Saint Cyril. The church service, served by Metropolitan Timotej of Debar and Kicevo, was attended by a Macedonian delegation led by Parliament Speaker Trajko Veljanoski.

Minister of Culture Elizabeta Kanceska-Milevska, the chairwoman of the commission for relations between religious communities, Valentina Bozinovska, Macedonia’s ambassadors to Rome and Vatican and several Macedonian expats were also in attendance.

A service of intercession on St. Cyril’s tomb in Rome is being held every year on May 24 since 1969. This year marks the 1145th anniversary of the death of the ‘apostle of the Slavs’, St. Cyril.

The event was kicked off Monday evening with an exhibition on St. Cyril’s depiction in works of art and a concert given by Macedonian guitarist Darko Bageski.

“Marking the event (Macedonia Honoring St. Cyril) for me personally, and I hope for all of you, is of great importance given the unique historic, cultural and epic significance of the saints Cyril and Methodius as a result of their mission as enlighteners – the same mission credited with producing the first Old Church Slavonic alphabet, i.e. the Glagolitic alphabet,” Speaker Veljanoski said opening the exhibit.

Minister Kanceska-Milevska called the exhibition ‘a contribution to the invaluable heritage left by the saints Cyril and Methodius and their followers St. Clement and St. Naum.’

“History is reconfirming that Macedonia as early as in the 9th century had given an exceptional example to Europe proving that the ancient Mediterranean culture and civilization could transfer its amassed knowledge across the grand open spaces of the continent,” stressed the Macedonian Minister.

The exhibition features 38 valuable artifacts, genuine icons, replicas of frescoes and photos in relation to the body of work of the great missionary, St. Clement of Ohrid. This exhibition is part of the activities honoring St. Cyril in Rome and of the programme being realized this year, under the auspices of the Macedonian President, to commemorate the death of St. Clement

As part of the event honoring St. Cyril, a Macedonian delegation was received by Pope Francis at an audience held on May 16.

In Macedonia, May 24 is being celebrated as the Saints Cyril and Methodius, Slavonic Enlighteners' Day since 2007.