The ancient city of Ohrid marked the memory of one of North Macedonia’s key spiritual patrons, Saint Clement of Ohrid, along with the holy Seven Apostles and Great Martyr Panteleimon, through solemn church services held this week.

The main celebrations took place at the monastery complex of Plaošnik, home to the ancient burial site of Saint Clement. On August 9, the Divine Liturgy was led by Archbishop Stefan of Ohrid and North Macedonia. That day, believers also observed multiple anniversaries: 1,140 years since the return of Saints Clement and Naum to the Ohrid region, and 1,110 years since the death of Clement, who was interred in the church founded by him on Plaošnik.

A central focus of the festivities was Saint Clement of Ohrid, a student of the Enlighteners Saints Cyril and Methodius. Church tradition remembers him as a major figure in the development of Slavic literacy and education. At the end of the ninth century, Clement continued the work of his teachers throughout the Balkans. He founded the Ohrid Literary School, where thousands of students were taught, and played a decisive role in spreading Christian worship and culture in the Slavic language.

Alongside Clement, worshippers also honored Great Martyr Panteleimon, who is revered in Orthodox tradition as a healer and protector of the sick. According to church tradition, Panteleimon lived in Nicomedia in the 3rd–4th centuries. He served as a physician and later accepted martyrdom for the Christian faith. His name, meaning “all-merciful,” is often associated with compassion and help for those in need.

During his homily, Archbishop Stefan emphasized that the spiritual legacy of Saint Clement remains relevant today. The archbishop noted that Clement was not only a church leader, but also a teacher, writer, and mentor who sought to make both knowledge and faith accessible to the people. “He taught through prayer, through work, and through his own example,” Stefan said, urging believers to preserve spiritual traditions and follow Clement’s example.

Saint Clement of Ohrid is among the most venerated saints in North Macedonia and is regarded as a symbol of Ohrid itself. In the city, he is honored as a heavenly patron, while the monastery at Plaošnik continues to serve as an important center of pilgrimage.