The cult of St. Kliment of hagiography and folk tales (the vision of a Macedonian)

Abstract

Saint Clemence from Ohrid is the most known pupil and follower of Saint Brothers from Thesalonic, Cyril and Methodius. His incredibly literary output by this days gives us a lot of very usefully information about the organization of orthodox people life, moralizing Christian education and wide comprehend literature on the area South Slavs. About his person by this days you can hear a lot of legends and stories, cult of this important saint is such strong, that it permit to the folklores, what is manifest in still strong tradition and maintain Saint Clemence’s cult. Saint Clemence is very interesting personage. His work has contributed a cyrylic alphabet to the range of more prestige, although the first alphabet which was in use on the area of Saint Clement’s activity (Ohrid and the western Macedonia) was the glagolic alphabet.

His achievements are various and universal. Apart from the values mentioned above, we should underline the creation and organization of first "Slavic university" in Ohrid, where a group of monks and secular pupils afford the knowledge in various sphere of Christianity life (writing, prayers, proper celebration of church holidays, liturgical chant). In Macedonia his cult is treated timeless and he enjoy the unimpaired respect. He is also patron of all orthodox people and Macedonian Orthodox Church and a lot of public institutions like libraries, schools or streets are named by Saint Clemence.