Saint Kliment is a Bulgarian enlightener, man of the cloth and man of letters, follower of the Holy Brothers Cyril and Methodius. The Bulgarian Orthodox Church pays tribute to St. Kliment on November 25. According to the authors of the Detailed Passional (Bulgarian legend) written by archbishop Theophylact of Ohrid and the Brief Lifestory (Ohrid legend) by archbishop Dimitri Homatian “this great father and Bulgarian enlightener” originates from the “European Moesians, whom many know as Bulgarians” (Homatian). According to historic sources, when the creators of the alphabet Cyril and Methodius started on their way to Moravia, they took with them their relative – Kliment. He accompanied the two enlighteners also to Roma, where he was ordained as priest. After the death of St. Methodius (885), who was then archbishop of Moravia, the German clergy chased away his students, who were very well received within the boundaries of the Bulgarian state, as the country had adopted Christianity in 864. After the Christianization, this country and its people were in need of teachers to spread faith in a familiar language. Associate Professor Trendafil Krastanov, theologian from the Church History and Archive Institute with the Bulgarian Patriarchate brings us more on the contribution St. Kliment made to Bulgarian medieval literary culture.

“The deed of St. Kliment is closely related to the work of the brothers Cyril and Methodius, as well as with that of St. Naum – another one of disciples of the holy brothers. A Detailed Life-story of St. Naum tells that Kliment and Naum, together with their teachers (Cyril and Methodius) translated in the newly created alphabet the holy script, which was then verified and blessed in Rome. In that way they prepared their enlighteners’ mission. Still in that source, we read that three of the students of the Holy Brothers – Kliment, Naum and Angelarius , were longing for Bulgaria, being certain that Bulgaria was to give then shelter and peace.”

Bulgarian ruler Boris Mihail welcomed them heartily and provided all conditions for their enlightening activities, the aim of which was to provide the Bulgarian Church with all necessary service books. Knyaz Boris sent Kliment as teacher – a title of special importance in Christianity of that time, as he had the task to educate and enlighten people, to carry out discussions, to teach the young, to translate books and to write sermons, life-stories, praises and church chants. According to historic information in the course of 7 years he trained 3500 students across Southwest Bulgaria. After they were ordained as priests, they displaced the Greek clerics as they were preaching in a language, foreign across the Bulgarian lands. For that reason Theophylact called St. Kliment “the first bishop preaching in Bulgarian language”. The best preserved of Kliment’s scripts, were those created in Moldova and Walachia. In the course of his studies Ass. Prof. Krastanov found out the date of the saint’s death. He also localized his bishop’s seat and presented the facts at a conference in St. Kliment Ohridski University in Sofia.

“As bishop, Kliment was titled in several different ways – of Tiveriopol and Velichki. In the Vatican library I discovered documents of Aristarhi Stavraki – great logothetes of the Constantinople Patriarchate, who had for decades been making lists of the eparchies , including that of Velegrada (Berat in Albania) and Kanina, Northern Epirus. There I found the name of Kliment with the date of his death – July 25, 916. The Papal chronicle “Annuario Pontificio” also gives evidence of these eparchies. There is also confirmation of the scientific presumption that the bishopric of St. Kliment was two-partite: from 893 through 906 he was Bishop of Tiveriopol or Strumitsa, while from 906 to his death, he was Bishop Velichki. In order for Kliment to devote fully to his literary deed, the Bulgarian ruler Boris provided him with a house in Devol and another one in Ohrid. Kliment’s home in Ohrid stood by the temple of St. Panteleimon, where Kliment was buried. Each saint is worshiped at the place he is buries and not where he was born or working. That is why his full title is, as his works are signed, Saint Kliment Bishop Velichki and of Ohrid, Miracle-maker, who was by origin and deed – a Bulgarian”, Associate Professor Krastanov says in conclusion.

English version: Iva Letnikova