St Joachim of Osogovo
Joachim of Osogovo’s story begins with a search for solitude. According to his Life, a cave near the Kriva River becomes his home. His name now draws pilgrims to the monastery near Kriva Palanka in North Macedonia.
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| Period according to his Life | Eleventh and early twelfth centuries |
|---|---|
| Feast in the Bulgarian Church calendar | 16 August |
The place of solitude
In his Life, a local nobleman from Gradec points out the cave. Joachim stays there in fasting and prayer. The same source says his birthplace is unknown; later traditions do not securely fill that gap.
The monastery near Kriva Palanka
The municipality locates the complex about three kilometres east of town. It includes churches dedicated to the Nativity of the Mother of God and St Joachim, together with residential buildings. The landscape and architecture give the story a tangible setting.
The likeness on the wall
The image here is a fresco. It belongs to the church’s artistic memory of the hermit. Its provenance is linked beneath it.
Saints venerated in Bulgaria
Continue with another life story
St John of RilaSt John of Rila’s Life, his veneration and the history of Rila Monastery.
St Petka of TarnovoWho St Petka was, her connection with Tarnovo and the journey of her relics to Iasi, with an icon.
St Dimitry of BasarbovoSt Demetrius of Basarbovo, accounts from his Life and the 1774 transfer of his relics to Bucharest.
St Seraphim of SofiaArchbishop Seraphim Sobolev, his years in Sofia and his 2016 canonisation, with an authentic photograph and church documents.
Photographs and authors
- St John of Rila: Bulgarian Patriarchate · Unidentified author
- St Petka of Tarnovo: Bulgarian Patriarchate · Unidentified author
- St Dimitry of Basarbovo: Bulgarian Patriarchate · Unidentified author
- St Seraphim of Sofia: Unidentified author / Wikimedia Commons. Public domain
