Saint Clement of Ohrid

Life story

Clement's birthplace is uncertain; most scholars think he was born around 830 in southern Macedonia. He was a prominent disciple of Saints Cyril and Methodius and took part in their mission to Great Moravia.

After Methodius died in 885 the disciples faced opposition from German missionaries and were imprisoned or expelled around 886. Clement, with Nahum and others, went to Bulgaria, where Prince Boris I welcomed them and asked them to conduct services in Slavonic.

He taught in south-western Macedonia until 893 and founded schools at Ohrid. Orthodox tradition says he ordained about 3,500 men, a figure not independently verified. In 893 he was made a bishop, and Britannica credits him with founding the first Slavonic school of higher learning at Ohrid. He is regarded as the first Slavonic author, who besides translating also wrote sermons and spiritual works in Slavonic.

Clement retired to a monastery he had founded at Ohrid and died in 916; he was buried at the monastery of St Panteleimon. He is often linked to the Glagolitic and Cyrillic scripts, but Cyrillic was most likely developed at the Preslav school rather than by him directly. His feast is 27 July; the Orthodox also keep 25 November.

Works and witness

• Took part in the Slavonic mission to Great Moravia with the disciples of Cyril and Methodius
• Taught in Slavonic in Bulgaria and Macedonia until 893
• Bishop from 893; founded a monastery at Ohrid
• Died in 916 and was buried at St Panteleimon, Ohrid

Saints from the same country

Saint Teresa of Calcutta, Saints Cyril and Methodius, Saint Sava

References

• Britannica, Saint Clement of Ohrid
• Orthodox Church in America, Saint Clement of Ochrid, Equal of the Apostles (oca.org)
• Britannica, Bulgarian Orthodox Church

Written by Anawim from documented history. Some details about ancient saints rest on tradition and are marked as such.