Macedonian Parliament Speaker Trajko Veljanoski leads the country's delegation that is to hold an audience with Pope Francis in the Vatican on Monday, in the framework of traditional event "Macedonia Honors St.Cyril" held in the Italian capital.
After the audience, Speaker Veljanoski is set to meet with the Holy See Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin.
Archbishop of Ohrid and Macedonia Stefan will hold a service at the memorial plaque at the Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore, honoring the work of pan-Slavic educators Ss. Cyril and Methodius.
The audience is held a week ahead of the day honoring Ss. Cyril and Methodius (May 24) due to scheduled commitments by Pope Francis.
The church declared May 24 the day of Ss. Cyril and Methodius back in the 11th century. The day, first observed in Macedonia in 1860, was chosen honoring the start of the Moravia mission of spreading Christianity to the Slavic people.