Eastern and southwestern Macedonia, as well as southern Albania, became parts of Bulgaria in the first decade of the rule of Khan Boris. After his baptism (864/865) and the establishment of an archbishopric (870; 880), the renewal of the former Byzantine church organization on Bulgaria’s territory began. In the eastern parts, the process unfolded slowly because of the strength of the ruling ethnic Bulgarian class, which was pagan; in the western parts, however, the organization of church eparchies went more easily because the local, predominantly Slavic, population had accepted Christianity centuries earlier. This was exactly the reason why Boris-Mikhail sent the disciples of Cyril and Methodius, who had just arrived (885/886) and were well versed in holding religious services in the Slavonic language, to the remote southwest of the country to carry out the so-called “Slavonic Project.” These disciples (including Clement and his associates—Naum, Konstantin, and other unnamed companions) started training local people to serve as clergymen and formed a church structure in Kutmičevica in order to introduce religious services in the Slavonic language in those regions. When Kniaz Simeon came to power, he continued Boris’s “Slavonic Project,” which thus continued to be focused in the southwestern regions of Bulgaria. On being ordained the first Slavonic bishop, Clement organized his eparchy by ethnic (Slavonic) rather than territorial principles. It was Naum who continued his mission to educate people. Konstantin, for his part, was assigned bishop of Bregalnica when Bulgaria expanded close to Thessaloniki (904) in the early 10th century. Sources suggest that the fourth Slavonic bishop was Marko of Devol, one of Clement’s students, and therefore the question of the existence of a third Slavonic bishop has inevitably been raised. As of recently, scholars have been arguing that this third bishop is to be located in Pelagonija. The existence of these four Slavonic bishops and the location of the territories in which they served undoubtedly suggests that Boris’s “Slavonic Project” had chronological continuity and that it spread during Simeon’s rule to the neighboring Slavonic regions, along the Bregalnica and the surrounding area, and perhaps to Pelagonija as well. Their activities in the aforementioned regions continued at least until the middle of the 10th century.

St. Clement of Ohrid; St. Naum of Ohrid; Bishop Konstantin; khan/kniaz Boris-Mikhail; kniaz/tsar Simeon; first Slavonic bishop; Slavonic bishopric

Adžievski K., Pelagonija vo sredniot vek (od doaǵanjeto na slovenite do paǵanjeto pod turska vlast), Skopje, 1994.

Aitzetmüller R., Hrsg., Das Hexaemeron des Exarchen Johannes, 4, Graz, 1966.

Aleksova B., Episkopijata na Bregalnica. Prv slovenski crkoven i kulturno-prosveten centar vo Makedonija, Prilep, 1989.

Andreev Y., “Ioan Egzarkh i niakoi vŭprosi vŭv vrŭzka s naslediavaneto na tsarskata vlast v srednovekovna Bŭlgariia,” in: Preslavska knizhovna shkola, 1, Sofia, 1995, 308–316.

Angelov D., “Po niakoi vŭprosi okolo pokrŭstvaneto na bŭlgarite,” Istoricheski pregled, 21/6, 1965, 38–57.

Angelov D., Obrazuvane na bŭlgarskata narodnost, Sofia, 1971.

Antoljak S., Srednovekovna Makedonija, 1, Skopje, 1985.

Atanasov G., “The Bulgarian Ruler’s Seals from IX–X c. Found in Drastar (Silistra),” in: Ottuka zapochva Bŭlgariia. Materiali ot Vtorata natsionalna konferentsiia po istoriia, arkheologiia i kulturen turizŭm “Pŭtuvane kŭm Bŭlgariia”, Shumen, 2011, 286–293.

Bakalov G., “Vizantiiskiiat kulturen model v ideino-politicheskata struktura na Pŭrvata Bŭlgarska dŭrzhava,” Istorija, 4–5, 1994, 13–27.

Belčovski J., Ohridskata arhiepiskopija od osnovanjeto do paǵanjeto na Makedonija pod turska vlast, Skopje, 1997.

Belčovski J., “Istražuvačite za mestopoložbata na Klimentovata Dremvicko-velička episkopija,” in: Zbornik na trudovi od Meǵunarodniot naučen sobir “Sveti Naum Ohridski i slovenskata duhovna, kulturna i pismena tradicija”, Ohrid, 2010, 387–398.

Belke К., “Roads and Travel in Macedonia and Thrace in the Middle and Late Byzantine period,” in: R. Macrides, ed., Travel in the Byzantine World. Papers from the Thirty-fourth Spring Symposium of Byzantine Studies. Birmingham, April 2000, Farnham, Burlington, London, 2002, 73–90.

Bratož R., “Die frühchristliche Kirche in Makedonien und ihr Verhältnis zu Rom,” in: K. Dietz, D. Hennig, H. Kaletscht, Klassisches Altertum, Spätantike und frühes Christentum, Würzburg, 1993, 509–551.

Bhlig G., rec., Ioannis Caminiatae de expugnatione Thessalonicae, Berolini, Novi Eboraci, 1973.

Bošale N., “Univerzitetot na Kliment i Ohridskata kniževna škola,” in: Kliment Ohridski — studii, Skopje, 1986, 156–159.

Boškoski M., Skopje i skopskata oblast od VI do krajot na XIV vek, Skopje, 2009.

Bozhilov I., Tsar Simeon Veliki (893–927): Zlatniiat vek na Srednovekovna Bŭlgariia, Sofia, 1983.

Bozhilov I., “Preslavskata tsivilizatsiia,” in: Preslav: Sbornik (studii), 4, Sofia, 1993, 33–47.

Bozhilov I., Gyuzelev V., Istoriia na Bŭlgariia v tri toma, 1, Sofia, 1999.

Cheshmedgiev D., “The Cult of Archangel Michael in Mediaeval Bulgaria,” Palaeobulgarica, 20/1, 1996, 52–61.

Cheshmedgiev D., “Slavianskie azbuki mezhdu Vizantiei i Bolgariei,” in: A.-E. Tachiaos, ed., Cyril and Methodius: Byzantium and the World of the Slavs. International Scientific Conference, Thessaloniki, 2015, 377–386.

Crvenkovska E., “Za teritorijata na Ohridskata kniževna škola,” in: Referati na makedonskite slavisti za XIII meǵunaroden slavistički kongres vo Ljubljana, 2003 godina, Skopje, 2003, 147–160.

Curta F., “Where there Any Slavs in Sevent-century Macedonia,” Istorija, 47/1, 2012, 61–74.

Darrouzès J., texte critique, introduction et notes, Notitiae Episcopatuum Ecclesiae Constantinopolitanae, Paris, 1981.

Delikari A., “Zētēma istorkēs geōgrafias tōn Valkaniōn I. Ē Episkopē Achridou kai ē mētropolē Mor(r)archidōn,” Ellēnika, 60/10, 2010, 151–191.

Delikari A., Ē archiepiskopē Achridōn kata ton mesaiōna. O rolos tē ōs enōtikou paragonta stēn politikē kai ekklēsiastikē istoria tōn Slavōn tōn Valkaniōn kai tou Byzantiou, Thessaloniki, 2014.

Detschev D., Responsa Nicolai I papae ad consulta Bulgarorum, Serdicae, 1940.

Delikari А., “The Literary Work of the Cyrillo-Methodian Mission in Great Moravia and its Transmission around Ohrid during the 9th and 10th Centuries,” Cyrillomethodianium, 20, 2015, 9–16.

Dimevski S., Crkovna istorija na makedonskiot narod, Skopje, 1965.

Dujčev I., Izʺ starata bŭlgarska knizhnina, 1, 2nd. ed., Sofia, 1943.

Dujčev I., “Dragvista — Dragovitia,” Revue des Études Byzantines, 22, 1964, 215–221.

Filiposki T., “Prašanjeto za proodnosta na zapadniot del od patot Via Egnatia (Drač-Solun) vo vtorata polovina na IX vek,” in: Pŭtuvaniiata v srednovekovna Bŭgariia. Materiali ot Pŭrvata natsionalna konferentsiia “Pŭtuvane kŭm Bŭlgariia. Pŭtuvaniiata v srednovekovna Bŭlgariia i sŭvremeniiat turizŭm”, Veliko Tarnovo, 2010, 110–119.

Filiposki T., “The Ohrid Bishopric in the IXth Century,” Godišen zbornik na Filozofskiot fakultet — Skopje, 64, 2011, 257–275.

Fine J., The Early Мedieval Balkans. A Critical Survey from the Sixth to the Late Twelfth Century, Michigan, 2000.

Fasolo M., La Via Egnatia I: Da Apollonia e Dyrrachium ad Heracleia Lynkestidos. Rome, 2005.

Ferluga J., “Sur la date de la création du thème de Dyrrachium,” dans: Actes du XIIe congrès international d`etudes byzantine. Ochride 10–16 septembre 1961, 2, Beograd, 1964, 83–92.

Garzaniti М., “The Constantinopolitan Project of the Cyrilo-Methodian Mission in the Light of the Slavonic Vitae of Thessalonican Brothers,” in: A-E. Tachiaos, ed., Cyril and Methodius: Byzantium and the World of the Slavs. International Scientific Conference, Thessaloniki, 2015, 51–67.

Gautier P., “Clément d`Ohrid, évêque de Dragvista,” Revue des Études Byzantines, 22, 1964, 199–214.

Gautier P., introduction, texte, traduction et notes, Théophilacte d`Achrida, Lettres, Thessalonique, 1986.

Grasheva L., “Konstantin Preslavski,” in: P. Dinekov, ed., Kirilo-Metodievska entsiklopediia, 2, Sofia, 1995, 426–440.

Gyuzelev V., “Stolitsi, rezidentsii i dvortsova kultura v srednovekovna Bŭlgariia (od nomadskiia stan do kŭm tsarskiia dvor),” Izvestiia na Natsionalniia istoricheski muzei, 10, Gabrovo, 1994, 39–66.

Gyuzelev V., Sŭchineniia v pet toma, Sofia, 2014.

Gyuzelev V., “Bŭlgarskiiat tsŭrkoven vŭpros i papa Ioan ѴIII (872–882),” in: Bŭlgariia v evropeiskata kultura, nauka, obrazovanie, religiia, 1, Shumen, 2015, 26–31.

Ǵurǵinoski N., “Pridonesot na Sveti Naum vo formiranjeto na slovenskoto bogosluženie vo Ohrid,” in: Zbornik na trudovi od Meѓunarodniot naučen simpozium “1100 godini od upokojuvanjeto na Sveti Naum Ohridski”, Ohrid, 2011, 119–129.

Hannick Ch., “Les nouvelles chrétientés du monde byzantin: Russis, Bulgares et Serbes,” dans: G. Dragon et al., ed., Évêques, moines et empereurs (610–1054), Paris, 1993, 909–939.

Ilchev P., “Glagolitsa,” in: P. Dinekov, ed., Kirilo-Metodievska entsiklopediia, 1, Sofia, 1985, 491–509.

Iliev I., “The Long Life of Saint Clement of Ohrid. A Critical Edition,” Byzantinobulgarica, 9, 1995, 62–120.

Iliev I., “Pŭrvite godini na Bŭlgarskata tsrkva,” in: Bŭlgariia v evropeiskata kultura, nauka, obrazovanie, religiia. Materiali ot Chetvŭrtata natsionalna konferentsiia po istoriia, arkheologiia i kulturen turizŭm “Pŭtuvane kŭm Bŭlgariia”, 1, Shumen, 2015, 23–25.

Iliev I., “The Literary school of Devol from the End of the 9th to the 12th Century (from St. Kliment fo Bishop Michael),” in: V. Gyuzelev, G. Nikolov, eds., South-Eastern Europe in the Second Half of 10th–the Beginning of the 11th Centuries: History and Culture, Sofia, 2015, 552–567.

Ilievski P. Hr., “Novi soznanija za oblasta narečena ‘Kutmičevica,’ kade što sv. Naum ja prodolžil učitelskata dejnost na sv. Klimenta,” in: Zbornik na trudovi od Meǵunarodniot naučen simpozium “1100 godini od upokojuvanjeto na Sveti Naum Ohridski”, Ohrid, 2011, 29–39.

Ivanov S., “Religious Missions,” in: J. Shepard, The Cambridge History of Byzantine Empire, c. 500–1492, Cambridge, 2008, 305–332.

Ivanov Y., Bŭlgarski starini iz Makedoniia, Sofia, 1931.

Kamberski K., Ilievski P. Hr., Ribarova Z., “Glagolica,” in: Makedonska Enciklopedija, 1, Skopje, 2009, 362–363.

Kiselkov V. S., Slavianskite prosvetiteli Kiril i Metodii, Sofia, 1946.

Kochev N., transl., ed., Shestodnev, Ioan Egzarkh, Sofia, 1981.

Komatina P., “The Establishment of the Metropolis of Patras and of Athens and the Slavs in the Peloponnesus,” Zbornik radova Vizantološkog instituta, 46, 2009, 27–52.

Komatina P., “Bishop Agathon of Morava at the Photian Synod of 879/880,” u: Srpska teologija danas 2009, Beograd, 2010, 359–368.

Komatina P., “The Term ‘Bulgaria’ in the 11th and 12th Centuries and the Territory of the Archbishopric of Ochrid,” Byzantine World in the Balkans, 1, Belgrade, 2012, 41–56.

Komatina P., “Date of the Composition of the Notitiae Episcopatuum Ecclesiae Constantinopolitanae Nos. 4, 5 and 6,” Zbornik radova Vizantološkog instituta, 50/1, 2013, 195–214.

Komatina P., Church Policy of Byzantium from the End of Iconoclasm to the Death of Emperor Basil I, Belgrade, 2014.

Kountoura Е., “The Presence of the Province of Epirus Nova in the So-called Notitia of the Iconoclasts”, in: Mentioning of Albania during Dark Ages 500–1000 AD. International Symposium 5 — The Mediaeval Albanians, Athens, 1998, 169–176.

Madgearu A., “Centrifugal Movements in the Balkans in the 11th Century,” Études Byzantines et Post-Byzantines, 5, 2006, 213–221.

Mango C., Roger S., The Cronicle of Theophanes Confessor. Byzantine and Near Eastern History AD 284–813, Oxford, 1997.

Milev A., ed., Grŭtskite zhitiia na Kliment Okhridski, Sofia, 1966.

Muçaj S., Xhyheri S., Ristani I., Pentkovskiy A. M., “Medieval Churches in Shushica Valley (South Albania) and the Slavonic Bishopric of St. Clement of Ohrid,” Slověne, 3/1, 2014, 5–42.

Mutafchiev P., Istoriia na bŭlgarskiia narod (681–1323), Sofia, 1986.

Nikolov A., Politicheska misŭl v rannosrednovekovna Bŭlgariia (sredata na IX – kraia na X vek), Sofia, 2006.

Nikolov A., “The Perception of the Bulgarian Past in the Court of Preslav around 900 AD,” in: V. Gjuzelev, K. Petkov, eds., State and Church: Studies in Medieval Bulgaria and Byzantium, Sofia, 2011, 157–171.

Nikolov A., “The The Preslav Council of 893 in Modern Historiography,” Orientalia Christiana Cracoviensie, 5, 2013, 11–25.

Nikolov A., “Facts and Speculations about the Council of 893,” in: Bŭlgariia v svetovnoto kulturno nasledstvo. Materiali ot Tretata natsionalna konferentsiia po istoriia, arkheologiia i kulturen turizŭm Pŭtuvane kŭm Bŭlgariia, Shumen, 2014, 229–237.

Nikolov A., “‘Velikiiat mezhdu tsarete.’ Izgrazhdane i utvŭrzhdavane na bŭlgarskata tsarska institutsiia prez upravlenieto na Simeon I,” in: V. Gyuzelev, Il. G. Iliev, K. Nenov, eds., Bŭlgariiat Zlaten vek. Sbornik v chest na Simeon Veliki (893–927), Plovdiv, 2015, 149–188.

Nikolov G., “Za datata na pokrŭstvaneto na kan Boris I Mikhail,” in: Bŭlgariia v evropeiskata kultura, nauka, obrazovanie, religiia. Materiali ot Chetvrata natsionalna konferentsiia po istoriia, arkheologiia i kulturen turizŭm “Pŭtuvane kŭm Bŭlgariia”, 1, Shumen, 2015, 11–22.

Nikolova B., Ustroistvo i upravlenie na Bŭlgarskata pravoslavna tsŭrkva (IX–XIV vek), Sofia, 1997.

Nikolova S., “The Moravian Mission—a Successful and an Unsuccessful Result of the Activity of Sts. Cyril and Methodius”, in: A.-E. Tachiaos, ed., Cyril and Methodius: Byzantium and the World of the Slavs. International Scientific Conference, Thessaloniki, 2015, 69–85.

Obolensky D., The Byzantine Commonwealth. Eastern Europe, 500–1453, London, 1971.

Oikonomidès N., ed., Les listes de préséance byzantines des IXe et Xe siècles, Paris, 1972.

Ostrogorski G., “Postanak tema Helada i Peloponez,” Zbornik radova Vizantološkog instituta, 1, 1952, 64–77.

Ostrogorski G., Istorija na Vizantija, Skopje, 1992.

Panov B., Srednovekovna Makedonija. Od makedonskata srednovekovna istorija, 3, Skopje, 1985.

Pentkovskiy A. M., “Liturgicheskaia terminologiia v vizantiisko-slavianskoi kontraktnoi zone,” in: Slaviane i ikh sosedi. XX konferentsiia pamiati V. D. Koroliuka: Stanovlenie slavianskogo mira i Vizantiia v epokhu rannego srednevekovʹia, Moscow, 2001, 87–90.

Pentkovskiy A. M., “Slavianskoe bogosluzhenie i slavianskaia gimnografiia vizantiiskogo obriada v X veke,” in: H. Rothe, D. Christians, Hrsg., Liturgische Hymnen nach byzantiniscem Ritus bei den Slaven in ältester Zeit, Padeborn, 2007, 16–26.

Pentkovskiy A. M., “‘Okhrid na Rusi’: drevnerusskie bogosluzhebnye knigi kak istochnik dlia rekonstruktsii liturgicheskoi traditsii okhridsko-prespanskogo regiona v X–XI stoletiiakh,” in: Zbornik na trudovi od Meǵunarodniot naučen sobir “Kirilometodievskata tradicija i makedonsko-ruskite duhovni i kulturni vrski”, Skopje, 2014, 43–65.

Pentkovskiy A. M., “Slavonic Liturgy in the Archdiocese of Archbishop Methodius,” in: Sveti Ćirilo i Metodije i slovensko pisano nasleđe (863–2013), Beograd, 2014, 25–102.

Pentkovskiy A. M., “On the History of the Slavonic Worship of the Byzantine Rite in the Initial Period (Late 9th – Early 10th c.): Addenda et corrigenda,” Bogoslovskie trudy, 46, 2015, 117–146.

Petrovski B., “Marko,” in: Makedonska Enciklopedija, 2, Skopje, 2009, 918.

Pirivatrić S., “Oi agioi adelfoi Kyrillos kai Methodios, o agios Klēmēs kai ē anagennēsē tou Voulgarikou kratous epi Samouēl,” in: Agios Klēmēs Achridos. Synechistēs tou ergou tou Agion Kyrillou kai Methodiou, Veria, 2014, 87–102.

Polyvyannyi D., “Srednovekovna Bŭlgariia prez IX–X vek: istok i zapad,” in: V. Gyuzelev, G. Nikolov, eds., Dokladi ot Mezhdunarodnata nauchna konferentsiia “Khiliada godini ot bitkata pri Belasitsa i ot smŭrtta na tsar Samuil (1014–2014)”, Sofia, 2015, 52–59.

Runciman S., A History of the First Bulgarian Empire, London, 1930.

Sandžakoski S., “Manastirot sveti Arhangel Mihail (900/905) na prepodoben Naum Ohridski Čudotvorec († 910) — prvo monaško opštežitie vo slovenskiot del od vizantiskiot Komonvelt,” in: Zbornik na trudovi od Meǵunarodniot naučen simpozium “1100 godini od upokojuvanjeto na Sveti Naum Ohridski”, Ohrid, 2011, 71–81.

Selishchev A. M., Slavianskoe naselenie v Albanii, Sofia, 1931.

Shepard J., “Spreading the World: Byzantine Missions,” in: C. Mango, The Oxford History of Byzantium, New York, 2002, 230–247.

Shepard J., Nespokoini sŭsedi. Bŭlgaro-vizantiiska konfrontatsiia, obmen i sŭzhitelstvo prez srednite vekove, L. Genova, transl. from English, Sofia, 2007.

Shepard J., “Slav Christianities, 800–1100,” in: T. Noble, J. Smith, The Cambridge History of Christianity, 3: Early Medieval Christianities, c. 600–c. 1100, Cambridge, 2008, 133–155.

Simeonova L., Diplomacy of the Letter and the Cross. Photios, Bulgaria and the Papacy, 860s–880s, Amsterdam, 1998.

Snegarov I., “V koia godina se pokrŭstil bŭlgarskiiat kniaz Boris,” Istoricheski pregled, 22/5, 1966, 92–99.

Snegarov I., Istoriia na Okhridskata arkhiepiskopiia, 1, 2nd ed., Sofia, 1995.

Stanchev K., Popov G, Kliment Okhridski — zhivot i tvorchestvo, Sofia, 1988.

Stankovska Lj., “Kon prašanjeto za tainstvenata Klimentova eparhija,” Glasnik na Institutot za nacionalna istorija, 49, 1–2, 2005, 9–27.

Stojčevska-Antiḱ V., “Kliment Ohridski,” in: Kliment Ohridski — studii, Skopje, 1986, 106–138.

Stojkov S., “The Bulgarian Ethnicity and Multiethnic Bulgaria: Constant and Evolution of the Conceptions in the Byzantine Sources in X Century,” Glasnik na Institutot za nacionalna istorija, 59, 1–2, 2015, 63–85.

Škoviera A., “Učeníci svätých Cyrila a Metoda — pokračovatelia byzantso-slovanskej misie,” v: Gréckokatolícka cirkev na Slovensku vo svetle výročí, 3, Prešov, 2013, 31–54.

Škrivanić G., Putevi u srednjovekovnoj Srbiji, Beograd, 1974.

Sophoulis P., “Incorporating the Other: Shaping the Identity of the Christian Community in Early Medieval Bulgaria,” Cyrillomethodianium, 20, 2015, 63–74.

Stephenson P., Byzantium`s Balkan Frontier. A Political Study of Northern Balkans, 900–1204, Cambridge, 2000.

Štih P., “Ko je cerkev začela govoriti slovansko. K ozadnjem pokristjanjevanja v Karantaniji in Panoniji,” Zgodovinski časopis, 69, 1–2, (151), 2015, 8–40.

Tapkova-Zaimova V., Miltenova A., Historical and Apocaliptical Literature in Byzantium and in Medieval Bulgaria, Sofia, 1996.

Tomoski T., “Prilog kon topografijata na Klimentovata eparhija,” in: Kliment Ohridski — studii, Skopje, 1986, 204–209.

Tomović G., “Glagoljica,” u: S. Ćirković, R. Mihaljčić, prir., Leksikon srpskog srednjeg veka, Beograd, 1999, 112–114.

Ugrinova-Skalovska R., “Za srednovekovnite kniževni školi vo Makedonija,” in: Kliment Ohridski — studii, Skopje, 1986, 51–55.

Vaillant A., Discours contre les Ariens de Saint Athanase. Version slave et traduction en français, Sofia, 1954.

Vasilevski T., “Misionerskata dejnost na Konstantin i Metodij po Bregalnica vo 864 godina i datumot na sozdavanjeto na slovenskoto pismo,” Glasnik na Institutot za nacionalna istorija, 32/2, 1988, 49–69.

Vavřínek V., “Cyril and Methodius: A Lost Mission. Was there an Οfficial Βyzantine Project for the Slavonic Mission?” in: A.-E. Tachiaos, ed., Cyril and Methodius: Byzantium and the World of the Slavs. International Scientific Conference, Thessaloniki, 2015, 25–36.

Velev I., Istorija na makedonskata kniževnost, 1, Skopje, 2014.

Wassiliou-Seibt А-К., “Reconstructing the Byzantine Frontier on the Balkans (Late 8th–10th Century),” Revue des Études Byzantines, 73, 2015, 229–239.

Yordanov I., Korpus na pechatite na srednovekovna Bŭlgariia, Sofia, 2001.

Zadornov A., “Territorial Dioceses and Ethnic Episcopies in the Structure of the Church Organization of the First Bulgarian Kingdom (Canonical Aspect),” Slověne, 5/2, 2016, 121–135.

Zlatarski V., Istoriia na Bŭlgarskata dŭrzhava prez srednite vekove, 1–2, Sofia, 1918–1927.

Živković T., Južni Sloveni pod vizantijskom vlašħu (600–1025), Beograd, 2002.