Macedonia's state and church delegation, led by the President of the Republic of Macedonia, Dr. Gjorge Ivanov, today visited and worshiped at the tomb of St. Cyril in the Basilica "St. Clement" in Rome.

The prayer at the tomb of the Slavic educator was officiate by the Metropolitan of Europe Pimen, accompanied by Father Clement Mishanj of Piacenza.

The celebration of St. Cyril in the Basilica of St. Clement was attended by more than 300 believers from the Macedonian Diaspora parishes in Italy. Their number increases each year, hence, in addition to the state delegation the holiday is celebrated also by the Macedonian people in Italy.

The state delegation attending the prayer at the traditional event honoring the founders of the first Slavic alphabet, Cyril and Methodius, included the Minister of Culture, Kanceska-Milevska and the Macedonian Ambassadors in Rome and the Vatican, Oliver Sambevski and Zvonimir Jankuloski.

The first tribute ceremony at the tomb of St. Cyril in Rome was organized in 1969, marking the 1100th anniversary since the death of St. Cyril and since then every year on May 24 marks it with the highest honors by the church- state delegation.

President Ivanov held a meeting today with the Macedonian national minority in Italy.