Macedonian state and church delegation, led by the President of the Republic of Macedonia, Dr. Gjorge Ivanov, pays a three-day visit to the Republic of Italy and the Holy See to attend the manifestation “Macedonia Honoring Saint Cyril”.

The Minister of Information Society and Administration Ivo Ivanovski and the Deputy Chairman of the Committee on Relations with Religious Communities and Groups Anton Sereci are members of the state delegation, whereas the metropolitans Petar and Pimen as well as the Skopje bishop Kiro Stojanov are part of the church delegation.

According to the agenda, this afternoon, the delegation will visit the ancient temple of Pantheon, accompanied by Daniele Micheletti, Rector of Pantheon, to attend the formal opening of the manifestation - the concert of the opera singer Blagoj Nacoski, violinists Ana and Oleg Kondratenko, Alessandro D'Agostini and Marija Vrskova.

Tomorrow in Vatican, President Ivanov will have an audience with the head of the Roman Catholic Church, Pope Benedict XVI and hold talks with the Holy See Secretary of State, Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone.

Afterwards, the Macedonian delegation will visit the St. Paul Basilica to lay flowers on the tomb of St. Paul, accompanied by Cardinal Francesco Monterisi, and in the evening, the delegation will attend a theater play about Mother Teresa, titled “Saint of Darkness”.

After the audience with the Pope and the scheduled meetings in Vatican, in the church “St. Clement” in Rome, on Tuesday, a service of intercession will take place on the tomb of St. Cyril as part of the manifestation “Macedonia Honoring Saint Cyril”.