Yoakim Karchovski

Yoakim Karchovski, also known as Hadži Joakim, was a cleric, writer, educator and one of the early figures of the Bulgarian National Revival.

Biography

Karchovski was born around 1750. Macedonian linguist Blaže Koneski theorized that he might have originated from the Kičevo region. Karchovski was educated in Constantinople. In 1787 he began working as a priest. He was a teacher in Kratovo, Debar region, Kriva Palanka, Štip, Samokov, Melnik and Kyustendil. He had 2 sons, Georgi and David. In around 1807 Karchovski became a monk, after the death of his wife. In his writings, he identified himself as a Bulgarian and called his language Bulgarian. In 1819 he became a hieromonk. He died around 1820.

Although he died before the earliest expressions of a Macedonian national identity, he is considered an ethnic Macedonian in North Macedonia. In May 2022 he was canonized by the Macedonian Orthodox Church as a saint.

Karchovski authored 5 works printed in Buda: