The famous monastery of St Joakim Osogovski near Kriva Palanka is named after a monk who followed a hermit’s life. His hermitage (a place where one can live in seclusion) can be found in the vicinity of Kriva Palanka, near the village Gradec. The cave in which he lived is really small, about the size of a bathtub!
Allegedly, Joakim Osogovski was a brother of St Prohor Pcinjski, St Gavril Lesnovski and Jovan Rilski, who all had monasteries named after them. Historical data indicates that Jovan Rilski may have lived 100 years earlier than his “brothers”.
We went there by car from the center of Kriva Palanka. After 6 km uphill (elevation about 260 m), the asphalt road ends, and we parked the car next to the road. From here it is 2 km walking uphill (elevation 110 m) to the hermitage.
After less than 1 km you pass the Church of St Nikola. The church is from 1852. At the entrance of the church there is a sign with a basic map, indicating where the hermitage is located with respect to the church.
There is a big covered picnic place just below the hermitage.
I made a GPS track from the center of Kriva Palanka to the hermitage, you can have a look at it here: https://www.wikiloc.com/hiking-trails/kriva-palanka-to-hermitage-of-st-joakim-osogovski-7546730
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