Jakov of Kamena Reka[3] (Macedonian: Јаков од Камена Река, romanized: Jakov od Kamena Reka, Serbian: Јаков из Камене реке, romanized: Jakov iz Kamene reke; literally: 'Jakov from Kamena Reka'; fl.

It is known he was from a former village called Kamena Reka (literally: 'Stone River'),[3] according to him near the town of Kolasia, in Osogovo, Macedonia.

[9] In his youth Kraikov was a copyist of Church Slavonic books in the Osogovo Monastery "St. Joakim Osogovski".

Then he went to Sofia, where in a local Church school, Kraikov deepened his literary knowledge.

It is assumed that Kraikov worked on his way in Gračanica monastery where a printing press was opened.