Ecumenical Patriarchate Recognises Ohrid Archdiocese as Canonical

The recognition of the Ohrid Archdiocese took place today by the Ecumenical Patriarchate, during the meeting of the Holy Synod, and after an in-depth discussion, Orthodox Times reported on Monday. As the Ecumenical Patriarchate announced, it accepts in Eucharistic communion “the hierarchy, clergy, and people of this Church under Archbishop Stephen.” In this way, as argued in the communiqué, it heals the wound of the schism and pours “oil and wine” into the wound of the Orthodox brothers and sisters there. “He clarified that it was up to the Church of Serbia to settle the administrative issues between it and the Church in North Macedonia. It makes clear that it excludes the term “Macedonian” and any other derivative of the word “Macedonia”, and recognises the name of the Church as “Ohrid”. He promises to continue to be interested in the progress and stability of the Ohrid ecclesiastical entity,” Orthodox Times added. PM Dimitar Kovacevski thanked Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew. The Russian Orthodox Church said it recognised only the canonical rights of the Serbian Orthodox Church in North Macedonia.