Ecumenical Patriarch recognizes Orthodox Church in North Macedonia

A statement quoted the Patriarch as saying that the decision was taken to heal schisms and clarifying that “it excludes the term Macedonian… and recognizes the name of the church as Ohrid”.

The Serbian Orthodox Church has disputed the autocephaly of the Orthodox church in North Macedonia claiming sovereignty over the Ohrid Archbishopric. The statement said “It cedes to the Most Holy Church of Serbia the regulation of the administrative matters between itself and the Church in North Macedonia,” the Patriarch’s statement said.

“The Ecumenical Patriarchate continues to express interest for the growth, progress and stability of this ecclesiastical entity of Ohrid, just as it has done through the centuries for all the local Orthodox Churches,” it added.