The heads of the Serbian Orthodox Church (SPC) and the newly recognized Ohrid Archbishopric in North Macedonia will serve a reconciliation liturgy in the Temple of St Sava in Belgrade, the SPC said on Tuesday.

The statement said that SPC Patriarch Porfirije and Archbishop of Ohrid Stefan will serve the liturgy on Thursday May 19 and added that the service will restore “liturgical and canonic relations between the two kindred churches in line with the decision of the SPC Holy Synod”.

The SPC called the “faithful in Belgrade … to take part in prayer in this unique and joyous event”.

On Monday, the SPC welcomed the autonomy and independence of the Archbishopric of Ohrid in North Macedonia as recognized by the Ecumenical Patriach Bartholomew. The SPC and the Orthodox Church in what is now North Macedonia have been at odds over jurisdiction with both claiming the Ohrid Bishopric as their own.