Macedonian Orthodox Church

Eastern Orthodox church in North Macedonia

For other uses, see Macedonian Orthodox Church (disambiguation).

Macedonian Orthodox Church – Archdiocese of Ohrid

Македонска православна црква – Охридска архиепископија

Coat of arms of the MOC, with the Church of St. Sophia, Ohrid, the historical seat of the Archbishopric of Ohrid, depicted on it

Abbreviation| AO, MOC, MOC-AO
Type| Eastern Orthodox
Theology| Eastern Orthodox theology
Primate| Stefan, Archbishop of Ohrid and Macedonia
Region| North Macedonia
Language| Church Slavonic, Macedonian
Territory| North Macedonia
Possessions| United States
Canada
Australia
European Union
Independence|

* Self-proclaimed autocephaly in 1967 from the Serbian Orthodox Church (SOC)
* Returned to autonomous status under the SOC on 16 May 2022
* Autocephaly granted on 5 June 2022 by the SOC

Recognition|

* Recognized as an autonomous church under the SOC 1959–1967, and mid-May–early June 2022
* Autocephaly recognized by several Eastern Orthodox Churches

Separated from| Serbian Orthodox Church (SOC)
Official website| mpc.org.mk/
Part of a series on the

Eastern Orthodox Church

Mosaic of Christ Pantocrator, Hagia Sophia

Overview

* Structure
* Theology (History of theology)
* Liturgy
* Church history
* Holy Mysteries
* View of salvation
* View of Mary
* View of icons

Background

* Crucifixion / Resurrection / Ascension
of Jesus

* Christianity
* Christian Church
* Apostolic succession
* Four Marks of the Church
* Orthodoxy

Organization

* Autonomy
* Autocephaly
* Patriarchate
* Ecumenical Patriarch
* Episcopal polity
* Canon law
* Clergy
* Bishops
* Priests
* Deacons
* Monasticism
* Degrees
* Bratstvo

Autocephalous jurisdictions

Autocephalous Churches who are officially part of the communion:

* Constantinople
* Alexandria
* Antioch
* Jerusalem
* Russia
* Serbia
* Romania
* Bulgaria
* Georgia
* Cyprus
* Greece
* Poland
* Albania
* Czech Lands and Slovakia
* North Macedonia

Autocephaly recognized by some autocephalous Churches de jure:

* America

Autocephaly and canonicity recognized by Constantinople and 3 other autocephalous Churches:

* Ukraine (OCU)

Spiritual independence recognized by Georgian Orthodox Church:

* Ukraine (UOC)

Autonomous jurisdictions

* Sinai
* Finland
* Estonia (EP)
* Japan (MP)
* China (MP)
* Americas (RP)
* Bessarabia (RP)
* Moldova (MP)

Semi-Autonomous:

* Crete (EP)
* Estonia (MP)
* ROCOR (MP)

Episcopal assemblies

* Australia, New Zealand, and Oceania
* Austria
* Belgium, Holland, and Luxembourg
* Canada
* France
* Germany
* Great Britain and Ireland
* Italy and Malta
* Latin America
* Scandinavia
* Spain and Portugal
* Switzerland and Liechtenstein
* United States of America

Noncanonical jurisdictions

* Old Believers
* Spiritual Christianity
* True Orthodoxy
* Catacomb Church
* Old Calendarists
* American Orthodox Catholic Church
* American World Patriarchs

* National churches:

*     * Abkhazia
* Belarus
* Italy
* Latvia
* Montenegro
* Turkey
* UOC–KP

* Evangelical Orthodox

Ecumenical councils

* First Seven Ecumenical Councils:

* First
* Second
* Third
* Fourth
* Fifth
* Sixth
* Seventh

* Other possible ecumenical councils:

* Eighth
* Ninth

* Other important councils:

* Quinisext Council
* Jassy
* Moscow
* Jerusalem
* Constantinople (1872)

History

* Church Fathers
* Pentarchy
* Byzantine Empire
* Christianization of Georgia
* Christianization of Bulgaria
* Christianization of Kievan Rus'
* Great Schism
* Russia
* Ottoman Empire
* North America
* Moscow–Constantinople schism
* 15th–16th c.
* 1996
* 2018

Theology

* History of Eastern Orthodox theology
* (20th century (Neo-Palamism))

* Apophaticism
* Chrismation
* Contemplative prayer
* Essence vs. Energies
* Hesychasm
* Holy Trinity
* Hypostatic union
* Icons
* Metousiosis
* Mystical theology
* Nicene Creed
* Nepsis
* Oikonomia vs Akribeia
* Ousia
* Palamism
* Philokalia
* Phronema
* Sin
* Theosis
* Theotokos

* Differences from the Catholic Church
* Opposition to the Filioque
* Opposition to papal supremacy

Liturgy and worship

* Divine Liturgy
* Divine Services

* Akathist
* Apolytikion
* Artos
* Ectenia
* Euchologion
* Holy Water
* Iconostasis
* Jesus Prayer
* Kontakion
* Liturgical entrances
* Liturgical fans
* Lity
* Memorial service
* Memory Eternal
* Omophorion
* Eastern Orthodox bowing
* Eastern Orthodox marriage
* Praxis
* Paraklesis
* Paschal greeting
* Paschal Homily
* Paschal troparion
* Prayer rope
* Prosphora
* Russian bell ringing
* Semantron
* Sign of the cross
* Sticheron
* Troparion
* Vestments
* Use of incense

Liturgical calendar

* Paschal cycle
* 12 Great Feasts
* Other feasts:

* Feast of Orthodoxy
* Intercession of the Theotokos

* The four fasting periods:

* Nativity Fast
* Great Lent
* Apostles' Fast
* Dormition Fast

Major figures

* Athanasius of Alexandria
* Ephrem the Syrian
* Basil of Caesarea
* Cyril of Jerusalem
* Gregory of Nazianzus
* Gregory of Nyssa
* John Chrysostom
* Cyril of Alexandria
* John Climacus
* Maximus the Confessor
* John of Damascus
* Theodore the Studite
* Kassiani
* Cyril and Methodius
* Photios I of Constantinople
* Gregory Palamas

Other topics

* Architecture
* Folk
* Encyclical of the Eastern Patriarchs
* Eastern Orthodox cross
* Saint titles
* Statistics by country

* v
* t
* e

The Macedonian Orthodox Church – Archdiocese of Ohrid (MOC-AO; Macedonian: Македонска православна црква – Охридска архиепископија), or simply the Macedonian Orthodox Church (MOC) or the Archdiocese of Ohrid (AO), is an autocephalous Eastern Orthodox church in North Macedonia. The Macedonian Orthodox Church claims ecclesiastical jurisdiction over North Macedonia, and is also represented in the Macedonian diaspora. The primate of the Macedonian Orthodox Church is Stefan Veljanovski, the Metropolitan of Skopje and Archbishop of Ohrid and Macedonia.

In 1959, the Holy Synod of the Serbian Orthodox Church granted autonomy to the Macedonian Orthodox Church in the then-Socialist Republic of Macedonia, as the restoration of the historic Archbishopric of Ohrid;[1] the MOC was united with the Serbian Orthodox Church (SOC) as a part of the SOC. In 1967, on the bicentennial anniversary of the abolition of the Archbishopric of Ohrid, the Macedonian Holy Synod unilaterally announced its autocephaly from the Serbian Orthodox Church. The Serbian synod denounced the decision and condemned the clergy as schismatic.[2] Thenceforth, the Macedonian Church had remained unrecognized by all mainstream Eastern Orthodox churches for 55 years.[1][3]

The Macedonian Orthodox Church was formally reintegrated into the mainstream Eastern Orthodox community in 2022. The Ecumenical Patriarchate accepted the MOC into communion and recognized North Macedonia as its canonical territory. The schism between the Serbian and Macedonian churches ended, while the MOC was restored as an autonomous part of the Serbian church according to its 1959 status. Afterwards, the Serbian Orthodox Church officially granted autocephaly to the MOC, though all autocephalous churches have not recognized this autocephaly.

## History

[edit]

See also: Archbishopric of Ohrid

### Background

[edit]

The Archbishopric of Ohrid c. 1020

Following the fall of the First Bulgarian Empire, Byzantine Emperor Basil II acknowledged the autocephalous status of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church and set up its boundaries, dioceses, property and other privileges. The Archbishopric was seated in Ohrid in the Byzantine theme of Bulgaria and was established in 1019 by lowering the rank of the autocephalous Bulgarian Patriarchate and its subjugation to the jurisdiction of the Patriarchate of Constantinople.[4][5]

In 1767 the Ohrid Archbishopric was abolished by the Ottoman authorities and annexed to the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople.[6] During the Bulgarian National awakening, efforts were made in Ottoman Macedonia for the restoration of a Bulgarian church in the region separate from the Greek Patriarchate, and in 1870 the Bulgarian Exarchate was created. The Christian population of the bishoprics of Skopje and Ohrid voted in 1874 overwhelmingly in favor of joining the exarchate. The Bulgarian Exarchate became in control of most of the Macedonian region. Theodosius of Skopje attempted to restore the Ohrid Archbishopric as a separate Macedonian church in 1890.[6]

Following Vardar Macedonia's incorporation into Serbia in 1913, several of the Bulgarian Exarchate's dioceses were forcefully taken over by the Serbian Orthodox Church.[7] While the region was occupied by Bulgaria during World War I and World War II, the local dioceses temporarily came under the control of the Bulgarian Exarchate.[8][9]

Letter from Initiative board addressed to Presidium of ASNOM, asking to organize an independent Macedonian Orthodox church, February 1945

The first modern assembly of Macedonian clergy was held in the village of Izdeglavje near Ohrid in 1943.[10] It was sponsored by the High Command of the Macedonian Partisans who created a Bureau of Religious Affairs and appointed Veljo Mančevski to be the Commissioner at the Headquarters of the Partisan Detachments and be in charge of religious affairs.[11] In October 1944, an initiative board for the organization of the Macedonian Orthodox Church was officially formed.[1] In 1945, the first clergy and people's synod met and adopted a resolution for the restoration of the Ohrid Archbishopric as a Macedonian Orthodox Church. It was submitted to the Serbian Orthodox Church, which since 1919 had been the sole church in Vardar Macedonia. The resolution was rejected, but a later one, submitted in 1958 at the second synod, was accepted on 17 June 1959, by the Serbian Orthodox Church.[12] Dimitrije Stojković was appointed as the first archbishop of Ohrid and Metropolitan of Macedonia under the name Dositej II (Dositheus II).[1]

### Self-proclaimed autocephaly

[edit]

Dositej II, the first head of the MOC

In May 1966, MOC requested autocephaly from the Serbian Bishops' Council but the Council refused to forward the request to sister Orthodox churches. At the time, the Serbian church had the support and protection of Yugoslav politician Aleksandar Ranković, until his dismissal from all positions in July 1966. After this, MOC sent a demand to the Council for autocephaly and threatened to act unilaterally if it was not granted. The Council declined the demand on 24 May 1967. As a result, at its third synod on 17–19 July 1967, on the bicentennial anniversary of the abolition of the Archbishopric of Ohrid,[13] the Macedonian Church proclaimed its autocephaly (full administrative independence) unilaterally.[14] Serbian Church bishops denounced the decision and condemned the clergy as schismatic.[2] The League of Communists of Macedonia welcomed the proclamation. For all the subsequent efforts to gain recognition, the autocephaly of the Macedonian Church was not recognized by other canonical Eastern Orthodox churches, due to opposition from the SOC.[1] It applied to be part of the World Council of Churches in 1967 but Serbian patriarch German vetoed the admission.[11] In 1981, there were 6 dioceses in Yugoslavia, one in Australia, and one in Canada; 225 parishes, 102 monasteries, around 250 priests, and 15 monks under the jurisdiction of MOC. The Catholic Church maintained ties with MOC and the latter established annual May commemorations at Saint Cyril's tomb in Rome.[15]

Since the breakup of Yugoslavia in the 1990s, the Serbian Patriarchate had sought to restore its control over the Macedonian Church.[10] MOC was introduced into the Macedonian constitution on 17 November 1991.[13] In 2001, MOC demanded a military solution to the insurgency in Macedonia. The Islamic Religious Community of Macedonia accused MOC of "promoting civil war and bloodshed."[16]

The Orthodox Ohrid Archbishopric under the SOC, which had split from MOC, was created in the 2000s and was led by Jovan Vraniškovski.[12] The later chain of events turned into a vicious circle of mutual accusations and incidents involving the Serbian Orthodox Church and, partly, the Serbian government on one side, and the MOC, backed by the Macedonian government on the other. Jovan complained of a new state-backed media campaign against his church.[17] The government denied registration to his organization,[18] and launched a criminal case against him. He was removed from his bishopric, arrested, and later sentenced to 18 months in prison,[19] and had "extremely limited visitation rights".[20]

In turn, the Serbian Church denied a Macedonian delegation access to the monastery of Prohor Pčinjski, which was the usual site of Macedonian celebration of the national holiday of Ilinden (literally meaning St. Elijah Day) on 2 August[21] and the site where the First Session of ASNOM was held. Macedonian border police often denied Serbian priests entry into the country in clerical garb.[22] On 12 November 2009, the Macedonian Orthodox Church added "Archdiocese of Ohrid" to its official name and changed its coat of arms and flag.[23][24][25]

### Recognition efforts

[edit]

Church of St. Sophia, Ohrid of the Archbishopric of Ohrid, which is depicted on the church's coat of arms

In November 2017, Bulgarian National Television announced the content of a letter that the MOC had sent to the Holy Synod of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church requesting talks on recognition of the Macedonian Orthodox Church. The letter was signed by Archbishop Stefan Veljanovski. Among other things, the letter stated: "The Bulgarian Orthodox Church - Bulgarian Patriarchate, taking into account the unity of the Orthodox Church and the real spiritual and pastoral needs, should establish eucharistic unity with the restored Ohrid Archbishopric in the face of the Macedonian Orthodox Church".[26] On 27 November, the Holy Synod of the Bulgarian patriarchate accepted the proposal that it become Macedonia's mother church and agreed to work towards recognition of its status.[27][28][29] The Serbian Church expressed its surprise over the Bulgarian decision to be "mother" to the Macedonian Church.[30]

On 14 May 2018, the Bulgarian Orthodox Church declined the invitation from the Macedonian Orthodox Church to participate in the festivities celebrating the 1000th anniversary of the establishment of the Archbishopric of Ohrid. They also declined to send a representative to the celebration.[31] In late May 2018, the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople accepted the request from MOC to examine its canonical status.[32]

On 13 January 2020, the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew received North Macedonia's prime minister Oliver Spasovski and his predecessor Zoran Zaev.[33] According to the Ecumenical Patriarchate's statement, "The purpose of the visit was to examine the ecclesiastical problem of the country. The previous stages of the matter were discussed during the meeting."[34] It was announced that the patriarch would invite both the Serbian Orthodox Church and the Macedonian Orthodox Church to a joint meeting in a bid to find a mutually acceptable solution to the country's ecclesiastical issue.[34] In September 2020, the President of North Macedonia, Stevo Pendarovski, wrote a letter asking the Ecumenical Patriarch, asking him to recognize the MOC.[35]

### Communion with mainstream Eastern Orthodoxy

[edit]

On 9 May 2022, the Holy Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate recognized the Macedonian Orthodox Church, its hierarchy and faithful, and established eucharistic communion with it. It also stated that it recognized the MOC's jurisdiction as being over North Macedonia.[36][37] However, the Ecumenical Patriarchate explicitly refused to recognize the word "Macedonia" or any other derivative to designate the church, and stated it would use "Ohrid" to refer to it.[a] The Holy Synod also stated it was the role of the Serbian Orthodox Church to settle the administrative issues the Serbian Church had with the MOC.[38][39][40] The decision of the Ecumenical Patriarchate was welcomed by North Macedonia's Prime Minister, Dimitar Kovačevski.[24] After the Ecumenical Patriarchate announced communion with the MOC, the Russian Orthodox Church came to the conclusion that it recognized only the canonical rights of the Serbian Orthodox Church and refused to recognize MOC's jurisdiction over North Macedonia.[41]

Archbishop Stefan (left) in Belgrade with Patriarch Porfirije (right) on 19 May 2022.

On 16 May, the Holy Synod of the Serbian Orthodox Church released a statement that the situation of the MOC was resolved. The Holy Synod stated that full ecclesiastical autonomy was restored to the MOC under the Patriarchate of Serbia, bringing the MOC-OA fully into communion with the mainstream Eastern Orthodox world.[42][43][44]

### Recognized autocephaly and activism

[edit]

On 24 May 2022, the feast of saints Cyril and Methodius,[45] during a liturgy presided by both primates of the MOC-OA and the Serbian Orthodox Church in Skopje, Patriarch Porfirije of the Serbian Church announced to the faithful that "the Holy Synod of the Serbian Orthodox Church has unanimously met the pleas of the Macedonian Orthodox Church and has accepted and recognized its autocephaly."[46][47][48][49] During this liturgy, the primate of the MOC-OA stated he considered the Mother Church of the MOC to be the Ecumenical Patriarchate.[45][50]

On 5 June 2022, during a concelebration of the Divine Liturgy in Belgrade between the SOC and the MOC, Patriarch Porfirije of Serbia gave a tomos of autocephaly to Archbishop Stefan.[51][52][53][54] On the same day, Archbishop Stefan stated that he only recognized autocephaly that is granted from the Ecumenical Patriarchate, in accordance, he stated, with canon law.[55] The formal statement from the MOC released the following day explained that it viewed the document it had received from the SOC as a mere "recommendation [...] of autocephaly".[56][57][58]

On 8 June 2022, the Church of Greece agreed to recognize the canonicity of the MOC, but has objected to the inclusion of the term "Macedonian" in the church's title, as well as the fact that its tomos was granted by the SOC instead of the Ecumenical Patriarchate. The question of whether the right to grant autocephaly remains with a respective church's Mother Church or the Ecumenical Patriarchate is part of a long-lasting and serious debate within the Orthodox world.[59]

On 10 June 2022, on a visit to Istanbul, Archbishop Stefan was handed the Patriarchal and Synodal Act confirming the canonical and liturgical unity with the Church of Constantinople.[60][61] On 12 June, the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew and Archbishop Stefan concelebrated the Divine Liturgy at the Church of St. George in the Phanar.[62][63] Present at this liturgy was a delegation of the Government of North Macedonia: the prime minister of North Macedonia, Dimitar Kovačevski, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bujar Osmani, the Minister of Defence, Slavjanka Petrovska, and the Minister of Internal Affairs, Oliver Spasovski; also present was a delegation of the Interparliamentary Assembly on Orthodoxy led by its General Secretary Maximos Charakopoulos.[3][64] After this liturgy, Kovačevski was received by the Ecumenical Patriarch in a private audience; Kovačevski thanked the Ecumenical Patriarch for his decision of recognizing the MOC, and stated the Patriarch had corrected a historical injustice by doing so.[64]

On 22 June 2022, the Bulgarian Orthodox Church established communion with the MOC.[65] On 25 August 2022, the Russian Orthodox Church established communion with the MOC and formally recognized it as autocephalous.[66]

The autocephaly of the MOC was then formally recognized by the Polish Orthodox Church in October 2022,[67] the Orthodox Church of Ukraine in November 2022,[68] the Bulgarian Orthodox Church in December 2022,[69] and the Romanian Orthodox Church and Orthodox Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia in February 2023.[70][71] However, the Bulgarian Orthodox Church has objected to the inclusion of "Archdiocese of Ohrid" in the MOC's name, as it understands itself as the continuation of the Archbishopric of Ohrid.[69]

In addition to the Church of Greece and the Ecumenical Patriarchate, the canonicity of the MOC was recognized by the Patriarchate of Antioch in October 2022,[72] and the Georgian and Albanian Orthodox Churches in February 2023.[73] The church has also concelebrated with the Patriarchate of Jerusalem and the Orthodox Church in America, whose synods have not formally addressed the issue of its canonicity or its autocephaly as of March 2023.[74]

As of March 2023, the MOC has neither concelebrated with nor has its canonicity and autocephaly been recognized by the Patriarchate of Alexandria and the Church of Cyprus.[74] In March, MOC refused to enter into communion with Orthodox Church of Ukraine.[75] In the same month, metropolitan Petar along with the political party Desna (right) started collecting signatures for a Declaration "for preserving the name of the Macedonian Orthodox Church – Ohrid Archbishopric." Per the document, the "change of its name, status and dignity is high treason of MOC-OA, the Macedonian people and the state of Macedonia!"[76] In June, the church assigned dioceses to the former SOC's hierarchs, who were part of the Orthodox Ohrid Archbishopric.[77] The church protested against laws on gender equality and registries,[78][79] whose protest was attended by people with religious symbols, Kutlesh flag and Russian flags, as well as members of the Russian motorcycle club Night Wolves.[80][81] The protest was also supported by other religious communities in North Macedonia.[82] The Platform for Gender Equality and the Network for Protection against Discrimination condemned MOC's involvement.[83] Per North Macedonia's president Stevo Pendarovski, based on information from NATO, people from MOC's Synod cooperated with Russian secret services.[84]

Metropolitan Kyrillos of the Ecumenical Patriarchate challenged the validity of the tomos of autocephaly granted by the Serbian church and accused it of having a pro-Russian orientation.[85][86] In May 2024, the Macedonian Orthodox Church rejected the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople's final conditions for its independence. It has not received any official decree for its recognition. MOC did not agree to change its name, dropping "Macedonian" from it to secure such a decree.[87] In September 2024, the leadership of the church expressed its support for the Ukrainian Orthodox Church after legislation was brought into force in Ukraine, which banned religious organizations linked to the Russian Orthodox Church from operating there.[88]

## Organization

[edit]

Map of the eight dioceses of North Macedonia (2013-2023)

### Dioceses on the territory of North Macedonia

[edit]

1. Diocese of Skopje, headed by Archbishop Stefan;
2. Diocese of Tetovo and Gostivar, headed by Metropolitan Joseph;
3. Diocese of Kumanovo and Osogovo, headed by Metropolitan Grigorij;
4. Diocese of Debar and Kičevo, headed by Vacant;
5. Diocese of Prespa and Pelagonia, headed by Metropolitan Peter;
6. Diocese of Strumica, headed by Metropolitan Naum;
7. Diocese of Bregalnica, headed by Metropolitan Hilarion;
8. Diocese of Povardarie, headed by Metropolitan Agathangel;
9. Diocese of Kruševo and Demir Hisar, headed by Metropolitan Jovan;
10. Diocese of Deljadrovci-Ilinden, headed by Metropolitan Joachim;
11. Diocese of Delčevo and Makedonska Kamenica, headed by Metropolitan Mark.

### Diaspora dioceses

[edit]

1. American-Canadian Diocese, headed by Metropolitan Methodius
2. European Diocese, headed by Metropolitan Pimen
3. Diocese of Australia and New Zealand, administered by Metropolitan Peter of Prespa and Pelagonia, headquarters in Melbourne.
4. Diocese of Australia and Sydney, administered by Vacant, headquarters in Sydney.

Outside the country, the church is active in 4 dioceses in the Macedonian diaspora. The 12 dioceses of the church are governed by ten Episcopes, with around 500 active priests in about 500 parishes with over 2000 churches and monasteries. The church claims jurisdiction of about twenty living monasteries, with more than 100 monks.[89]

### Titular Bishops

[edit]

* David, titular Bishop of Dremvit, vicar bishop of the Diocese of Skopje.

## Note

[edit]

1. ^ This has been interpreted by the Athens-Macedonian News Agency as the Ecumenical Patriarchate recognizing the name Church of Ohrid to designate the MOC.[24]

## See also

[edit]

* Christianity portal
* North Macedonia portal

* List of churches in North Macedonia
* Macedonian Greek Catholic Church
* Premin

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b c d e Erwin Fahlbusch; Geoffrey William Bromiley, eds. (1999). The Encyclopedia of Christianity, Volume 3. Grand Rapids, Michigan: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company. p. 381\. ISBN 9780802824158. OCLC 39914033.
2. ^ a b "РУССКАЯ ПРАВОСЛАВНАЯ ЦЕРКОВЬ XX ВЕК. 10 ОКТЯБРЯ". Retrieved 14 September 2014.
3. ^ a b "Συλλείτουργο Οικουμενικού Πατριάρχη-Αρχιεπισκόπου Αχρίδος στο Φανάρι" [Ecumenical Patriarch, Archbishop of Ohrid in the Phanar]. Ορθοδοξία News Agency (in Greek). 2022-06-12. Retrieved 2022-06-13.
4. ^ Nevill Forbes; Arnold J. Toynbee; D. Mitrany; D. G. Hogarth (2004). The Balkans: A History of Bulgaria, Serbia, Greece, Romania, Turkey. Digital Antiquaria. pp. 28–29\. ISBN 1-58057-314-2.28-29&rft.pub=Digital+Antiquaria&rft.date=2004&rft.isbn=1-58057-314-2&rft.au=Nevill+Forbes&rft.au=Arnold+J.+Toynbee&rft.au=D.+Mitrany&rft.au=D.+G.+Hogarth&rfr_id=info:sid/en.wikipedia.org:Macedonian+Orthodox+Church" class="Z3988">
5. ^ Treadgold, Warren T. (1997). A History of the Byzantine State and Society. Stanford University Press. p. 528. ISBN 1-58057-314-2.
6. ^ a b Balázs Trencsényi; Michal Kopeček, eds. (2007). National Romanticism: The Formation of National Movements. Central European University Press. p. 188-190. ISBN 9786155211249.
7. ^ Klejda Mulaj (2008). Politics of Ethnic Cleansing: Nation-State Building and Provision of In/Security in Twentieth-Century Balkans. Lexington Books. p. 24\. ISBN 073914667X.
8. ^ Ivan Zhelev Dimitrov (2010). "Bulgarian Christianity". In Ken Parry (ed.). The Blackwell Companion to Eastern Christianity. John Wiley & Sons. pp. 60–63\. ISBN 1444333615.60-63&rft.pub=John+Wiley+&+Sons&rft.date=2010&rft.isbn=1444333615&rft.au=Ivan+Zhelev+Dimitrov&rfr_id=info:sid/en.wikipedia.org:Macedonian+Orthodox+Church" class="Z3988">
9. ^ Shkarovsky, Mikhail Vitalyevich (2017) "Church Life in Macedonia During World War II," Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe: Vol. 37: Iss. 4 , Article 5.
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11. ^ a b Lucian Leustean, ed. (2010). Eastern Christianity and the Cold War, 1945-91. Routledge. pp. 176, 181. ISBN 9781135233822.
12. ^ a b Sabrina P. Ramet (2019). Orthodox Churches and Politics in Southeastern Europe: Nationalism, Conservativism, and Intolerance. Springer Nature. pp. 66, 170–171\. ISBN 9783030241391.170-171&rft.pub=Springer+Nature&rft.date=2019&rft.isbn=9783030241391&rft.au=Sabrina+P.+Ramet&rfr_id=info:sid/en.wikipedia.org:Macedonian+Orthodox+Church" class="Z3988">
13. ^ a b Zuzanna Bogumił; Yuliya Yurchuk, eds. (2022). Memory and Religion from a Postsecular Perspective. Routledge. p. 223\. ISBN 9781032206981.
14. ^ Sabrina P. Ramet (2023). East Central Europe and Communism Politics, Culture, and Society, 1943-1991. Routledge. pp. 257–258\. ISBN 9781003311515.257-258&rft.pub=Routledge&rft.date=2023&rft.isbn=9781003311515&rft.au=Sabrina+P.+Ramet&rfr_id=info:sid/en.wikipedia.org:Macedonian+Orthodox+Church" class="Z3988">
15. ^ Vjekoslav Perica (2002). Balkan Idols: Religion and Nationalism in Yugoslav States. Oxford University Press. pp. 13, 146. ISBN 9780195174298.
16. ^ Tom Gallagher (2005). The Balkans in the New Millennium: In the Shadow of War and Peace. Routledge. pp. 100–101\. ISBN 9780415349406.100-101&rft.pub=Routledge&rft.date=2005&rft.isbn=9780415349406&rft.au=Tom+Gallagher&rfr_id=info:sid/en.wikipedia.org:Macedonian+Orthodox+Church" class="Z3988">
17. ^ "MACEDONIA: Why is state interfering in Orthodox dispute?". Forum18.org. Retrieved 2011-11-05.
18. ^ "MACEDONIA: Serbian Orthodox "will never get registration"". Forum18.org. Retrieved 2011-11-05.
19. ^ "IWPR Institute for War & Peace Reporting". Iwpr.net. 1980-12-25. Retrieved 2011-11-05.
20. ^ "Southeast Europe Online". Southeasteurope.org. Archived from the original on 2007-12-12. Retrieved 2011-11-05.
21. ^ "Press Online". Lobi.com.mk. Retrieved 2011-11-05.
22. ^ "Eca 15". Hrw.org. 1999-10-31. Retrieved 2011-11-05.
23. ^ "Македонската Православна Црква со нов грб - Македонско хералдичко здружение". heraldika.org.mk.
24. ^ a b c "North Macedonia welcomes Ecumenical Patriarchate's recognition of Church of Ohrid". Athens-Macedonian News Agency. 10 May 2022. Retrieved 2022-06-14.
25. ^ Lucian N. Leustean, ed. (2014). Eastern Christianity and Politics in the Twenty-First Century. Routledge. p. 428\. ISBN 9781317818663.
26. ^ Македонската архиепископия е готова да признае БПЦ за Църква-майка. "Вяра и общество с Горан Благоев", 18.11.2017.
27. ^ Рeшение на Св. Синод по повод отправено писмо от Македонската православна църква. Archived 2020-08-11 at the Wayback Machine 27 November 2017, Българска Патриаршия
28. ^ Bulgarian Holy synod will do all it can to make Macedonian church canonical. November 27, 2017.
29. ^ BOC accepted to be mother-church of MOC-OA. Kurir News Agency, 28.11.2017.
30. ^ Bulgarian Orthodox Synod supports the Macedonian Church strive for recognition. 30 November 2017.
31. ^ "РЕШЕНИЯ на Св. Синод от заседанието на 14.05.18г". www.bg-patriarshia.bg. Archived from the original on 15 May 2018. Retrieved 22 May 2022.
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33. ^ "Премиерот Спасовски оствари средба со Вселенскиот Патријарх г. г. Вартоломеј во седиштето Цариградската Патријаршија во Истанбул". Government of North Macedonia. 13 January 2020. Retrieved 14 January 2020.
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35. ^ "North Macedonia requests church autocephaly from Ecumenical Patriarch". eKathimerini.com. 21 September 2020. Retrieved 2022-05-09.
36. ^ "Constantinople Ends Schism with North Macedonia Church". Balkan Insight. 10 May 2022.
37. ^ Marusic, Sinisa Jakov (2022-05-19). "Serbia's Olive Branch: Breakthrough or Trap for Macedonia's Church?". Balkan Insight. Retrieved 2022-06-14.
38. ^ "Phanar: Yes to the recognition, no to "Macedonia" for the Archdiocese of Ohrid". Orthodox Times. Retrieved 2022-05-09.
39. ^ "Οικουμενικό Πατριαρχείο: Αναγνωρίζει τη σχισματική εκκλησία των Σκοπίων". Ορθοδοξία News Agency (in Greek). 2022-05-09. Retrieved 2022-05-09.
40. ^ "Αποφάσεις της Αγίας και Ιεράς Συνόδου σχετικά με το εκκλησιαστικό θέμα του Κράτους της Βορείου Μακεδονίας". Οικουμενικό Πατριαρχείο (in Greek). 9 May 2022. Retrieved 2022-06-17.
41. ^ Лилия Чалева (10 May 2022). "Какво следва от решението на Вселенската патриаршия за Охридската епископия?". Dir.bg (in Bulgarian).
42. ^ "Church of Serbia for North Macedonia: We are not under the influence or pressure of anyone". Orthodox Times. 16 May 2022. Retrieved 2022-05-16.
43. ^ "Саопштење Светог Архијерејског Сабора". spc.rs. 16 May 2022. Archived from the original on 16 May 2022. Retrieved 16 May 2022.
44. ^ "The Assembly of the SOC approved the canonical unity of the MOC-OA - Free Press". Слободен печат. 2022-05-16. Retrieved 2022-05-16.
45. ^ a b "Беседа на Архиепископот во денот на светите Кирил и Методиј (24.05.2022)". Premin. 25 May 2022. Retrieved 2022-06-15.
46. ^ "RSE: SPC priznala autokefalnost Makedonske pravoslavne crkve". Vijesti (in Montenegrin). 2022-05-24. Retrieved 2022-05-24.
47. ^ "Serbian Patriarch Brings "Good News" to Newly-Recognised Macedonian Church". Balkan Insight. 2022-05-24. Retrieved 2022-05-24.
48. ^ "BREAKING: Patriarch Porfirije announces autocephaly of Macedonian Church (+VIDEO)". OrthoChristian.Com. Retrieved 2022-05-24.
49. ^ "Patriarchate of Serbia recognizes the autocephaly of Archdiocese of Ohrid". Orthodox Times. 24 May 2022. Retrieved 2022-05-24.
50. ^ "Архиепископ Стефан: Када се љубав дели – она се умножава! | Српскa Православнa Црквa [Званични сајт]". www.spc.rs (in Serbian). Retrieved 2022-06-15.
51. ^ Efthimiou, Efi (5 June 2022). "Patriarchate Of Serbia overrides centuries old traditions: It granted 'Tomos of Autocephaly' to Ohrid Archdiocese". Orthodox Times. Retrieved 2022-06-05.
52. ^ "Macedonian Church receives tomos of autocephaly from Serbian Church". OrthoChristian.Com. Retrieved 2022-06-05.
53. ^ "Патријарх Порфирије у Саборној цркви у Београду: Црква се умножава у духу Јеванђеља Христовог (ФОТО/ВИДЕО)". Televizija Hram. Retrieved 2022-06-05.
54. ^ "Zvanično priznata autokefalnost – Porfirije uručio tomos arhiepiskopu Stefanu" (in Serbian). N1. 5 June 2022. Retrieved 5 June 2022.
55. ^ "Архиепископот Стефан за То Вима: Единствено Вселенската Патријаршија издава томос за автокефалност". РЕЛИГИЈА.МК (in Macedonian). 2022-06-05.
56. ^ "Archbishop of Ohrid finks out on the Serbs: We will get the Tomos of Autocephaly from the Ecumenical Patriarch". Orthodox Times. 6 June 2022. Retrieved 2022-06-06.
57. ^ "МПЦ-ОА: Со документот на СПЦ црквата се претставува како достојна за автокефаност". РЕЛИГИЈА.МК (in Macedonian). 2022-06-06.
58. ^ "Соопштение од Кабинетот на Архиепископот". mpc.org.mk (in Macedonian). МПЦ. 2022-06-07.
59. ^ "Greek Synod objects to name and territory of Macedonian Orthodox Church". OrthoChristian.Com. 8 June 2022. Retrieved 27 March 2023.
60. ^ "Εγινε στο Φανάρι επίσημα η αποκατάσταση της εκκλησιαστικής κοινωνίας της Αρχιεπισκοπής Αχρίδος". «Εθνικός Κήρυκας» (in Greek). 2022-06-11. Retrieved 2022-06-13.
61. ^ Spirovska, Aleksandra (10 June 2022). "Архиепископот Стефан од патријархот Вартоломеј го прими Патријаршискиот акт". Macedonian Radio Television (in Macedonian).
62. ^ "Concelebration at the Phanar with Bartholomew and the Archbishop of Ohrid (LIVE)". Orthodox Times. 12 June 2022. Retrieved 2022-06-12.
63. ^ "Οικουμενικός Πατριάρχης σε Αχρίδος Στέφανο: "Η από τώρα πορεία σας εξαρτάται αποκλειστικά από τη δική σας συμπεριφορά"". orthodoxianewsagency.gr. 12 June 2022.
64. ^ a b "Κοβάτσεφσκι: Ευχαριστούμε τον Πατριάρχη Βαρθολομαίο για τον τερματισμό μιας ιστορικής αδικίας" [Kovacevski: We thank Patriarch Bartholomew for ending a historic injustice]. www.ieidiseis.gr (in Greek). 2022-06-12. Retrieved 2022-06-13.
65. ^ "Bulgarian Orthodox Church restores canonical communion with Church of Northern Macedonia". OrthoChristian.Com. Retrieved 2022-06-23.
66. ^ "Русская Православная Церковь признала Македонскую Православную Церковь — Охридскую Архиепископию автокефальной Церковью-Сестрой".
67. ^ "Polish Church officially recognizes Macedonian Orthodox Church". OrthoChristian.Com. 27 October 2022. Retrieved 27 March 2023.
68. ^ "Primate of Macedonian Orthodox Church added to diptychs of Ukrainian Orthodox Church". OrthoChristian.Com. 23 November 2022. Retrieved 27 March 2023.
69. ^ a b "Bulgarian Church recognizes autocephaly of Macedonian Church, but without title "Ohrid"". OrthoChristian.Com. 20 December 2022. Retrieved 27 March 2023.
70. ^ Efi Efthimiou (10 February 2023). "Patriarchate of Romania recognised the autochephaly the Serbs granted to the Archdiocese of Ohrid".
71. ^ "Czech-Slovak Church recognizes Macedonian-Ohrid autocephaly". OrthoChristian.Com. 13 February 2023. Retrieved 27 March 2023.
72. ^ "Antiochian Synod officially recognizes Macedonian Orthodox Church". OrthoChristian.Com. 19 October 2022. Retrieved 27 March 2023.
73. ^ "Georgian Church enters into communion with Macedonian Church". OrthoChristian.Com. 16 February 2023. Retrieved 27 March 2023.
74. ^ a b "Albanian Church enters into communion with Macedonian-Ohrid Church". OrthoChristian.Com. 27 February 2023. Retrieved 27 March 2023.
75. ^ "Macedonian Church rejects communion with Ukrainian schismatics". OrthoChristian. 31 March 2023.
76. ^ Goran Lefkov (25 March 2024). "Russian Agents Cloaked in Mantles of the Macedonian Orthodox Church". Truthmeter.mk.
77. ^ "Union complete: Macedonian Holy Synod assigns dioceses to former Serbian Church hierarchs". OrthoChristian. 21 June 2023.
78. ^ "MOC-OA holds protest against laws on gender equality and registries". MIA. 29 June 2023.
79. ^ "North Macedonia's Church Protests Gender-Related Laws". Balkan Insight. 29 June 2023.
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81. ^ "Икони, крстови и руски знамиња на протестот на МПЦ против законите за родова еднаквост и матична евиденција". Lokalno (in Macedonian). 30 June 2023.
82. ^ "Thousands in North Macedonia join Church protest against proposed laws on gender equality, identity". Associated Press. 29 June 2023.
83. ^ "MOC-OA protest against the legal amendments on gender equality and birth records". Sloboden Pecat. 2023.
84. ^ "Пендаровски: Имаме информации од НАТО дека луѓе од највисокото раководство на Синодот на МПЦ соработуваат со руските служби". 360stepeni (in Macedonian). 30 June 2023.
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86. ^ "Metropolitan of Imbros: The Tomos granted by the Serbs to the Archdiocese of Ohrid is a fake – It's a shame for the church". Orthodox Times. 12 April 2024.
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89. ^ "Macedonian Orthodox Church today". www.mpc.org.mk. Retrieved 2021-10-24.

## Further reading

[edit]

* Article on the MOC by Ronald Roberson on the CNEWA website
* "Οικουμενικός Πατριάρχης σε Αρχιεπίσκοπο Αχρίδος: "Η Κωνσταντινούπολη τυγχάνει η πνευματική σας μήτρα" (ΒΙΝΤΕΟ)" [Ecumenical Patriarch to Archbishop of Ohrid: "Constantinople is your spiritual womb" (VIDEO)]. Ορθοδοξία News Agency (in Greek). 2022-06-10. Retrieved 2022-06-13.

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