Macedonians expressed intent to return to Serbian Church's canonical order: Historical decision's background

"This is an exception and no one can rely on the Macedonian example again," Rakovic said.

The Macedonian Orthodox Church itself expressed intention to return to the canonical order of the Serbian Orthodox Church (SPC), and when the Serbian Orthodox Church established that the moment had come and there were no obstacles, the Macedonian Orthodox Church returned as an autonomous church, according to a 1959 decision.

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At that time, the Macedonian Church was given autonomy by the Serbian Orthodox Church, historian Aleksandar Rakovic explains for Telegraf.rs.

Rakovic commented on the announcement of the SPC Assembly, which states that the SPC accepts the status of the broadest possible autonomy for the Macedonian Church, i.e., its full internal independence, which was granted to it in 1959.

Priests of Serbian and Macedonian churches can now serve together

"Now the bishops of the Serbian Church and the Macedonian Church can serve together, priests can serve together, the sacred secrets of the Macedonian Orthodox Church, their baptisms, their weddings are recognized, Serbian believers can receive communion with Macedonian believers, and all other Orthodox churches can now normally serve together with the Macedonian Orthodox Church," Rakovic explained this decision.

According to him, the Macedonian Orthodox Church is no longer under any measure and is now an independent church within the Serbian Orthodox Church, has a degree of autonomy, while the Macedonian archbishop's obligation is to mention the Serbian patriarch in his prayers and send his delegation to Belgrade for the Holy Myron.

"These are the obligations that Archbishop Stefan has towards Patriarch Porfirije and that is all. The Macedonian Church is in fact an independent church within the Serbian Orthodox Church," Rakovic is clear.

Rakovic says that the Serbian Orthodox Church does not question the name of the Macedonian Orthodox Church.

"We accept that, but we instructed them, that is, the SPC Assembly instructed them to find common ground with the Greeks and the Greek Church about what the Greeks will call that hierarchy in North Macedonia. In the end, let the Macedonians settle it with the Patriarchate of Constantinople and the Greeks in some bilateral meetings," he said.

This is exception and no one can refer to Macedonian example again

He recalled that on May 9, 2022, the Patriarchate of Constantinople made a decision that the Macedonian Orthodox Church can be only within the borders of North Macedonia, and its Synod accepted that decision on May 10, which means that it excluded its dioceses in the diaspora.

"Other dioceses have been given to the Greek hierarchy for administration, so that now those several hundred thousand believers, Macedonians, who will probably not accept so easily that they will not be within some Slavic hierarchy, will most likely join the Serbian Orthodox Church. We have dioceses in North America, Western Europe, Australia, and it is logical for them to express their religious feelings in the Serbian Orthodox Church," said Rakovic.

Asked what would be the next step of the Macedonian Church, Rakovic said that their Synod only has to confirm the decision, since it was their request to return to the canonical order of the Serbian Orthodox Church.

"This is a great achievement of Patriarch Porfirije and the Holy Synod of Bishops, that they successfully ended a schism that lasted for more than 50 years by extending a hand to the Macedonian Orthodox Church and resolving this. That is a great victory of Patriarch Porfirije and the Serbian Orthodox Church," said Rakovic.

Asked whether this case could be linked with some others in the SPC space, Rakovic said that it could not.

"This is an exception and there is no other example. No one can refer to the Macedonian example," Rakovic said.

(Telegraf.rs)