Large number of believers attend joint liturgy in North Macedonia

Photo: Tanjug/Milos Milivojevic

In the presence of a large number of believers in the Cathedral of St. Clement of Ohrid in Skopje, a joint liturgy of the Serbian Orthodox Church (SPC) and the Macedonian Orthodox Church-Ohrid Archbishopric (MPC-OA) was served today by Serbian Patriarch Porfirije and the head of the Macedonian Church Stefan.

Recommended

The liturgy was also attended by representatives of the Catholic Church, and a large number of monks and believers from other cities.

According to the Skopje media, referring to church sources, the reconciliation of the two sister churches - SPC and MPC-OA - is very important, and this event is assessed as an act of Christian love.

The Skopje portal Telma writes that it is important that this is just the beginning of the process of acquiring the tomos (decree) for autocephaly of the MPC-OA, which, as stated, the two sister churches expect to be given by Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew.

They also say that this event occurred after the decision of the Ecumenical Patriarch from May 9 to return the MPC-OA to canonical unity with other Orthodox churches.

It is recalled that the joint liturgy of the two leaders comes after overcoming the 55-year schism between the Serbian Orthodox Church and the MPC-OA and reestablishing canonical and Eucharistic communion.

Previously, on May 19, the two church leaders served a joint liturgy of reconciliation in the Temple of St. Sava in Belgrade.

A delegation of the Serbian Orthodox Church, led by Patriarch Porfirije, arrived in Skopje yesterday, and it includes eight SPC bishops.

It is added that today's joint liturgy followed yesterday's conclusion of the Assembly of the Serbian Orthodox Church in Belgrade, which on May 16 confirmed the status of the broadest possible autonomy of the MPC-OA, its full internal independence, granted in 1959.

(Telegraf.rs)