Primate of Macedonian Orthodox Church added to diptychs of Ukrainian Orthodox Church

Kiev, November 23, 2022

Abp. Stefan of Ohrid. Photo: Wikipedia By decision of the Ukrainian Holy Synod today, the name of the primate of the Macedonian Orthodox Church-Ohrid Archbishopric has been added to the diptychs of the primates of the Local Orthodox Churches to be commemorated at the Divine services, reports the Ukrainian Orthodox Church’s Information-Education Department.

The Synod of the canonical UOC met at the Holy Dormition-Kiev Caves Lavra this morning under the chairmanship of His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry of Kiev and All Ukraine, who will from now on commemorate His Eminence Archbishop Stefan of Ohrid in the services.

The UOC thus recognizes the MOC as both canonical and autocephalous.

Recall that after the Council of UOC strengthens UOC independence, considers making Chrism, expresses disagreement with PatriarchThe Council issued a number of resolutions, including a condemnation of the fratricidal war, disagreement with Patriarch Kirill’s position on the war, what’s necessary for there to be any dialogue with the schismatic “Orthodox Church of Ukraine,” and declarations of the increased independence of the UOC. Notably, the possibility of making Chrism within the UOC was discussed.

“>UOC’s Council in May in which it removed all connection to the Russian Orthodox Church from its statutes, Met. Onuphry Met. Onuphry changes how he commemorates—reads diptychs of Orthodox primates (+VIDEO)Met. Onuphry didn’t commemorate His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia as the hierarch over him, but rather read the diptychs of primates according to the practice of the primates of the autocephalous Local Churches.”>began to commemorate the diptychs of the primates of the Local Churches during the Divine services, according to the practice of Orthodox primates.

The UOC’s decision comes less than a month after the Council of Bishops of the Polish Church officially recognizes Macedonian Orthodox ChurchThe Council of Bishops of the Polish Orthodox Church gathered in Warsaw on Tuesday under the chairmanship of His Beatitude Metropolitan Sawa of Warsaw and All Poland, with the participation of every bishop of the Polish Church.

“>Polish Orthodox Church decided to recognize and enter into communion with the Macedonian Church.

Thus far, the canonicity of the MOC has been formally recognized by (in addition to the Patriarchate of Serbia which Macedonian Church receives tomos of autocephaly from Serbian Church“Today, by the grace of God, we have the opportunity to ratify what already exists between us, this unity that was once disturbed,” Pat. Porfirije stressed.

“>granted it autocephaly) the Synods of the Patriarchates of Constantinople enters into communion with Macedonian ChurchAccording to the new statement, Constantinople accepts the hierarchy, clergy, and laity of the MOC into communion under the name of “Ohrid,” thus “healing the wound of schism.””>Constantinople, Bulgarian Orthodox Church restores canonical communion with Church of Northern MacedoniaThe decision was made on June 21, 2022 at a meeting of the Holy Synod.”>Bulgaria, Russian Church officially recognizes autocephaly of Macedonian ChurchAs a sign of this recognition, the name of the MOC primate His Eminence Archbishop Stephan of Ohrid will be inscribed in the sacred diptychs.”>Russia, and Antiochian Synod officially recognizes Macedonian Orthodox ChurchThe Antiochian Orthodox Church is the latest Local Church to officially recognize and enter into communion with the Macedonian Orthodox Church-Ohrid Archbishopric.”>Antioch, and the Churches of Greek Synod objects to name and territory of Macedonian Orthodox ChurchThe Permanent Holy Synod of the Church of Greece welcomes the Patriarchate of Constantinople’s decision to recognize the Macedonian Orthodox Church-Ohrid Archbishopric as canonical, but has “serious objections and reservations” about the Serbian Church’s decision to grant it autocephaly.”>Greece and Polish Church officially recognizes Macedonian Orthodox ChurchThe Council of Bishops of the Polish Orthodox Church gathered in Warsaw on Tuesday under the chairmanship of His Beatitude Metropolitan Sawa of Warsaw and All Poland, with the participation of every bishop of the Polish Church.”>Poland.

Whereas the Russian, Polish, and now Ukrainian Churches explicitly recognize the autocephaly of the Macedonian Church, the Church of Greece explicitly rejects it on the grounds that only Constantinople can grant autocephaly, though it nevertheless accepts the Macedonian Church as canonical.

MOC hierarchs and clergy have also concelebrated with hierarchs and clergy from the Macedonian concelebrations with Jerusalem, Romanian, Bulgarian, Russian, Serbian, Greek, Ukrainian Churches in Holy Land (+VIDEO)The Macedonian Orthodox Church-Ohrid Archbishopric continues its journey towards full acceptance in the Orthodox world after it recently received a tomos of autocephaly from the Serbian Orthodox Church.

“>Churches of Jerusalem, Macedonian and Romanian hierarchs concelebrate for first timeA joyous spiritual event took place this weekend at an Orthodox church in Sweden, as hierarchs of the Macedonian Orthodox Church-Ohrid Archbishopric and the Romanian Orthodox Church concelebrated for the first time since the Macedonian Church returned to a canonical status in May.”>Romania, the New saints canonized by Serbian Church with hierarchs from 6 Local ChurchesSt. Irinej was one of the most learned hierarchs of his day, and left a deep and indelible mark on the Diocese of Bačka.”>Czech Lands and Slovakia, and the Orthodox Church in America, though their Synods have not formally addressed the issue.

Thus far, there have no been Synodal decisions from or concelebrations with hierarchs or clergy of the Churches of Alexandria, Georgia, Cyprus, and Albania.

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