The Serbian Orthodox Church’s Bishop of Buda, His Grace Lukijan, this week visited the Archbishopric of Ohrid in Skopje, with the blessing of the Patriarch of Serbia, His Holiness Porfirije.
The continued visits of bishops and clergy between the Serbian Patriarchate and the Archbishopric of Ohrid come after the recent restoration of eucharistic communion and the bestowment of canonical status, by the Ecumenical Patriarchate, to the latter Orthodox Church in the Republic of North Macedonia, which lies due north of the Greek province of Macedonia.
The Serbian Church soon followed with the restoration of eucharistic communion after 55 years of schism.
Although the developments are historic, the Ecumenical Patriarchate, in its landmark decision, underlined that the Church of Ohrid may not use the term “Macedonia” for the Church, or any derivatives of the former.
Nevertheless, in greeting the Archbishop of Ohrid, His Beatitude Stefan, the Serbian Bishop referred to a “… the Macedonian Church – Archbishopric of Ohrid”.