Serbian Patriarch officially proclaims autocephaly of the Macedonian Church
Patriarch Porfirije said the Holy Synod had unanimously responded to the request of the "Macedonian Orthodox Church - Ohrid Archdiocese" and recognized its autocephaly.
On May 24, after the Divine Liturgy on the feast of Saints Cyril and Methodius at the Cathedral of Saint Clement of Ohrid in Skopje, the Primate of the SOC delivered a solemn speech. In his speech, Patriarch Porfirije said that the Holy Synod of Bishops had unanimously responded to the request of the so-called "Macedonian Orthodox Church - Ohrid Archdiocese" and recognized the status of autocephaly.
“Just recently I saw joy and love in the eyes of each of you! I feel an obligation and duty both for myself and for the hierarchs of the Serbian Church, and this means we have overcome temptation and are currently united. Now I want to tell you good news! The Holy Synod of the Church of Serbia responded to the request of the Macedonian Church and unanimously decided to recognize its autocephalous status,” romfea.gr quotes Patriarch Porfirije.
After the announcement of Patriarch Porfirije, the bells of the Cyril and Methodius Cathedral rang and the hall exploded with applause.
The Council of Bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church authorized the Holy Synod, in cooperation with the Macedonian Church, to sort out technical details, upon which a decision will be announced with the corresponding text of autocephaly. After that, other Local Churches will be notified about this decision.
As the UOJ reported, the Serbian Church healed the Macedonian schism.
