As was posted about earlier, the Ecumenical Patriarchate has decided to accept the Macedonian organization (the so-called "Ohrid Archdiocese") and normalize it. It should not surprise you that the Serbian synod is meeting right now in order to respond to this. If the Ukrainian project by Constantinople angered Russia (and much of the Orthodox world), expect no less outrage from Serbia et mundus over this abrupt action. Several people have emailed me asking if the EP is simply trying to divide the Orthodox world one action at a time. To that I have no answer. I do know, however, that this "healing" initiative is upsetting primates, enraging the laity, and serving as fodder for those who scream "popery!" every time His All-Holiness sneezes.
(Orthodox Times) - The recognition of the Ohrid Archdiocese took place today by the Ecumenical Patriarchate, during the meeting of the Holy Synod, and after an in-depth discussion.
The Ecumenical Patriarchate announced that it welcomes in Eucharistic communion “the hierarchy, clergy, and people of this Church under Archbishop Stefan .”
In this way, as argued in the communiqué, it heals the wound of the schism and pours “oil and wine” into the wound of the Orthodox brothers and sisters there.
He clarified that it was up to the Church of Serbia to settle the administrative issues between it and the Church in North Macedonia.
It makes clear that it excludes the term “Macedonian” and any other derivative of the word “Macedonia”, and recognizes the name of the Church as “Ohrid”.
He promises to continue to be interested in the progress and stability of the Ohrid ecclesiastical entity.
And also...
(Orthodox Times) - We were expecting this reaction from Belgrade, but it came from Moscow. This is about the first reaction to yesterday’s announcement of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, by which it received the Archdiocese of Ohrid in Eucharistic Communion under Archbishop Stefanos.
And whereas, after the initial surprise and the discussion concerning the decision of the Phanar, the focus was on Belgrade and how the Patriarchate of Serbia would respond (especially after the meeting of Patriarch Porphyry of Serbia a few days ago with a representative of the Church of North Macedonia, which indicated developments on the part of the Serbian Church), the -first- reaction came from Moscow.
In particular, the secretary of the Moscow Patriarchate’s Department for Foreign Church Affairs, Igor Yakimchuk, said that the Russian Orthodox Church recognized the exclusive canonical rights of the Serbian Orthodox Church in North Macedonia.
“The Russian Orthodox Church will primarily take into account the approach to the problem from the side of the Serbian Church, to which we continue to recognize exclusive canonical rights in North Macedonia,” the archpriest stressed.
The Ecumenical Patriarchate announced yesterday that it was receiving in Eucharistic Communion “the hierarchy, clergy, and people of this Church under Archbishop Stefanos”.
In this way, according to the communiqué, it is healing the wound of the schism and pouring “oil and wine” into the wound of the Orthodox brothers and sisters there.
It clarifies that it is up to the Church of Serbia to settle the administrative issues between itself and the Church in North Macedonia.
It makes it clear that it excludes the term “Macedonian” and any other derivative of the word “Macedonia”, and recognizes the name of the Church as “Ohrid”.
It promises that it will continue to be interested in the progress and stability of the ecclesiastical entity of Ohrid.
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Who (and where are they) is left for the EP to pick up - beyond the novel "multi-jurisdictional" west that is? Honest question as I don't keep up with schism's in "the old country's".
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