The Parliament approved the canonical unity of the SPC with the Macedonian Orthodox Church

The Assembly of the Serbian Orthodox Church (SPC) today approved the canonical unity of the SPC with the Ohrid Archdiocese.

The Assembly announced that with "thanks to God and with joy" it welcomes the acceptance of the generally recognized canonical status, the widest possible autonomy and full independence of the Macedonian Orthodox Church - Ohrid Archdiocese, granted back in 1959.

"Since the reasons for the interruption of liturgical and canonical communion, caused by the unilateral declaration of autocephaly in 1967, have been removed, full liturgical and canonical communion is being established," states the announcement of the Parliament, which "received the act of the Holy Synod of Bishops of the Macedonian Orthodox Church - Ohrid Archdiocese." .

By establishing unity on canonical grounds and under the conditions of validity of the canonical order in the entire area of ​​the SPC, as stated, the dialogue on the future and eventually final status of dioceses in North Macedonia is not only possible, but also expedient, legitimate and realistic, reports N1.

"In the dialogue about their future and possibly final canonical status, the SPC will be guided only and exclusively by ecclesiological-canonical and ecclesiastical-pastoral principles, standards and norms, not caring about 'realpolitik, geopolitik, ecclesiopolitik' and other similar facts or for unilateral initiatives and without succumbing to anyone's influence or pressure", announced the Assembly of the Serbian Orthodox Church.

After resolving the status, as he says, the Parliament does not intend to condition the new sister Church with limiting clauses regarding the extent of its jurisdiction in the home country and in the diaspora, while recommending that it resolve the issue of its official name in direct fraternal dialogue with Greek-speaking and other local Orthodox Churches, he concludes in the announcement.

The Macedonian Orthodox Church is the official Orthodox Church in North Macedonia, canonically unrecognized. It was created by the separation from the Serbian Orthodox Church in 1967.

Because of the name "Macedonian", the Ecumenical Patriarch did not recognize it, and neither did the Greek Orthodox Church, which is why other Orthodox churches also refuse to recognize it.