Archbishop Stefan of Ohrid set the record straight today, with a statement issued by the Church of North Macedonia, in which he clarifies that the Tomos of Autocephaly will be issued by the Ecumenical Patriarchate.
In particular, he thanks the Patriarchate of Serbia for the quick settlement – as he says – of the administrative issues after the recognition by the Ecumenical Patriarchate.
Regarding yesterday’s decision of the Church of Serbia to grant a “Tomos of Autocephaly” to the Church of North Macedonia, Archbishop Stefan of Ohrid clarifies that this is “an official document, a kind of establishment by which our Church presents itself ready and worthy to be granted the Autocephaly”.
In the same statement it is stressed that in the next period he will officially visit Phanar, where he looks forward to “formalizing our acceptance into Orthodox liturgical unity. The Ecumenical Patriarchate will be informed of the decision of the Serbian Orthodox Church to settle all administrative issues between the two Churches”.
He also expressed his hope that the settlement of the ecclesiastical issue of the country will be achieved “by the issuance of the Tomos of Autocephaly by His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, in accordance with his canonical and historical jurisdiction”.
