The Holy Synod of the Orthodox Church of the Ohrid Archdiocese expressed its firm support for the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC) under Metropolitan Onufriy (affiliated with the Moscow Patriarchate) during its meeting on September 12, 2024. This statement came in response to the Ukrainian Parliament’s decision in August 2024 to ban the UOC.
According to the announcement from the Holy Synod, the matter was thoroughly discussed during a regular meeting, where various ecclesiastical issues and events were reviewed. The Archdiocese specifically addressed the repercussions of the Parliament’s passage of Bill 8371, which administratively abolished the UOC. The Synod emphasized the grave consequences of this action, stating, “Millions of believers, who worship in this Church, are now deprived of their fundamental right to religious worship.”
The Synod also expressed its prayers and support for the UOC’s Primate, Metropolitan Onufriy of Kyiv and All Ukraine, as well as the bishops and faithful of the Church. “We pray that the merciful God will give them the strength to endure and overcome these trials,” the statement read.
Lastly, the Holy Synod of the Archdiocese of Ohrid emphasized its prayer for the unity of all Local Orthodox Churches, which together form the Body of Christ.
Increasing Distance from the Ecumenical Patriarchate
This position of the Archdiocese of Ohrid stands in stark contrast to that of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, which granted the Tomos of Autocephaly to the Orthodox Church of Ukraine under Metropolitan Epiphaniy. This divergence further complicates the Ecumenical Patriarch’s ongoing efforts over the last two years to restore Eucharistic communion with the Archdiocese of Ohrid after nearly fifty years of separation.
Archbishop Stefan of Ohrid said recently that it is impossible to estimate when the Autocephaly will be granted. “It could be tomorrow, it could be the day after tomorrow. We should be focusing on the Church and build relations with other local Orthodox Churches. ‘When the time comes, this will happen’ as the Apostle Paul said,” he stressed.
He also spoke of “unacceptable conditions” associated with the granting of Autocephaly. “If the Ecumenical Patriarchate grants us a Tomos, we will accept it, but the conditions imposed on us are unacceptable. They ask us to abandon the name Macedonian Orthodox Church, abandon the Macedonian diaspora and recognize the Orthodox Church of Ukraine,” said Archbishop of Ohrid.
He added that meeting some of the Ecumenical Patriarchate’s requests will be challenging, particularly those related to the name of the Church and the diaspora.
Archdiocese of Ohrid aligned with Skopje’s new government
The Archdiocese of Ohrid aligns itself with the aspirations and stance of the new -nationalist- government in Skopje. Already, the leaders of the new government, including the president and prime minister, have been swift to challenge the Prespa Agreement signed with Greece, reaffirming their country’s identity as “Macedonia”.
“We have our own name, and it does not belong to anyone else. No one should ask us to abandon it. The name of our Church is the Macedonian Orthodox Church – Ohrid Archdiocese. Both names are integral to our Church’s identity,” said Metropolitan Stefan.
Two years ago, the Archbishop of Ohrid adopted two distinct stances when the Ecumenical Patriarch brought the Church of the Balkan country into Eucharistic communion. On one hand, there was adherence to the principles advocated by the Ecumenical Patriarchate, as evidenced by statements like “patiently waiting for the Tomos of Autocephaly.” On the other hand, there were more provocative declarations, such as “Ohrid belongs to the Greek-speaking, we are called Macedonians.”
The position of the Ecumenical Patriarchate was clear from the beginning. On May 9, 2022, the Holy Synod declared its recognition of “Ohrid” as the name of this Church, referring specifically to the jurisdiction within the territory of the state of North Macedonia. This decision came after its Primate pledged in writing to the Ecumenical Patriarchate, omitting the terms “Macedonian” and any other derivatives of the word “Macedonia.”
The… “Autocephaly” granted to the Ohrid Archdiocese by the Patriarchate of Serbia, along with the eagerness of the Church of Russia to recognize it, may have emboldened Archbishop Stefan, particularly following the election of the ultra-nationalist VMRO party to govern the country.
