All-Macedonian Council Held in Skopje

The All-Macedonian Council of the hierarchs, clergy, and faithful of the independent Macedonian Orthodox Church has taken place at the Church of the Nativity of the Mother of God in the Macedonian capital, Skopje. The Council was led by Archbishop Stefan (Veljanovski) of Ohrid and Skopje and the Church's diocesan metropolitans. During his sermon at the start of the Council Archbishop Stefan emphasized the need for unity both within the Macedonian nation and within the Church of Macedonia. More (in Macedonian) here.

Russian Orthodox Professor Visits Macedonia

Deacon Andrei Kuraev, a professor at the Russian Orthodox Church's Moscow Theological Academy, has begun a visit to Macedonia to lecture on Orthodoxy and the modern world in Skopje. Prior to his lectures Fr. Dn. Andrei met with Archbishop Stefan (Veljanovski) of Ohrid, first hierarch of the independent Macedonian Orthodox Church. More (in Macedonian) here.

Macedonian Archbishop Meets with Russian Ambassador

Archbishop Stefan (Veljanovski) of the independent Macedonian Orthodox Church has met with the Russian ambassador to Macedonia. The topics of their discussions have not been published. More (in Macedonian) here.

Macedonian Orthodox Archbishop Visits Germany

Archbishop Stefan (Veljanovski) of Ohrid of the independent Macedonian Orthodox Church is on a pastoral visit to Germany. Over the weekend he celebrated the 20th anniversary of the Church of St. George of Kratovo in Hamburg, which is part of the Macedonian Orthodox Diocese of Europe, with Metropolitans Pimen of Europe and Hilarion of Bregalnitsa. More here.

Bulgarians in Macedonia Protest Archbishop's Remarks

Following comments by Archbishop Stefan (Veljanovski) of Ohrid of the schismatic Macedonian Orthodox Church that ethnically Macedonian Spaska Mitrova's Bulgarian citizenship makes her one of the "dregs of society, traitors and freaks" Macedonia's Bulgarian Cultural Club (BCC), which represents Macedonians still aware of their Bulgarian heritage and identity, has demanded an apology from Archbishop Stefan. Should he not apologize the BCC will appeal to the Bulgarian Orthodox Church to restore its dioceses on the territory of independent Macedonia. More here.

Bulgarian Court Refuses to Extradite Macedonian Archbishop

As the New Year begins the Court of Appeals in Sofia, Bulgaria, has issued a ruling refusing the request of the Macedonian government that Archbishop Jovan (Vranisovski) of Ohrid, first hierarch of the autonomous Macedonian Orthodox Church of the Pech Patriarchate, be extradited to Macedonia to be tried on trumped up charges brought against him because of his departure from the schismatic Macedonian Orthodox Church under Archbishop Stefan (Veljanovski) of Ohrid. More here.