Macedonian Orthodox Holy Synod Open to Dialogue with Serbian Orthodox Church

The Holy Synod of the independent Macedonian Orthodox Church has welcomed the statement of the President of Serbia calling for a resumption of dialogue between the Macedonian and Serbian Orthodox Churches concerning the canonical situation of the former, which unilaterally separated from the Church of Serbia in 1967 to restore the autocephaly of the ancient Archdiocese of Ohrid, which had been suppressed by the Ottoman government in 1767. More in Macedonian here.

Macedonia Celebrates 45th Anniversary of the Restoration of Autocephaly

In its recent session earlier this month the Holy Synod of the independent Macedonian Orthodox Church reaffirmed the year's programs celebrating the 45th anniversary of the restoration of the Archdiocese of Ohrid's autocephaly in 1967, noting that the celebrations will include the glorification in Kicevo of the New Martyrs Eusebius, Paisius, and Avercius of the Turkish Yoke, who suffered for the Lord in 1558. More in Macedonian here.

Montenegrin Orthodox Metropolitan Visits Macedonia

Metropolitan Amphilochius (Radovic) of Cetinje, leader of the Orthodox Church in Montenegro, has undertaken a three-day visit to Macedonia and the Serbian Orthodox Church's autonomous Archdiocese of Ohrid there. While in Macedonia Metropolitan Amphilochius met with the bishops of the autonomous Macedonian Orthodox Church, visited some of its monasteries and parishes, and discussed the situation of Archbishop John VI (Vraniskovski) of Ohrid, who has been imprisoned for the sixth time by the Macedonian authorities. More in Serbian here.

Macedonian Orthodox Archbishop Arrested

The Serbian Orthodox Church is reporting that Archbishop Jovan VI (Vraniskovski) of Ohrid, head of the autonomous Macedonian Orthodox Church, has been arrested upon attempting to enter his native Macedonia from Greece. It is expected that Archbishop Jovan will request a retrial for the false accusations brought against him in Macedonia in absentia during 2010. In the meantime he has been imprisoned in the Macedonian capital, Skopje. More here.

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.

New Skopje Church Relocated

Plans to build a large Macedonian Orthodox church on the central square in Skopje as part of the Macedonian capital's ongoing renovation have been changed in response to Albanian Muslim demands that a mosque also be built on the square. Although the church will not be built on the Skopje's central square it will be built at another location in the center of the city. More here.

Macedonian Orthodox Priests to Pay Taxes

The Macedonian government and the independent Macedonian Orthodox Church have reached an agreement on the taxation of clergy ending the exemption of priests from paying taxes. More here.

Serbian, Macedonian Presidents Meet in Montenegro

At a meeting in Montenegro the presidents of Serbia and Macedonia have expressed their satisfaction over the development of relations between the two former member republics of Yugoslavia as well as their hope that the Serbian and Macedonian Orthodox Churches would overcome their schism, which both presidents recognized as beign their responsibility, not that of the Serbian or Macedonian governments. More here.

US President Calls for Wider Religious Freedom in Macedonia

US President Barack Obama has called on President Gjorge Ivanov of Macedonia to do more to safeguard the religious freedoms of all Macedonians, noting in particular the discrimination against the autonomous Macedonian Orthodox Church under Archbishop Jovan (Vraniskovski) of Ohrid and the Macedonian government's refusal to allow it to register as a religious organization. More (in Macedonian) here.

Russian Orthodox Professor Expresses Support for Macedonian Autocephaly

A professor of the Moscow Theological Academy, Deacon Andrei Kuraev, has expressed his belief that the independent Macedonian Orthodox Church ought to be considered autocephalous by the world Orthodox Churches and that it is only political issues in Greece and Serbia that are keeping the Serbian and Greek Orthodox Churches from recognizing the independence of 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.

Supplication Held at St. Cyril's Tomb in Rome

On yesterday's feast of Sts. Cyril and Methodius the Macedonian Orthodox community in Rome held a supplication at the tomb of St. Cyril, which is contained in the Roman Catholic Basilica of San Clemente. Metropolitans Petar of Prespa and Pimen of Europe concelebrated the supplication, which was the 43rd organized at the Saint's tomb by the 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 Holy Synod Calls for Peace as Elections Approach

At the close of its recent meeting the Holy Synod of the independent Macedonian Orthodox Church called on its faithful and all the citizens of free Macedonia to display "worthy inter-ethnic and inter-religious respect and understanding" as the country prepares for upcoming parliamentary elections. More (in Macedonian) here.

Supreme Court Upholds Ruling Against Macedonian Orthodox Archbishop

The Macedonian Supreme Court has upheld a ruling against Archbishop Jovan (Vraniskovski) of Ohrid of the autonomous Macedonian Orthodox Church, confirming his two and a half year sentence. The case will be appealed to the European Court of Human Rights. More 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.

Macedonian Orthodox Holy Synod Calls for an End to Skopje Violence

At its meeting this week the Holy Synod of the independent Macedonian Orthodox Church has called for an end to conflict between the Macedonian and Albanian residents of the country over the construction of a church and museum in the Skopje Fortress, pointing out that the authorities responsible for the construction did not obtain the blessing of the Archbishop of Ohrid, who serves as Metropolitan of Skopje, and thus are not building a church for the use of the Macedonian Orthodox faithful. More here.

St. Petka's Monastery in NSW Completed

Construction of St. Petka's Monastery in New South Wales is nearly complete and will soon be home to a Macedonian Orthodox sisterhood. The Monastery has already become a focal point for pilgrimage, with nearly 10,000 pilgrims from Sydney and nearby Wollongong coming to celebrate Theophany this past January. Metropolitan Petar of Prespa, administrator of the Macedonian Orthodox Diocese of Australia and New Zealand, recently blessed the Monastery church's domes during a pastoral visit to Australia. More here.

Interview with Archbishop Stefan of Ohrid

Archbishop Stefan (Veljanovski) of Ohrid of the independent Macedonian Orthodox Church has granted an interview about the renewal of monasticism and the spiritual life of the faithful in Macedonia that can be found 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.