Macedonian Orthodox Delegation Welcomed in Serbia: Reconciliation Liturgy Held

OCP News Service – 20/5/222

Belgrade: Serbia: A high-level delegation under the leadership of Metropolitan Stephan of the Macedonian Orthodox Church was welcomed in Belgrade by the Patriarch, bishops, clergy and faithful of the Serbian Church on the 19th of May 2022.

A reconciliation liturgy was con-celebrated in the capital city at the Cathedral of St. Sava. Archbishop Jovan of Ohrid of the Serbian Patriarchate was in attendance as well.

“I don’t know when my joy was greater: when I received the Tomos on the autonomy of the Orthodox Ohrid Archbishopric from the blessed memory of Patriarch Pavle or today when a full liturgical communion is established with all archbishops, clergy and faithful people of the Macedonian Orthodox Church – Ohrid Archbishopric” stated Archbishop Stephan on the occasion.

Patriarch Porfirije commented that “Regardless of the fact that the forces of this world have their goals, our goal is to fulfil the Word of Christ – to be one! And it may be that we fall, as it happens in the life of the individual and in the life of the family and the people – and here too the forces of this world want to divide the people one in itself and separate the nations from the people – and it can be that we sometimes fail. We fulfil the Word of Christ, but before God we know, from St. John the Baptist, and then from the mouth of the Lord himself, that it is human to fall, that it is human to sin, that it is human to miss. However, if we remain in decline and failure, then we confirm that we are turning into something that is not human. It is human to fall, but it is a great glory if we get up”.

Source:
OCP News Service