With the liturgy of reconciliation overcome the 55-year schism between MOC-OA and SOC

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Yesterday's joint hierarchical liturgy of reconciliation in the cathedral "St. Sava" in Belgrade, officiated by the Serbian Patriarch Porphyry and the Archbishop of Ohrid and Macedonia HH Stefan, confirmed the overcoming of the 55-year schism between the SOC and the MOC in the and the Eucharistic communion.

In the liturgical sermon, the Serbian Patriarch Porphyrije said that the deep and painful wound of the schism was healed and that a miracle of God had taken place. The head of MOC-OA gg Stefan, on the other hand, said that the unity with the SOC has been established, and thus with all the Orthodox churches, and expressed hope that these days will be the good news for the autocephaly of the MOC-OA.

The liturgy was held after yesterday the Synod of the MOC-OA accepted the invitation of the SOC to serve a liturgy of reconciliation, whose Synod previously accepted the status - the widest possible autonomy for the Macedonian Church, ending a 55-year dispute between the two sister churches 

At a joint liturgy of the leaders of the MOC-OA and the SOC and bishops of the two churches in the church "St. Sava" in Belgrade, the Archbishop of Ohrid and Macedonia Mr. г. In his address, Stefan thanked the SOC for welcoming the decision of the Ecumenical Patriarchate.

- We thank God that the time has come, so we came across a brotherly understanding with His Holiness, the Patriarch Mr. Porphyry, together with the members of the Assembly of the Serbian Orthodox Church, who, just a few days after the enactment of the Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, led by His Holiness the Patriarch gg Bartholomew and in the same spirit, made a decision to establish Eucharistic and canonical unity between our local Churches, said in his speech Archbishop Stephen.

The head of the MOC-OA emphasized that he is grateful to God that he heard the voice of the prayers of the people, that he saw patience, faith, hope and love and did not deprive us of his favor.

He said that the Macedonian Church will continue the path leading to peace and a final solution to the autocephaly of the MOC-OA.

Serbian Patriarch Porphyry in his sermon emphasized the unity in Orthodoxy and the joy of "healing the schism with the MOC that lasted 55 years."

We had a schism that lasted 55 years with our brothers from Macedonia and that wound was deep and painful. With that wound we thought, went to bed and got up waiting and longing for healing. That is why I say that it is a miracle, a miracle of God. It is a gift from God. We understood that the wound was inflicted by our actions and that is why we turned to God and Saint Sava to do what we can not do. And at that moment when we thought so, a miracle happened unexpectedly. Let us rejoice and be glad, brothers and sisters, because today the fullness of the church rejoices, heaven and earth rejoice, all the saints rejoice, Saint Sava and all who are planted in his root, said Parthian Porphyry in the temple of Saint Sava. .

Besides the Serbian and Macedonian bishops, Archbishop Jovan (Vraniskoski) from POA also attended the hierarchical liturgy, saying that he did not know when he was happier, whether he received Tomos from the SOC or today, adding that if he had to choose, he would choose today den.

Thousands of believers were present at the liturgy in the Cathedral "St. Sava", among which there was a noticeable presence of believers from the country.

On May 9, the Ecumenical Patriarchate recognized the canonical nature of the Macedonian Orthodox Church - Ohrid Archbishopric, which after 55 years gave the Macedonian clergy the opportunity to have joint services with other Orthodox churches.

This decision does not mean a tomos for autocephaly that officially regulates the international name and status of the church, but is "an expression of the paternal love and care of the Ecumenical Patriarchate" and an announcement that the MOC is no longer in schism with the entire Orthodox world and that Macedonian priests can to serve with priests from other Orthodox churches

The Synod of the SOC, on May 16, announced that it accepts the status of the widest possible autonomy of the Macedonian Church, ie full internal independence, which was granted to it in 1959.

The highest ecclesiastical body of the Serbian Church announced that in the dialogue for future and eventual final canonical status, the SOC will be guided exclusively by the ecclesiological-canonical and ecclesiastical-pastoral principles, standards and norms.

The dispute between the two sister churches began after on July 17, 1967, the Holy Synod of the MOC in Ohrid, convened the Third Church-People's Assembly and at the solemn session in the Ohrid church of St. Clement declared the Macedonian Orthodox Church autocephalous.

After the end of the assembly, after all the acts related to the proclamation of autocephaly had been prepared, by a letter dated August 31, 1967, the Holy Synod of Bishops of the Macedonian Orthodox Church informed the Holy Synod of Bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church of its decision. In response to this, at an extraordinary session held on September 14 and 15, 1967, the Holy Synod of Bishops of the SOC declared the bishops of the Macedonian Orthodox Church a schismatic organization and terminated the liturgical and canonical unity.

The fifty-five-year schism has finally ended with this week's decision of the SOC to re-establish liturgical and canonical communion with the MOC-OA and the joint hierarchical liturgy in the church "St. Sava".

With the decision of the Synod of the SOC, MOC-OA gets the widest autonomy and complete internal independence, but not autocephaly, which is the main goal of the Macedonian church.

Source: MIA

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