Macedonian Church to consider OCU recognition after Easter

Church of Saint Clement of Ohrid in North Macedonia. Photo: Vecer.press

March 2, 2025 – The Macedonian Orthodox Church – Ohrid Archbishopric (MOC–OA) established an ad hoc Synodal commission a year ago to develop a position on the status of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU). Metropolitan Hilarion of Bregalnica, head of the commission, told Vecer that they are still in the process of gathering information, and a Synod meeting on the issue could take place after Easter.

"We are still collecting data and analyzing the situation. We have not yet held a meeting where we would form a final position on the status of the OCU. If the Synod of the MOC includes this issue on the agenda for its post-Easter session, we will prepare our commission’s final report," the hierarch stated.

He added that the Synod meeting could take place in the second half of April.

"The presence of all Synod members is necessary for such decisions. We expect all bishops to arrive here after the Easter holidays so that they can attend the meeting. The report (on the OCU – Ed.) still needs to be prepared. At this point, it has not been submitted to the Synod for discussion," Metropolitan Hilarion noted.

As the UOJ previously reported, on September 12, 2024, the Synod of the Macedonian Church – Ohrid Archbishopric expressed support for the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC). The hierarchs made this statement in response to the adoption of Ukraine's Law 8371 by the parliament.

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