Serbian Patriarch explains why he granted autocephaly to Macedonian Church

Serbian Patriarch Porfirije. Photo: bogoslov.ru

In an interview with bogoslov.ru, Serbian Patriarch Porfirije shared his spiritual reflections on overcoming the decades-long Macedonian church schism and explained the reasons behind the Serbian Orthodox Church’s decision to recognize the autocephaly of the Orthodox Church in North Macedonia.

The Patriarch stressed that the decision was not driven by human logic with its calculations and interests, but by a desire to heal the schism and care for the salvation of the faithful.

“In this particular case, what mattered to us was the Church and the ecclesial ethos, not worldly interests,” the Patriarch noted.

He acknowledged that the decision sparked criticism within the Serbian Church itself: “Many people don’t understand it, and some within our Church say: ‘You compromised, you betrayed the interests of the Serbian Church, the Serbian people, you sold Serbian lands.’”

In response to this criticism, the Patriarch offered a historical perspective: “The territories of what is now North Macedonia were under our Church’s jurisdiction only from 1920 to 1965–67. In all other historical periods, even since the time of Saint Sava, these dioceses did not belong to the Serbian Orthodox Church.”

“But even that is not the most important thing for the Church. What truly matters for the Church is concern for the salvation of each individual, each person. And the Church has every ability, right, and obligation to make decisions – always thinking of the salvation of each person – that serve that purpose,” the Serbian Patriarch emphasized.

He further highlighted that the decision was made conciliarity, with the unanimous support of all hierarchs: “No decision among us is the decision of one person – not even the patriarch. Our Church functions on the principle of conciliarity, where there is a first among equals.”

“All the fathers of the council reflected prayerfully, solely and entirely on the salvation of the people living in the territory of North Macedonia, and made a decision that is the most salvific, the best – for them, and for all of us,” the primate concluded.

Earlier, the UOJ reported that during a joint liturgy with Archbishop Stefan of Macedonia, Patriarch Porfirije called the healing of the schism a miracle of God.

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