Orthodox Church in America recognizes autocephaly of Macedonian Church

21st All-American Council in Phoenix. Photo: Facebook / Orthodox Church in America

On May 21, 2025, the Holy Synod of the Orthodox Church in America, at a special session, resolved to recognize the canonicity of the Macedonian Orthodox Church – Ohrid Archbishopric and to confirm full Eucharistic communion with its bishops, clergy, and faithful. This was announced by the Primate of the OCA, His Beatitude Metropolitan Tikhon, on July 15, 2025, in his report to the 21st All-American Council, which is taking place in Phoenix, Arizona.

The decision to recognize the autocephaly of the Macedonian Church was made at the request of Serbian Patriarch Porfirije, who, in an official letter to Metropolitan Tikhon, asked the Orthodox Church in America to recognize, in accordance with the Tomos granted by the Serbian Orthodox Church, the autocephalous status of the Macedonian Orthodox Church – Ohrid Archbishopric.

Currently, the offices of Metropolitan Tikhon and His Beatitude Archbishop Stefan of Ohrid are preparing a joint liturgy of the two Primates, which is to take place at St. Nicholas Cathedral in Washington, D.C.

As Metropolitan Tikhon told the All-American Council, this joint service will serve as the formal and celebratory confirmation of the recognition of the autocephaly of the Macedonian Orthodox Church.

Earlier, the UOJ reported that Dumenko referred to the Macedonian Church’s Tomos as “so-called.”

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