OCA and Macedonian Church hold first joint liturgy in Washington

Joint service of the Orthodox Churches of America and Macedonia in Washington. Photo: oca.org

On September 2, 2025, the first-ever joint Divine Liturgy of the Primates of the Macedonian Orthodox Church – Ohrid Archbishopric and the Orthodox Church in America took place at the Cathedral of St. Nicholas in Washington, D.C., according to the Macedonian Church portal liturgija.mk.

The service was led by His Beatitude Tikhon, Archbishop of Washington, Metropolitan of All America and Canada, Primate of the Orthodox Church in America, together with His Beatitude Archbishop Stefan, Archbishop of Ohrid and Macedonia. The Liturgy marked the official confirmation of the OCA’s recognition of the Macedonian Church’s autocephaly.

The event gathered hierarchs, clergy, and faithful from various Orthodox jurisdictions. Among the concelebrants was Bishop Seraphim of Kostajnica, representing Patriarch Porfirije of the Serbian Orthodox Church, as well as archbishops and bishops of the OCA from multiple dioceses in the United States and Canada. Also present were Zoran Popov, Macedonia’s ambassador to the U.S., and Metropolitan Methodius of Toronto.

In his sermon, Metropolitan Tikhon emphasized that the occasion signified “the beginning of good and bright relations” between the OCA and the Macedonian Church, expressing hope that the two Churches would “enrich one another with their unique gifts and bear united witness to Christ.” Archbishop Stefan, in his reply, stressed the importance of fraternal cooperation and the need for “a living witness of unity and love” in today’s world.

During the service, Metropolitan Tikhon for the first time included the name of Archbishop Stefan in the Diptychs of the Primates of the Local Churches, thus giving liturgical expression to the OCA’s recognition of the Macedonian Church’s autocephaly.

Following the Liturgy, a festive reception was held at the Embassy of the Republic of Macedonia in Washington, where the hierarchs and clergy met with Ambassador Zoran Popov and Serbian diplomats.

Earlier, the Holy Synod of the OCA had officially recognized the autocephaly of the Macedonian Orthodox Church – Ohrid Archbishopric.

It should be recalled that Epifaniy Dumenko, head of the OCU, previously described the Macedonian Church’s Tomos as “non-canonical,” insisting that its autocephaly had been obtained unlawfully and under the influence of the Russian Orthodox Church.

The UOJ earlier reported that the Orthodox Church in America has recognized the autocephaly of the Macedonian Church.

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