THE MACEDONIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH: THE WAY TO THE AUTOCEPHALY

Abstract

Christianity in the lands of Macedonia dates back to apostolic times. However,
the Macedonian Orthodox Church remained unrecognized by the Ecumenical Orthodoxy
for more than half a century due to the controversy over its canonicity.
The paper includes an excursion into the history of Macedonian Orthodoxy, the country’s
path to its own autocephalous church and the prospects of gaining Pan-Orthodox recognition.
This subject is quite relevant today. To this day, there is no clearly defined algorithm of
granting a Tomos. This means that there is no unified legitimate way for a church to obtain
an autocephaly when separated from the mother church. Therefore, obtaining autocephaly
always entails ambiguous perception in the Orthodox world.
On July 19th, 1967, the Synod of the Macedonian Orthodox Church announced autocephaly
of the Orthodox Church of Macedonian Republic on their own.
Since that time the canonical status of the Macedonian Orthodox Church wasn’t recognized
by any of Local Churches.
2018 the stage of meetings between the Macedonian authorities and the Ecumenical Patriarchate
begins. Fanar negotiated with the President of Macedonia Gheorghe Ivanov
regarding the granting of autocephaly.
2022 the Holy Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate decided to recognize MOC canonical.
The Serbian Patriarch officially proclaimed the autocephaly of the Macedonian Church.
Archbishop Stephen was given a Tomos.
The peaceful act of returning the church to the canonical field took place in the Orthodox
world.