Serbian Bishop Photius announced that talks between the Serbian Orthodox Church and the Macedonian Orthodox Church were held in the city of Nis last weekend, with the participation of Serbian Patriarch Porphyry.
The news of the talks was announced after the liturgy for “St. George” yesterday and it became clear that the meeting was attended by Bishop Photius himself. According to him, as early as this month, “it is possible for the Macedonian Orthodox Church to return to canonical unity with the Serbian Orthodox Church.”
“This will put an end to the 1967 schism of the Macedonian Orthodox Church,” the Serbian bishop said, adding that “the return of the Macedonian Orthodox Church could take place during the Serbian Orthodox Church’s May meeting.”
“This is a great challenge. If God has said the prayers of Bishop Nicholas, Saints Cyril and Methodius, Saints Clement and Nahum, and Saints Sava of Serbia, it can lead to the restoration of unity and the removal of the schism from 1967 We are on the threshold of this decision, and that is why I call you to prayer. This is for the good of our holy churches, for the good of our Serbian and Macedonian people, who are two fraternal peoples, “said Bishop Photius.
Let us recall that at the end of last year, the Serbian Orthodox Church called for a meeting between Patriarch Porphyry and the head of the Macedonian Orthodox Church, Stefan. But so far there was no information about such a meeting. At the same time, Macedonian politicians and a local bishop are constantly lobbying the Ecumenical Patriarch for the recognition of the Macedonian Orthodox Church and its declaration as an autocephalous church.
Years ago, the Macedonian Orthodox Church demanded that the Bulgarian Orthodox Church be declared their mother church, but as soon as a commission was formed at the Holy Synod of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church on the issue, Macedonian bishops began seeking direct assistance from the Ecumenical Patriarchate.
