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Macedonian Orthodox Church

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Dioceses in the territory of Republic of Macedonia: update list to reflect the splitting of one former diocese into two
{{cleanup}}[[Image:MOC logo.png|right]]History of the The '''Macedonian Orthodox Church ''' or '''MOC''' (in Macedonian: '''Македонска Православна Црква''' or '''МПЦ''') is a [[jurisdiction]] in the Republic of Macedonia which declares itself to be [[autocephaly|autocephalous]]. It separated from the [[Church of Serbia]] in 1967. Its self-proclaimed autocephaly is not officially recognized by other Orthodox churches, nor is it in communion with any of them.
==Background to the Orthodox Church in Southeast EuropeHistory== According to Formerly known as [[w:Vardar Banovina|Vardarska Banovina]] (Province of the sources river Vardar), in March 1945, the ActsPeople's Republic of Macedonia was created, Saint Paulas one of republics of Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, Christ's disciplegoverned by the Communist Party of Yugoslavia. In Skopje, began spreading Christianity a Resolution to create the Macedonian Orthodox Church was submitted to the Serbian patriarchate which had since 1919 exercised sole jurisdiction in Macedonia and elsewhere on the Balkan Peninsula towards area. This resolution was rejected. During World War II there was also an initiative to create an Armenian-Macedonian Church in the mid 1st century AD. He visited territory of occupied Greece, but this region on two occasions during his journeys through Europe and Asia. He plan was followed supported only by Timothy few ethnic Armenians and SilasAegean Macedonians in the zone of Kastoria. After the war another resolution, who remained submitted in Macedonia after his departure1958, proposing the Ohrid Archdiocese of St. At that time, [[Clement of Ochrid|Clement]] as a Roman province Macedonia often changed its borders and its ethnic compositionMacedonian Orthodox Church, was accepted ([[June 17]], 1959) under strong pressure from the Communist authorities. As a result Dositej Stojković, auxiliary bishop of the Christianization in Serbian patriarch, left Belgrade and was proclaimed the first three centuriesMetropolitan of Skopje. In order to prevent schism, the Christians Holy Assembly of Bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church granted autonomy to three Dioceses in Macedonia at . A Macedonian was consecrated bishop. But two of them soon consecrated new bishops who were without the beginning proper qualifications. Soon Macedonians started to organize churches in diaspora without approval of the 4th century already had an organised Patriarch and bishops who were responsible for the dioceses in diaspora. During the so-called Third Clergy and Laity Assembly on [[July 19]], 1967, in Ohrid, the Macedonian Orthodox Church was proclaimed as autocephalous with an established ecclesiastical hierarchy, whose bishops regularly participated at the ecumenical councilsstrong public support.
In Since the 5th century breakup of Yugoslavia and the end of Communist repression of the Church had several metropolises and dioceses, the Serbian patriarchate has been in conflict with the Macedonian Orthodox Church, which has yet to gain recognition from the [[Ecumenical Patriarchate]] or any other autocephalous church. The metropolises issue of dispute is the allegedly anti-[[canonical]] method used to gain autocephaly, the issue of Thessalonica the Serbian Orthodox minority (at least some 40,000 strong) and Skopje were the most distinguished among them. Several Christian basilicas originate question of some hundreds of Serbian Orthodox [[shrine]]s from this the medieval Nemanjić period, including . It is also presumed that the one near the village name ''Macedonian'' is a matter of Bardovci, in dispute regarding the western outskirts [[Church of SkopjeGreece]].
During ===Relations with the reign Autonomous Archdiocese of Ohrid===The two churches had been negotiating the emperor Justinian I (527-565)details of a compromise agreement reached in Niš, Serbia in 2002, who came from which would have given the village Macedonians ''de facto'' independent status just short of Tauresium in the Skopje regioncanonical autocephaly. However, a new town was built near the emperor's birthplaceagreement, named Justiniana Prima after himsigned by Metr. The Metropolitan [[Jovan VI (Vraniškovski) of Skopje was appointed an autocephalous Archbishop. Cathellian Ohrid|Jovan (Vraniskovski)]] from the Macedonian side, was rejected by the first Archbishop of Macedonian government and the Archdiocese Justiniana PrimaMOC's holy synod. The other archbishops were: BenenatIn turn, Paul, John I, Leon and the last one John IXSerbian Orthodox Church granted full autonomy to the [[Autonomous Archdiocese of Ohrid|Archdiocese of Ohrid]], who its embattled branch in 680-81 took part at the Trullo Council Republic of Macedonia, in Constantinoplelate May 2005 and appointed Jovan as its archbishop.
The later chain of events turned into a vicious circle of mutual accusations and incidents involving the patriarchate and, partly, the Serbian government on one side, and the MOC, backed by the Macedonian government on the other. The Macedonian side regarded Jovan as a traitor and Serbian puppet. Jovan complained of a new state-backed media campaign against his church. "They are creating an unstable, explosive atmosphere among the population and are virtually inviting people to lynch us," he told Forum 18 News Service.<ref>[http://www.forum18.org/Archive.php?article_id=579 MACEDONIA: Why is state interfering in Orthodox dispute?]</ref> The government has denied registration of his church<ref>[http://www.forum18.org/Archive.php?article_id=Conversion 418 MACEDONIA: Serbian Orthodox "will never get registration"]</ref>, attacked its places of worship and launched a criminal case against him. He was arrested, removed from his bishopric and then expelled from the Slavcountry. He returned in 2005 and, after attempting to perform a [[baptism]], he was arrested, sentenced to 18 months in prison<ref>[http://www.iwpr.net/?p=bcr&s=f&o=257037&apc_state=henibcr200508 Church Rivalry Threatens to Brim Over]</ref> and jailed with "extremely limited visitation rights."<ref>[http://www.southeasteurope.org/subpage.php?sub_site=2&id=14827&head=hl&site=5 The head of the Serbian Orthodox Church in Macedonia was put in Jail]</ref>
The Slav colonisation In September 2005 he was also accused of Macedonia began in the 7th century, when the Slavs were assimilated with the native inhabitants. Their Christianization began in the 9th century with the life and work embezzlement of the holy brothers, Saints Methodius and Cyril, who came from Thessalonica. They created the Cyrillic alphabet and translated the Holy Bible from the Greek as well as several other scriptures so that the church services could be held in funds at the vernacular. Their mission time when he still was continued by Saints Clement and Nahum of Ohrid at the end of 9th and in the beginning of the 10th centuryMOC clergyman. Saint Clement founded In turn, the first University of the Slavs in this region, and Saint Nahum founded patriarchate denied a Macedonian delegation access to the first Slavic monastery on the shore of Lake Ohrid. In the second half of the 10th centuryProhor Pćinjski, within the borders of Samuel's state, the autocephalous Ohrid Archdiocese which was established with the rank usual site of patriarchate. After the fall Macedonian celebration of Samuel's state, the Ohrid Archdiocese was reduced to a lower rank national holiday of church hierarchy Ilinden (archbishopricSt. [[Elijah]]) on [[August 2]]) and it existed as such for eight centuries, until its abolishment in 1767 by the Turkish sultan Mustapha III, and its dioceses were annexed to the Patriarchate of Constantinople. From this moment on the <ref>[http://www.lobi.com.mk/default-en.asp?ItemID=A24A3FEA12A7AF4795442CFA3295E658 Macedonian people made all possible efforts delegation is not going to restore Prohor Pcinjski]</ref> Macedonian border police often deny Serbian priests entry into the Archdiocesecountry in clerical garb.<ref>[http://www. Its dioceses were under several jurisdictions of the neighbouring Orthodox Churches and this struggle became particularly fierce in the second part of the 19th and the first part of the 20th centuryhrw. Convenient conditions for restoration of the independence were created not earlier than during World War II (1941org/wr2k/Eca-1945)14. htm MACEDONIA: Human Rights Developments]</ref>
On [[March 19]], 2006, following a successful court appeal, Abp Jovan was released after spending 220 days in prison.<ref>[http://freearchbishop.com/?p==Foundation of the MOC==46 Archbishop kyr kyr Jovan (John) VI is released from prison]</ref>
Right before the end of the warIn August 2006, in 1944, in the village Abp Jovan was again convicted of Gorno Vranovci, an Initiative Board for Organisation of the Macedonian Orthodox Church was formed. In March, 1945, in Skopje, a Resolution to restore the Archdiocese embezzlement of Ohrid as Macedonian Orthodox Church was made at the First Clergy MOC church funds and Laity Assembly. This decision was submitted voluntarily surrendered himself to the Holy Synod of the Serbian Orthodox Church, since before World War II several dioceses imprisonment after a short period in Macedonia were under the United Orthodox Church of Serbs, Croats and Slovenians, known later as Serbian Orthodox Churchhiding. The Synod of the Serbian Orthodox Church did not accept this decision, which resulted in the following actions of the Initiative Board: instead of as an autocephalous, the Board insisted An appeal has been lodged on his behalf with the Church being recognised as autonomous. This request was also rejected. In 1958, the Second Clergy and Laity Assembly was held in Ohrid and the proposal for restoration International Court of the Ohrid Archdiocese of Saint Clement as a Macedonian Orthodox Church was accepted and Dositheus was appointed the first archbishopJustice at The Hague.
The Holy Synod of the Serbian Orthodox Church agreed with the decisions of the Macedonian Clergy Despite public appeals from both churches for "Christian brotherhood and Laity Assembly in unity," both sides have failed to settle the resolution AS. No 47/1959 and 6/1959, minutes 57 of June 17/4, 1959dispute.
As a sign of agreement, a Liturgy was concelebrated with the Serbian Patriarch German==Organization== Since 1999, on July 19, 1959, in Skopje, in the church of Saint Menas. At the same time, Clement was ordained the bishop of Prespa and Bitola. This meant that the Holy Synod of the Serbian Orthodox Church gave autonomy to the Macedonian Orthodox Church, which remained in canonical unity with the Serbian Church under their Patriarch. Few days later, in the church has been headed by Archbishop [[Stephen (Veljanovski) of St. Nicholas in Štip, H.E. Nahum was ordained the bishop Ohrid|Stefan of the diocese of Zletovo Ohrid]] and StrumicaMacedonia. The He presides over the Holy Synod of the Macedonian Orthodox Church was established together with other administrative bodies in the Archdiocese and the dioceses in conformity with the Constitution Hierarchs of the Macedonian Orthodox Church. In May, 1962MOC, accompanied by Patriarch German and other representatives consisting of the Serbian Orthodox Churchhimself, Patriarch Alexis of Moscow visited the Macedonian Orthodox Church. Among them were Metropolitan Nicodemus, Bishop Pimen and other dignitaries of the Russian Orthodox Church. On the feast of Saints Methodius nine [[metropolitan]]s and Cyril, in the church of the Holy Mother of God Kamenska, in Ohrid, Patriarch Alexis of Moscow, Patriarch German and the Macedonian Metropolitan Dositheus concelebrated Holy Liturgy. It was the first Holy Liturgy to be concelebrated by the head of the Macedonian Orthodox Church with heads of other autocephalous Orthodox Churchesassistant [[bishop]]s.
In 1966 the relations with the Serbian Church got worse again. Due to the conflicts and misunderstandings, the Holy Synod The 10 dioceses of the Macedonian Orthodox Church summoned the Third Clergy and Laity Assembly on July 17, 1967MOC are governed by ten bishops, with around 500 active priests in Ohrid. At the formal session in the Ohrid church of St. Clement, the Holy Synod proclaimed the Macedonian Orthodox Church as AUTOCEPHALOUSabout 500 [[parish]]es with over 2000 churches and [[monastery|monasteries]]. The act of proclamation was made by the Holy Synod of the Macedonian Orthodox Church during the Holy Liturgy celebrated in the church of St. Clement of Ohrid on July 19claims jurisdiction over about 20 active monasteries, 1967, or exactly on the second centennial after it had been banned by the Ottoman authoritieswith more than 100 [[monk]]s.
The jurisdiction ===[[Diocese|Dioceses]] in the territory of Republic of the Macedonian Orthodox Church spreads not only throughout Macedonia===#[[Diocese of Skopje]], headed by Archbishop Stefan of Ohrid and Macedonia;#[[Diocese of Tetovo and Gostivar]], headed by Metropolitan [[Josif (Todorovski)(metropolitan)|Josif]];#[[Diocese of Kumanovo and Osogovo]], but also in the church communities abroad.headed by Metropolitan [[Joseph of Kumanovo and Osogovo|Josif]];#[[Diocese of Debar and Kičevo]], headed by Metropolitan [[Timothy (metropolitan)|Timotej]];#[[Diocese of Prespa and Pelagonia]], headed by Metropolitan [[Peter (metropolitan)|Petar]];#[[Diocese of Strumica]], headed by Metropolitan [[Naum (metropolitan)|Naum]];#[[Diocese of Bregalnica]], headed by Metropolitan [[Hilarion (metropolitan)|Ilarion]];#[[Diocese of Povardarie]], headed by Metropolitan [[Agathangelos (metropolitan), Povardarie|Agatangel]]
According to Article 17 from the Proclamation of Autocephaly, the ===Dioceses abroad===#[[Macedonian Orthodox Church as an administrative part Diocese of the One, Holy, Catholic America and Apostolic Church is to observe the Holy Scriptures Canada|Diocese of America and the Holy traditionCanada]], the Canons headed by His Eminence Metropolitan [[Methodius (Zlatanov) of Toronto|Metodij]]#[[Macedonian Orthodox Diocese of the Apostles Australia and the decrees New Zealand|Diocese of the ecumenical councils Australia and is to follow them and the Constitution New Zealand]], administered by His Eminence Metropolitan [[Peter (Karevski) of the Prespa|Petar]]#[[Macedonian Orthodox Church.Diocese of Europe|Diocese of Europe]], headed by His Eminence Metropolitan Pimen of Europe
Praying humbly for the other ones, the Macedonian Orthodox Church will always rely on the prayers, blessings and assistance of the elder sibling holy local Orthodox Churches.==References==<references />
==Source==*[http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Macedonian_Orthodox_Church&oldid=55478105 Wikipedia:Macedonian Orthodox Church] ==See also==*[[:mk:Главна_страница|Православна-енциклопедија Главна страница]]*[[w:Macedonia naming dispute]] ==External links==*[http://www.mpc.org.mkMacedonian Orthodox Church], official site*[http://www.svpetaripavle.org Macedonian Orthodox Cathedral Sts Peter and Paul-Crown Point, IN, USA]*[http://www.stclementofohrid.com/ St. Clement of Ohrid Cathedral in Toronto]*[http://www.macedonianchurch.org/HistoryofMacedonianOrthodoxChurch.htm History of Macedonian Orthodox Church from MOC's point of view]*[http://www.macedonianchurch.org Macedonian Orthodox Cathedral of the Dormition of the Virgin Mary ("St. Mary") - Greater Columbus, Ohio, USA]*[http://www.poa-info.org/frameset.php?l=en&r=history Failed agreemment between SOC and MOC] [[Category:Jurisdictions]] [[fr:Église orthodoxe macédonienne]]
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