Orthodox Ohrid Archbishopric

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The Orthodox Ohrid Archbishopric (Macedonian: Православна Охридска Архиепископија Pravoslavna Ohridska Arhiepiskopija) was formed in 2002 following a failure in negotiations between the Serbian Orthodox Church and the canonically-unconstitutional and unrecognised Macedonian Orthodox Church (MOC). Whereas the Holy Synod of the MOC rejected the Niš Agreement, Metropolitan Jovan of Veles and Povardarie agreed to restore the autonomous church under the jurisdiction of the Patriarchate of Pec. Macedonian Orthodox Church has issues with the Serbian Orthodox Church after the separation and self-declaration of autocephaly in 1967 (supported by the then communist authorities). After the negotiations between the two churches were suspended, Serbian Orthodox Church recognised a group lead by Metropolitan Jovan (John) as the Orthodox Ohrid Archbishopric.

The church currently includes 4 high-ranking prelates:

• Archbishop Jovan (Vranišovski) of Ohrid and Metropolitan of Skopje; locum tenens of Veles and Povardarie
• Bishop Joakim (Jovčevski) of Polog and Kumanovo; locum tenens of Debar and Kicevo
• Bishop Marko (Kimev) of Bregalnica; locum tenens of Bitola
• Vicar bishop David (Ninov) of Stobi; locum tenens of Strumica

The Macedonian Orthodox Church has reacted by cutting off of all relations with the clergy of the Ohrid Archbishopric and preventing bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church from entering Macedonia. Furthermore, on October 15, 2004 the authorities proceeded to tear down a monastery being built in Nižepole near Bitola. The monastery was to have been the spiritual center of the Archbishopric.

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The Archbishopric's language is Macedonian and all of its clergy are ethnic Macedonians.

Archbishop Jovan of Ohrid was jailed for 220 days for "defaming the Macedonian Orthodox church and harming the religious feelings of local citizens" by distributing Serbian Orthodox Church calendars and pamphlets [1]. The Macedonian State Religion Commission denies the Ohrid Archbishopric to be registered as a religious group saying that only one group may be registered for each confession and that the name was not sufficiently distinct from that of the Macedonian Orthodox Church.

[edit] External links

• Orthodox Ohrid Archbishopric official page