Metropolitan Epifaniy sent a letter to the head of the Ohrid Archdiocese, Archbishop Stefan of Ohrid, rejoicing over the resumption of Eucharistic communication between the Orthodox Church of North Macedonia and the Ecumenical Patriarchate.
“With this letter, we also testify to you, dear brother in Christ, our readiness and desire to share the joy of communion in the Holy Eucharist at a time and place that will be favorable to this end,” Metropolitan Epipfaniy said, according to the OCU website.
“Just like your country, Ukraine has gone through a difficult path in its church development. And we are glad that thanks to your understanding and agreement with the Mother Church, with the Ecumenical Patriarchate, the Church in North Macedonia is flourishing. We sincerely hope and pray to Almighty God that this path be completed in due time, but preferably as soon as possible, through your acceptance of the Patriarchal and Synodal Tomos of autocephaly, just as we gratefully received it from the Ecumenical Patriarchate,” the letter reads.
The Primate of the OCU noted that the path followed by the OCU and the Ohrid Archdiocese is the only one based on the canonical order and Church Tradition, and thus all new Local Churches received the blessing of their autocephaly, “because no one can appropriate the right that belongs only to the First See – to the Great Church of Christ in Constantinople”.
