OCA Formally Recognizes Macedonian Orthodox Church-Ohrid Archbishopric's Autocephaly

Photo: oca.org

PHOENIX, AZ — The Holy Synod of the Orthodox Church in America (OCA) has officially recognized the autocephaly of the Macedonian Orthodox Church–Ohrid Archbishopric, as announced by His Beatitude Metropolitan Tikhon during the OCA’s ongoing All-American Council in Phoenix on Tuesday. A joint concelebration between the two Churches is being planned in Washington, D.C.

"Meeting in special session on May 21, 2025, the Holy Synod of the Orthodox Church in America decided, effective immediately, to recognize the canonicity of the Macedonian Orthodox Church-Ohrid Archbishopric and to affirm our full communion with its hierarchs, clergy, and faithful," a release from the OCA states.

The decision came at the request of His Holiness Patriarch Porfirije of Serbia, who asked that the OCA offer official recognition "in accordance with the Tomos granted by the Serbian Orthodox Church."

The release further states:

"The offices of Metropolitan Tikhon and His Beatitude Archbishop Stefan of Ohrid are currently planning a concelebration between the two Primates, to take place at Metropolitan Tikhon’s cathedral of Saint Nicholas in Washington, D.C. This concelebration, as Metropolitan Tikhon informed the All-American Council, will be crowned with a formal recognition of the autocephaly of the Macedonian Orthodox Church, which takes its place alongside the Orthodox Church in America as a fully autocephalous local Orthodox Church."

The Macedonian Church was granted autocephaly by the Serbian Orthodox Church in June 2022, following its return to canonical communion after a 55-year schism. The OCA now joins the Orthodox Churches of Russia, Poland, Ukraine, Bulgaria, Romania, and Serbia in recognizing its independence.

By contrast, the Churches of Constantinople, Greece, Antioch, Georgia, and Albania acknowledge the Macedonian Church as canonical but stop short of recognizing its autocephaly. While some hierarchs have concelebrated with representatives of the Patriarchate of Jerusalem, no formal decision has been issued by its Synod. The Churches of Alexandria and Cyprus have yet to respond officially.

Previously, UOJ reported that His Beatitude Metropolitan Tikhon had formally opened the 21st All-American Council (AAC) of the OCA, marking the first time the Council has convened in the American Southwest.

Read also