Macedonian and Ukrainian Bishops Concelebrate for the First Time
The newly-autocephalous Macedonian Church refused to recognize the schismatic Orthodox Church of Ukraine.
SKOPJE — On August 3, 2025, a historic Divine Liturgy took place at the Monastery of St. Leonty and the Protection of the Most Holy Theotokos in Vodoča, Macedonia.
Met. Philaret of Lvov from the canonical Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC) joined Macedonian hierarchs, including Metropolitan Naum of Strumica and Bishop Jacob of Stobi, in a significant concelebration.
This marks the first joint liturgy between Ukrainian and Macedonian hierarchs since the Macedonian Orthodox Church-Ohrid Archbishopric gained autocephaly in June 2022.
The previous day, Met. Philaret attended a liturgy led by Macedonian primate Abp. Stefan. The UOC added Abp. Stefan to its diptychs in November 2022, and the Macedonian Synod has supported the persecuted UOC, refusing to recognize the schismatic “Orthodox Church of Ukraine.”
