Orthodox Ohrid Archbishopric | |
|---|---|
 Coat of arms | |
| Location | |
| Territory | North Macedonia |
| Information | |
| Denomination | Eastern Orthodox Church |
| Established | 2002 (2005) |
| Dissolved | 2023 |
| Leadership | |
| Parent church | Serbian Orthodox Church |
| Governance | Autonomous Archbishopric |
| Archbishop | Jovan VI |
| Suffragans | |
| Website | |
| poa-info.org | |
The Orthodox Ohrid Archbishopric (OOA; Serbian and Macedonian: Православна охридска архиепископија (ПОА), Pravoslavna ohridska arhiepiskopija (POA)) was an autonomous Eastern Orthodox archbishopric of the Serbian Orthodox Church (SOC) with jurisdiction over the territory of North Macedonia. Its creation was initiated in 2002, and formalized in 2005. In 2023, after the reconciliation of the SOC and the Macedonian Orthodox Church (MOC), the OOA was integrated into MOC.[1] On 28 June 2023, the Holy Synod of OOA made an official announcement, stating that it has fulfilled its mission, and noting that OOA hierarchs have collectively joined MOC.[2]
The Orthodox Ohrid Archbishopric has been refused registration by the State Religion Commission of North Macedonia on the grounds that one group may be registered for each confession and that the name was not sufficiently distinct from that of the MOC.[3]
The Archbishopric claimed inheritance from the Ohrid Archbishopric of Justiniana prima and all Bulgaria, established in 1019 by Byzantine Emperor Basil II by lowering the status of the autocephalous Bulgarian Patriarchate and abolished in 1767 by the Ottomans. The Bulgarian Orthodox Church also claims inheritance from the Ohrid Archbishopric of Justiniana prima and all Bulgaria.[4] Numerous international organizations have criticized the authorities of North Macedonia for their moves towards the Orthodox Ohrid Archbishopric and Archbishop Jovan VI, raising the possibility of a threat to religious freedoms.
In May 2023, upon the decision of the Holy Assembly of Bishops of SOC, the process of integration of OOA with MOC was initiated, and OOA bishops were given canonical permission to join the jurisdiction of MOC.[5][6] Further steps towards integration were made on June 20 by the Synod of MOC, initiating the creation of new dioceses for OOA hierarchs.[7][8]
- ^ OOA: News (June 2023)
- ^ OOA (2023): Communique of the Holy Synod of the Orthodox Ohrid Archbishopric (mk)
- ^ "US State Dept. Report on Religious Freedom in Macedonia, 2006". U.S. Department of State. Retrieved 5 October 2014.
- ^ Orthodox Ohrid Archbishopric, Archbishop of Ohrid and Metropolitan of Skopje Jovan, Brief History of the Ohrid Archbishopric, 31 December 2006
- ^ SOC (2023): Communique of the Holy Assembly of Bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church
- ^ ПОА (2023): Од соопштението на Светиот Архијерејски Собор на Српската Православна Црква
- ^ MOC-OA (2023): Communique of the Holy Synod of Bishops (mk)
- ^ OOA (2023): On the third Sunday after Pentecost, Archbishop Jovan served in the Stavropigial Monastery of St. John Chrysostom in Bitola (mk)