President Stevo Pendarovski met with Archbishop of Constantinople-New Rome and Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I in Istanbul on Saturday, discussing developments in the Orthodox world, role of the Ecumenical Patriarchate in stimulating interreligious dialogue and coexistence among nations and religions.
Pendarovski and Bartholomew also referred to the issue of solving the status of the Macedonian Orthodox Church-Ohrid Archbishopric, with the President noting the Patriarch’s role in the issue’s overcoming, while adding “a wound in one spot of the Orthodox world hurts throughout”. Interlocutors exchanged opinions on regional developments and countries’ EU integration, with Patriarch Bartholomew expressing support to North Macedonia’s Union accession for a better life, more solidarity and tolerance. President Pendarovski highlighted the important role of the Ecumenical Patriarch in promoting dialogue on all open issues in Orthodoxy, his Office said in a press release.