It is a historic moment that the schism that lasted almost six decades, at the initiative of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, is over, has been removed and we are entering a new period, said Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew in an interview with Greek television ERT Tuesday evening and expressed satisfaction with recent developments on the church issue.
Bartholomew explained that even before the decision of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, there was a dialogue between the churches of North Macedonia and Serbia.
“In the past, before our decision, a dialogue was started with the church of Skopje, but our decision facilitated the church of Serbia and on Thursday, May 19, His Beatitude Patriarch Porfirij, the head of the SOC invited the head of the Ohrid Church and had a joint liturgy in Belgrade. This fills us with such joy. It is a historic moment. A schism that lasted for about six decades, at the initiative of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, has ended, has been removed and we are now entering a new age. Serbia called this joint liturgy on May 19 a reconciliation liturgy and we are glad for these events,” said the Ecumenical Patriarch.
