They constantly humiliate us, and in doing so, they humiliate themselves. I believe these people have no peace, they are restless, their consciences are perpetually burdened—and I implore them to stop; to stop terrorizing the people, said Bishop Agatangel, addressing Frchkoski and the group of journalists who incessantly attack the MOC-OA (Macedonian Orthodox Church – Ohrid Archbishopric) and spread falsehoods regarding its alleged lack of unity.
In a TV debate hosted by Ljupcho Cvetanovski, the Metropolitan of Povardarie remarked that it is truly lamentable that such actions are carried out by individuals who have never even set foot inside a church—and who, in all likelihood, do not even know how to make the sign of the cross.
“It is truly regrettable that this comes from a man—a man who, for all I know, may never have even set foot in a church or learned how to make the sign of the cross; a man who offered money to facilitate a change of the country’s name; a man who has spent his entire life manipulating the Macedonian people. While one must acknowledge his intelligence and professional standing, love cannot be governed by reason alone. Love stems only from the heart. We first embrace Christ with our hearts; only then do we engage our reason to reflect and contemplate. One cannot love Macedonia through reason; it must be loved with the heart. All of us who endure within these Macedonian lands, both the Church and the faithful Macedonian people, sustain ourselves through our love for God, for the Church, for our distinct identity, and for our nation. We are the Macedonian people; there is not a single inch of this Macedonian land, not a single stone, where Macedonian blood has not been shed. Our ancestors, the heroes of Ilinden, the insurgents, the partisans, left everything behind: mothers, fathers, wives, and children. They took up their rifles and went to fight for freedom. From that freedom emerged the restoration of the Archbishopric of Ohrid, embodied today in the Macedonian Orthodox Church. We have persevered for sixty years; and now, by the grace of God, though some may recognize us, while others do not recognize us; we thank those who recognize us and pray for them, and we also pray for those who do not recognize us,” noted the Metropolitan from the MOC-OA.
When asked why these people act this way, what drives them to commit these non-Macedonian and un-Christian misdeeds, the Bishop says that the explanation is simple.
“They do it because they have some financial interest; why else would someone do such a thing—humiliating themselves, their father, mother, grandmother, grandfather, and ancestors, while seeking something that is impossible?” said Bishop Agatangel.