Recently the Ecumenical Patriarchate agreed to consider a request from the Ukrainian Orthodox Church,backed by President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko and the Ukrainian Parliament,the Verkhovna Rada,to grant the autocephaly,or independence,of said Church.Now a similar request has been received from another Eastern European nation.
On 30 May 2018,the Holy and Sacred Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate met under the Presidency of His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew.It subsequently issued a communique regarding a request from the Schismatic Church of Skopje,Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia,which was supported by a letter from the Prime Minister of FYROM,His Excellency Mr.Zoran Zaev.The Schismatic Church of Skopje asked the Ecumenical Patriarchate to take the initiative of returning this Church to canonical status under the name Archdiocese of Ohrid.*
The Holy and Sacred Synod has decided to seize this initiative and do what is necessary under the intangible conditions of the historic canonical powers and prerogatives of the primatial throne of the Ecumenical Patriarchate.*
Analysis:The Ecumenical Patriarchate under Patriarch Bartholomew is showing a great deal of strength in taking up these controversial issues at this time,putting itself on the line for troubled Orthodox Churches in need of legitimacy.It is making clear by deeds that it will not shy away from its pastoral obligations and canonical prerogatives,but will instead live up to its title,the Great Church of Christ.
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