A historic act for the Orthodox Church and the Macedonian people, this is how the joint liturgy of Patriarch Bartholomew and Archbishop Stefan was praised today.

The part of the liturgy held by Archbishop Stefan was also read in Macedonian.

The ceremony took place at the St. George the Victorious Catholic Church in Fanar, Istanbul, the first joint service with the Ecumenical Patriarchate since the Archbishopric of Ohrid was admitted to canonical unity with other Orthodox churches.

At the end of the liturgy, Patriarch Bartholomew delivered a sermon in Greek.

"We believe that this event means full understanding on your part for the greatness of the gift of the mother church to your people, but also for the responsibility you are taking, entering the orthodox world from today.

"May we, your representative and common father, the first and last among the bishops of the Holy Church of the East, be able to rejoice spiritually for you and for your deeds," said Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew.

After the liturgy, Archbishop Stefan said that they will work hard for their growth, waiting for the blessing of the Great Church.

"Your Divine Holiness, you know the goods of our clergy and our people and we do not hide it from you and the clergy of your Church and your faithful people - to see the Diocese of Ohrid being restored and arranged as a Church. autocephalous ", said Archbishop Stefan

The government delegation led by Prime Minister Dimitar Kovacevski also took part in the joint liturgy.

The Ecumenical Patriarchate gave him the honor to read prayers and the Symbol of Religion on behalf of the Macedonian people during the liturgy.

He then met with Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew.

"Today is a great historical day because after centuries the Archbishopric of Ohrid serves with the Ecumenical Patriarchate.

"A great historical injustice was corrected, I will say the words of our Archbishop Stefan who said at the end of the liturgy, that the ancient Archbishopric of Ohrid has always been side by side with the Ecumenical Patriarchate", said the Prime Minister Dimitar Kovacevskim.

The head of OBRM-PDUKM, Hristijan Mickoski, also spoke about today's event.

"We have faced storms but we have always been united together with the people, we have always fought together, we have won and we have overcome everything.

So even today, when it comes to the important victory of MOC-PO, said Hristijan Mickoski ", chairman of OBRM-PDUKM.

On Thursday, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew presented to Archbishop Stefan the patriarchal and synodal act of the Ecumenical Patriarchate for the recognition of the Archbishopric of Ohrid in canonical unity with other churches, which means that now the official document called "tomos" is expected.