Against the background of centuries of foreign rule, a church of their own plays a major role for Orthodox Christians in northern Macedonia. Today's Macedonian Orthodox Church (MOC) owes its emergence not only to its own efforts. After initial rejection, socialist Yugoslavia also supported an MOC in the interest of 'divide and rule' against the Serbian Orthodox Church (SOC).
The MOC did not want to be just an autonomous appendage of the SOK and therefore declared itself independent (autocephalous). As a result, it was excluded from Orthodox communion with the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople.
Since independence, North Macedonia has championed the interests of the MOC in both domestic and foreign policy. Questionable actions against the new (Greek) Orthodox Archbishopric of Ohrid and its head as well as distortions in relations with Serbia and also Bulgaria are the result.
Without the support of understanding and knowledgeable moderators and mediators, the conflict will not be resolved.
Read the entire analysis here as a PDF.
Topics
About this series
The series informs in a concentrated form about important positions of the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung on current topics. The individual issues present key findings and recommendations, offer brief analyses, explain the Foundation's further plans and name KAS contact persons.
Courage for new ideas – How can we increase the efficiency of our healthcare system?
Mauritania becomes the new main route for migration to Europe
Concerns and fears of the electorate – Results from representative surveys
Pope Francis visits Luxembourg and Belgium
Nairobi: Storming of the Parliament
To commit you must sign in.