Russian Church Wants Macedonian Church to Return to Communion

[poiuytrewq0987]

The Macedonian Orthodox Church should return to communion with the other orthodox churches across the world, stated Russian Church external relations chair bishop Hilarion in Sofia Sunday.

Metropolitan bishop Hilarion is part of a large ecumenical delegation to Bulgaria headed by Russian Patriarch Kirill.

"It is of utmost improtance for the Macedonian Orthodox Church to return to the field of cannonic communion," said Hilarion in an interview for the Bulgarian National Radio.

"I think that we should not hold to fast to terms such as autocephaly and autonomy. We must create a new model to both satisfy the Macedonian Church and to allow it to enter in communion with other cannonical Orthodox Churches," commented Hilarion.

In 1959, what is now the Macedonian Church was created as an autonomous Archbishopric of Ohrid, which was granted by the Serbian Orthodox Church.

In 1967, the Archbishopric declared autocephaly from the Serbian Orthodox Church, but has not been recognized as separate by other churches.

However, in 1874 the territories now claimed by the Macedonian Church were recognized as belonging not to the Serbian, but rather to the autonomous Bulgarian Exarchy, now succeeded by the Bulgarian Orthodox Church.

This has led some Bulgarian historians to claim that it is the Bulgarian Orthodox Church which has to claim that the Macedonian Church is in schism.

"It also of utmost importance that this question be settled via a dialogue between the Serbian and Macedonian churches. The Russian Orthodox Church is always ready to help in this process," said Hilarion.

He recalled that the Balkans are a very complex region and expressed his hope that Christian Orthodox values will persist there, something that he said the Russian Church has a deep commitment in.

In particular the Russian Church's foreign relations head said that his church is fully ready to send monk envoys to Kosovo to help preserve Christian Orthodox heritage there.

http://novinite.com/view_news.php?id=138904

[Crn Volk]

The Macedonian Orthodox Church should return to communion with the other orthodox churches across the world, stated Russian Church external relations chair bishop Hilarion in Sofia Sunday.

Metropolitan bishop Hilarion is part of a large ecumenical delegation to Bulgaria headed by Russian Patriarch Kirill.

"It is of utmost improtance for the Macedonian Orthodox Church to return to the field of cannonic communion," said Hilarion in an interview for the Bulgarian National Radio.

"I think that we should not hold to fast to terms such as autocephaly and autonomy. We must create a new model to both satisfy the Macedonian Church and to allow it to enter in communion with other cannonical Orthodox Churches," commented Hilarion.

In 1959, what is now the Macedonian Church was created as an autonomous Archbishopric of Ohrid, which was granted by the Serbian Orthodox Church.

In 1967, the Archbishopric declared autocephaly from the Serbian Orthodox Church, but has not been recognized as separate by other churches.

However, in 1874 the territories now claimed by the Macedonian Church were recognized as belonging not to the Serbian, but rather to the autonomous Bulgarian Exarchy, now succeeded by the Bulgarian Orthodox Church.

This has led some Bulgarian historians to claim that it is the Bulgarian Orthodox Church which has to claim that the Macedonian Church is in schism.

"It also of utmost importance that this question be settled via a dialogue between the Serbian and Macedonian churches. The Russian Orthodox Church is always ready to help in this process," said Hilarion.

He recalled that the Balkans are a very complex region and expressed his hope that Christian Orthodox values will persist there, something that he said the Russian Church has a deep commitment in.

In particular the Russian Church's foreign relations head said that his church is fully ready to send monk envoys to Kosovo to help preserve Christian Orthodox heritage there.

http://novinite.com/view_news.php?id=138904

I welcome the involvement of the Russian Orthodox Church in this dispute and hope that it can be resolved in a brotherley fashion.

[Crn Volk]

http://www.focus-fen.net/index.php?id=n276795

What is most important to Macedonian Orthodox Church is to return to canonical field, says Russian bishop
29 April 2012 | 13:51 | FOCUS News Agency

Sofia. What is most important to the Macedonian Orthodox Church is for it to return to the canonical field, bishop Hilarion, Chairman of External Church Relations Department of the Moscow Patriarchate, said in an interview with Bulgarian National Radio.
He says there are many models of church structure, which, without obligatory recognition of autocephaly, can give the church actual independence.
“I think we should not stick to Greek terms, such as autocephaly and autonomy. It is necessary to set up a model that would satisfy the Macedonian church, but which will enable it [the church] to keep in contact with the canonical Orthodox churches and not to stay outside this process, as it does now,” said bishop Hilarion.
According to him the issue should be settled in a dialog between the Serbian and Macedonian Orthodox churches. The Russian Orthodox Church is always ready to help in this process and suggest solutions based on our own experience, he added.
He says the Balkans is a very complex region.
It is not an accident that the world wars started with the Balkans and today the region is at a crossroads of two civilization paradigms. On the side, this is the western civilization, which works in favor of secular values, and the view of the world through this prism. On the other side, the east Christian heritage preserved by the local orthodox churches is very important in the process of globalization when the Balkan countries integrate into the European Union, bishop Hilarion said further in the interview.
He also noted the relations between Russia and Bulgaria were developing and added there were no problems between the two churches.

[Crn Volk]

http://preminportal.com.mk/content/view/9961/54/

Митрополит Иларион Алфеев: Најважното за Македонската Црква е да се врати на канонското поле

[poiuytrewq0987]

http://preminportal.com.mk/content/view/9961/54/

Митрополит Иларион Алфеев: Најважното за Македонската Црква е да се врати на канонското поле

"I think that should not hold these Greek terms like autocephaly and autonomy. It is necessary to create such a model which is acceptable for the Macedonian Church, but which will allow it to be in communion with the canonical Orthodox Churches, and not be out of the process, as now, "said Metropolitan Hilarion.

Interesting train of thought. If this keeps up I can see the canonical problems of the Macedonian Church being solved soon. It is after all not in anyone's interest not especially in Orthodox Christianity to have Macedonians sit on the sidelines in such an important location in Europe.