Orthodox Ohrid Archbishopric
| Orthodox Ohrid Archbishopric | |
|---|---|
| Location | |
| Territory | Republic of Macedonia |
| Headquarters | Bitola, Republic of Macedonia |
| Information | |
| Denomination | Eastern Orthodox |
| Sui iuris church | Autonomous Archbishopric of the Serbian Orthodox Church |
| Established | 2002 (2005) |
| Language | Old Church Slavonic |
| Current leadership | |
| Bishop | Archbishop Jovan VI |
| Website | |
| poa-info.org | |
The Orthodox Ohrid Archbishopric (Serbian, Macedonian: Православна Охридска Архиепископија, Pravoslavna Ohridska Arhiepiskopija) is an autonomous Eastern Orthodox Archbishopric with canonical jurisdiction over the territory of the Republic of Macedonia. It is the only canonical Eastern Orthodox Church in the Republic of Macedonia and is in full communion with all other Eastern Orthodox Churches.
The Orthodox Ohrid Archbishopric has been refused registration by the Macedonian State Religion Commission on the grounds that one group may be registered for each confession and that the name was not sufficiently distinct from that of the Macedonian Orthodox Church (MOC). MOC is recognized by the State Religion Commission but not by any other Orthodox churches, which consider its unilateral 1967 declaration of a breach of canon law.
The Archbishopric claims inheritance from the Ohrid Archbishopric of Justiniana prima and all Bulgaria (Bulgarian: Охридска Архиепископиия на Юстинияна първа и цяла България, Greek: Αρχιεπίσκοπος της πρωτης 'Ιουστινιανης και πάσης Βουλγαριας), founded in 1019, by Basil II.
In attempt to restore its canonical status and gain recognition from the Orthodox churches, the Macedonian Orthodox Church negotiated with the Serbian Orthodox Church, and these negotiations led to an eventual agreement signed in Niš in June 2002, thus known as the Niš Agreement. The agreement was signed by all bishops of both delegations. However, the bishops of the delegations of the Macedonian Orthodox Church were exposed to severe criticism for signing this agreement, and although they attempted to defend it for a short time, the Synod of the MOC rejected the agreement.
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