Nis, Serbia - Nis Bishop Irinej said on May 27 that the Serbian Orthodox Church's decision to sever ties with the Macedonian Orthodox Church and recognize the autonomy of the Ohrid Orthodox archbishopric in Macedonia "was a difficult step that the Serbian Orthodox Church had been forced to take." On May 26, Serbian Patriarch Pavle issued a special decree granting autonomy to the Ohrid Orthodox Christian archbishopric, and promoting former Metropolitan of Ohrid Jovan to the rank of archbishop.
Irinej told BETA and Radio Free Europe that the decision "was a painful step," but that the Serbian church could not "give the so-called Macedonian church what it desires," and that it had been "forced to call it to return to the existing canonical order" and "to seek what it wants through legitimate channels." On May 27, the highest-ranking member of the Macedonian clergy, the archbishop of Ohrid and Macedonia, Stefan, called on believers and citizens to "bear the Serbian Orthodox Church's spiritual terror with dignity." He also said that the Serbian Orthodox Church's decision had no power and that the Macedonian church was independent.
Stefan said that truth and justice were on the side of the Macedonian church and people and that the church would persevere, with the help of God, in defending its rights and dignity. A few years ago, Serbian Patriarch Pavle invited the clergy and people of Macedonia to join the canonical order of the Serbian Orthodox Church. Metropolitan Jovan accepted the invitation, and is now recognized by the Serbian Orthodox Church as the only valid Christian representative in Macedonia.