T O M O S
on the church autonomy of the Orthodox Ohrid Archbishopric
P A U L ,
by the grace of God, Archbishop of Pec,
Metropolitan of Belgrade and Karlovci and the Patriarch of Serbia,
together with the holy Assembly of Bishops
Of the Serbian Orthodox Church,
to the Archbishop of Ohrid and Metropolitan of Skopje
Kyr Kyr JOHN,
The Prelate of the autonomous Ohrid Archbishopric,
on the church autonomy of the Orthodox Ohrid Archbishopric
P A U L ,
by the grace of God, Archbishop of Pec,
Metropolitan of Belgrade and Karlovci and the Patriarch of Serbia,
together with the holy Assembly of Bishops
Of the Serbian Orthodox Church,
to the Archbishop of Ohrid and Metropolitan of Skopje
Kyr Kyr JOHN,
The Prelate of the autonomous Ohrid Archbishopric,
In accordance with the established canonical Tradition of the Holy
Church of God, especially with the 34th Rule of the Holy Apostles;
- pursuant to the decisions of the Holy Assembly of Bishops of the
Serbian Orthodox Church AS No. 47/1958 and AS No. 6/zap.57/ 1959 by
virtue of which the Holy Assembly has accepted the church autonomy of
the following dioceses : the Diocese of Skopje, the Diocese of Ohrid and
Bitola and the Diocese of Zletovo and Strumica;
- Pursuant to the decisions of the Holy Assembly of Bishops of the
Serbian Orthodox Church AS No. 44/zap. 10 dated on 24th/11th of May 1967
and AS No. 50/zap.7 dated on 15th/2nd of September 1967 and in
accordance with the Agreement for Establishment of Church Unity, signed
in Nish on 17th of May 2002, confirmed by the Holy Assembly of Bishops
ASNo. 38/zap. 16 dated on 23rd of May 2002
- as well as in accordance with the decision of the Holy Synod of
Bishops of the Orthodox Ohrid Archbishopric Syn No. 1 dated on 25th of
December 2003
and having in regard the new historical and political circumstances,
having as a priority that the Christ-named People of God advance on the
path of salvation and have a greater spiritual benefit, as well as to
carry out the administration of the church affairs appropriately and
without difficulties;
Our Holy Patriarchate of Pec, in the more recent times known as
Serbian Orthodox Church, hereby through the assemby blesses, approves,
grants and recognises the church autonomy to the Orthodox Church in the
Republic of Macedonia, now consisting of the following dioceses, i.e.,
eparchies : The Holy Metropolis of Skopje and the Holy Diocese of Prespa
and Pelagonia, the Holy Diocese of Bregalnitza, the Holy Diocese of
Debar and Kichevo, the Holy Diocese of Polog and Kumanovo, the Holy
Diocese of Veles and Vardar Valley and the Holy Diocese of Strumitza.
The aforesaid orthodox dioceses were under the administration of our
Patriarchate of Pec until the year of our Lord 1959 when they had been
granted a church autonomy, being to our regret abused by the bishops
thereof, who in an uncanonical way proclaimed the dioceses entrusted to
them to be an autocephalous local Church in the year of our Lord 1967th.
This self-proclaimed uncanonical ‘autocephaly’ has not been recognized
by any of the Orthodox Churcher worldwide. Liturgical communion and any
canonical relationship with the newly established schismatic
organisation was broken off as a result of the aforesaid act of
obstinacy and lawlessness until the year of our Lord 2002, when His
Eminence, the Metropolitan of Veles and Vardar Valley kyr John acceded
the liturgical and canonical unity with the Serbian Orthodox Church and
with the Catholic Orthodox Church throughout the universe through it,
together with the clergy, the monastics and the congregation of His
Diocese (Metropolis).
Being persecuted, molested and imprisoned because of his aforesaid
act of archpriest’s consciousness and responsibility, His Eminence, the
Metropolitan John, has remained true to the Holy Tradition of the
Orthodox Church and to the graceful and all-saving unity thereof from
beginning to end. The Holy Assembly of Bishops of the Serbian Orthodox
Church had thereafter elected two more eminent bishops, whom We
enthroned, His Eminence the Bishop of Polog and Kumanovo kyr Joachim and
His Eminence the Bishop of Dremvitza kyr Marko, the adminstrator of the
Bitola Diocese. The Holy Synod of Bishops of the Orthodox Ohrid
Archbishopric was constituted on the 25th of December in the year of our
Lord 2003, who had elected His Eminence, the Metropolitan of Veles and
Vardar Valley kyr John to be the Chairman thereof. The aforesaid has had
the title of Our Exarch for all the dioceses of the autonomous Orthodox
Ohrid Archbishopric awaiting final canonical settlement of the
situation in the above named ancient and glorious church district, and
in accordance with the provisions of the aforesaid Agreement signed in
Nish on 17th of May in the year of our Lord 2002, from now on he shall
have the title of Blessed Archbishop of Ohrid and Metropolitan of
Skopje.
Therefore, We officially certify and proclaim the aforesaid with this
Patriarchal and Assembly’s Tomos. By the grace of our Lord, the
autonomous Orthodox Ohrid Archbishopric remains in full liturgical and
canonical unity with our Patriarchate of Pec, i.e., with the Serbian
Orthodox Church, and therefore with the fullness of the Most Holy
Catholic Orthodox Church, being canonically expressed with the
confirmation of the election of the Prelate thereof by Our humbleness.
All the property of the Serbian Orthodox Church, movable and immovable,
situated in the region of the aforesaid holy dioceses, i.e., eparchies,
is hereby given to possession to the Orthodox Ohrid Archbishopric.
As a proof, confirmation and permanent testimony of all that has been
constituted and established canonically with regard to the aforesaid
dioceses becoming parts of the Orthodox Ohrid Archbishopric, hereby we
issue to His Beatitude, the Archbishop of Ohrid and Metropolitan of
Skopje Kyr John, our beloved brother in Christ our Lord and fellow
minister of Our humbleness, with all the Eminent Bishops of the Orthodox
Ohrid Archbishopric, our beloved brethren and fellow ministers in the
Holy Spirit, our following
PATRIARCHAL AND ASSEMBLY’S TOMOS
which is being kept original, correct and uninjured in the Archives of our holy Patriarchate.
Hereby we pray and wish that the God of all the grace, Who has
summoned us to His eternal glory in Jesus Christ, our Lord, grants by
the grace of the Holy Spirit all the blessings and all good fruits to
all the dioceses being constituted this way as autonomous Orthodox Ohrid
Archbishopric. То Him, in the Trinity celebrated, may be the glory and
the power unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Issued at the Serbian Patriarchate in Belgrade,
in the month of May, on the 24th/11th day of the year of our Lord 2005.
in the month of May, on the 24th/11th day of the year of our Lord 2005.
Archbishop of Pec,
Metropolitan of Belgrade and Karlovci
and Patriarch of Serbia +Pavle
Chairman of the Holy Assembly of Bishops
of the Serbian Orthodox Church
Metropolitan of Belgrade and Karlovci
and Patriarch of Serbia +Pavle
Chairman of the Holy Assembly of Bishops
of the Serbian Orthodox Church
+Gerasim Episkop of Gornji Karlovci
Secretary of the Holy Assembly of Bishops
Secretary of the Holy Assembly of Bishops