Primatial Liturgy of American and Macedonian Churches to be held in USA
The Orthodox Church in America (OCA) is set to formally recognize the autocephaly of the Macedonian Orthodox Church during a joint Divine Liturgy on September 2, at St. Nicholas Cathedral in Washington, D.C.
The liturgy will be concelebrated by Metropolitan Tikhon, Primate of the OCA, and Archbishop Stefan, head of the Macedonian Orthodox Church – the Archdiocese of Ohrid, marking the official establishment of full Eucharistic communion between the two Churches.
According to the OCA press service, this will be the first time the American Church publicly recognizes the Macedonian Church as an autocephalous (self-governing) Orthodox body.
The service will begin at 9:00 a.m., with music provided by the Washington Archdiocesan Choir. Worshippers will have the opportunity to venerate the Hawaiian Myrrh-Streaming Iveron Icon of the Mother of God and the relics of St. Olga of Kwethluk, recently canonized by the OCA.
The Macedonian Orthodox Church – Archdiocese of Ohrid was granted autocephaly in 2022 by the Serbian Orthodox Church, ending decades of canonical isolation.
As reported, on May 21, 2025, the Holy Synod of the Orthodox Church in America, at a special session, decided to recognize the canonicity of the Macedonian Orthodox Church – Archdiocese of Ohrid and confirm full Eucharistic communion with its hierarchs, clergy, and faithful.
