The Macedonian Orthodox Church has
played an important role in the long struggle of the
Macedonian people for the preservation of its national
identity, as well as in its education and culture. Its
roots are ancient. The Archbishopric of Ohrid was the
first autocephalous Slav Church. It was established by St.
Clement and St. Naum, outstanding students of the brothers
Ss. Cyril and Methodius. In 893 A.D., St. Clement of Ohrid
became the first Macedonian-Slav archbishop.
Today the Macedonian Orthodox Church
continues the traditions of St. Clement's Archbishopric of
Ohrid. It is headed by the Archbishop of Ohrid and
Macedonia and a Holy Synod of Bishops consisting of six
bishops. The number of church eparchies in Macedonia is
the same.
The Macedonian Orthodox Church has
played an extremely important role in uniting and
organizing Macedonian expatriates in Australia, the United
States and Canada, and recently also in West European
countries. The Australian Eparchy and the Canado-American
Eparchy comprise 44 churches and 2 monasteries. The
activity of the Macedonian Orthodox Church in foreign
countries is of exceptional educational and cultural
assistance and of irreplaceable importance for the unity
of Macedonians, their better mutual understanding and the
preservation of their national traditions and constant
concern about their national identity. Together with the
Association of Expatriates, the Macedonian Orthodox Church
plays decisive role in the maintenance of constant links
betwee n the expatriates and their homeland.
The activities of the Macedonian
Orthodox Church, like those of all religious communities
in Macedonia, are financed from its own sources.
From the funds it has raised among its believers, the
Macedonian Orthodox Church has built a large number of
churches throughout the world, including the Cathedral of
St. Clement of Ohrid in Skopje.
