news on 24-07-05

FYR Macedonian authorities want the Archbishop in jail

Background Information:

A group of Orthodox Bishops in Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) illegally and without consent of any canonical Orthodox Church in the world created in 1960ies a schismatic church known as "Macedonian Orthodox Church MOC". This was done with assistance of then Communist authorities who worked on breaking the Church unity in former Yugoslavia. This schismatic Church is not in intercommunio with any Orthodox Church in the world. Prior to the schism the dioceses in FYR Macedonia had autonomous status within Serbian Orthodox Church (SOC). Few years ago, Holy Assembly of Bishop of the SOC after numerous but unsuccesfull brotherly attempts to heal the wound finally appointed Bishop Jovan (Vraniskovski), a Macedonian citizen, as the Exarch of Patriarch Pavle in FYR Macedonia. This year Bishop Jovan was elevated to the throne of the Ochrid Archdiocese which now fully functions as an autonomous Orthodox Church, recognized by all other Orthodox Churches. Skopje authorities, constantly instigated by nationalist MOC bishops launched an aggressive campaign against Archbishop Jovan, his clergy and his people accusing them of national traitors. The campaign culminated with decision of the court in Bitolj to put the Archbishop in jail because he performed church services in his family home. By these actions FYR Macedonian authorities and MOC bishops are most seriously violating basic human and religious rights of their citizens and prove to be acting completely contrary to the spirit of law and the Gospel.

COMMUNIQUE REGARDING ARCHBISHOP JOVAN OF OCHRID AND METROPOLITAN OF SKOPJE

Because of the precarious position at present of Archbishop Jovan of Ochrid and Metropolitan of Skopje, the Holy Synod of Bishops of the Orthodox Archdiocese of Ochrid met on July 10, 2005 at 6:00 p.m. in the monastery of St. John Chrysostom in the village of Nizepolje and from that extraordinary meeting it hereby issues the following communique:

We most strongly protest against the re-establishment of a totalitarian regime in the Republic of Macedonia (sic). After the inhuman persecution of the Church during the time of communism, persecution of the Church in the twenty-first century represents a new attempt to subjugate it to the regime, to take away its voice, to minimize and, if possible, to destroy it.

We call on the entire democratic world to introduce harsh measures against the intolerance of the Government of the Republic of Macedonia against the faith of the members of the Orthodox Archdiocese of Ochrid. It is a faith that has survived the centuries, and there is no reason why members of the Orthodox Church, which exists in most countries in the world, should be forbidden to practice their faith in the Republic of Macedonia.

By its intolerance toward the religious affiliation of its citizens, the Republic of Macedonia has shown itself before the entire world to be a country inhabited by uncivilized people ready to use the financing of the International Community but not ready to change their manner of behavior.

If someone imprisons the Head of an Orthodox Church in the twenty-first century on charges that he is “inciting national and religious hatred” then he is lost to the progress of civilization. The decision of the Bitolj Appeals Court does not imprison only His Beatitude Archbishop Jovan of Ochrid and Metropolitan of Skopje but condemns to imprisonment all members of the Orthodox Church everywhere in the world. The Bitolj Appeals Court, which according to international investigation is the most corrupt institution in the Republic of Macedonia, has also condemned Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople and Patriarch Alexey of Moscow and the Heads of all other local Orthodox Churches which have the same faith as Archbishop Jovan. The court in Bitolj did not condemn Archbishop Jovan as an individual, it condemned the faith of all those who consider the so-called Macedonian Orthodox Church to be schismatic. The Archbishop has done nothing other than what every Head of an Orthodox Church would do toward those who are in schism with the Orthodox Church.

The Holy Synod of Bishops demands that the Assembly, Government and Courts in the Republic of Macedonia honor (international) Conventions on Human Rights and Freedom of Worship of which the Republic of Macedonia is also a signatory.

The Synod asks that the Government of the Republic of Macedonia urgently register the Orthodox Archdiocese of Ochrid and grant it legitimacy as a religious community. Because the Government in the Republic of Macedonia is in violation of the State Constitution with respect to religious freedoms of its citizens, as well as international conventions on freedom of religion, one gets the impression that it wishes to follow the example of totalitarian regimes to settle the score with those who do not share the government's opinions.

The Synod asks that the International Community exert pressure on the Government in the Republic of Macedonia to respect international conventions on freedom of religion, instead of just begging for money.

The Synod asks press and media in the Republic of Macedonia to adhere to a minimum of professional ethics. All editors and journalists individually need to think about the decision of the Bitolj Appeals Court, which represents an attack on freedom of thought. Today they have sentenced an innocent Archbishop and tomorrow it will be much easier to condemn any journalist or editor who does not think in the same way as the ruling regime.

We expect all local Orthodox Churches, as well as other Christian Churches and the heterodox who in their faith emphasize freedom of the spirit and tolerance towards others to support the Orthodox Archdiocese of Ochrid and to send protests to the Government of the Republic of Macedonia because of its uncivilized behavior towards its own citizens of Orthodox Christian faith.

Deputy Chairman of the Holy Synod of Bishops
of the Orthodox Archdiocese of Ochrid
+Bishop Joakim of Polog and Kumanovo

BARBARIAN ATTACK ON HOLY SHRINE AND CLERGY OF THE ARCHDIOCESE OF OCHRID

Last weekend a group of vandals took part in a barbaric attack on the holy shrine and clergy of the Archdiocese of Ochrid in Skoplje. First, Priest Borjan Vitanov was beaten up, and two days later four priests and Monk Kliment were beaten up in the Skoplje quarter of Dracevo. According to eyewitness testimonies, approximately one hundred youths from the quarter beat up the priests and demolished the chapel of St. Nectarios of Aegina.

According to the Archdiocese of Ochrid Information Service on July 10, 2005 dozens of drunk and angry people led by Zoran Spasovski, an employee of City Transportation, entered the chapel and forcibly pulled out Father Borjan Vitanov. They threw Father Borjan on the asphalt and brutally beat him (a physician's report exists). At the same time they stole his keys and cell phone, and then also beat two faithful and demolished the priest's automobile.

On the feast of St. Peter at 7:30 a.m. a group of fifty hooligans led by Priest Zoran, the elder of the church in Dracevo managed by the Synod in Skoplje of the nonexistent and unrecognized so-called Macedonian Orthodox Church, armed with axes and shovels, began to demolish the chapel. On that occasion the chanter Nikola, who had come for Holy Liturgy, was beaten. At 8:30 a.m. a group of approximately one hundred vandals and four automobiles blocked the street where the chapel is located and attacked the priests who arrived to serve Holy Liturgy on St. Peter's Day. While demolishing the chapel, the group of hooligans carved the initials MPC (Macedonian Orthodox Church) on the wall, thus revealing and identifying the order-givers for this unprecedented public lynching.

The house owned by Monk Slavko Ninov, which had been converted into a chapel, has also been the target of earlier attacks.

Police sources advised that this act of vandalism has been reported and that a search for the attackers is in progress.