Source: Orthodox Church in America
WASHINGTON, DC [OCA]
On Tuesday, September 2, 2025, His Beatitude Metropolitan Tikhon concelebrated the primatial Divine Liturgy with His Beatitude Archbishop Stefan of the Macedonian Orthodox Church – Ohrid Archbishopric, marking the formal recognition of the newest local autocephalous church by the Orthodox Church in America.
Upon the arrival of Archbishop Stefan in Washington on Monday, September 1, Metropolitan Tikhon hosted him and part of his delegation for a private dinner, at which the two Primates had an opportunity to discuss the life of their two Churches, future cooperations, and issues of common interest, especially in the area of external affairs.
On Tuesday, September 2, the service began at 9:00 AM at St. Nicholas Cathedral, where the two Primates were greeted by the concelebrating bishops, clergy, and faithful. Concelebrating with the Primates were His Grace Bishop Seraphim of Kostajnica, representing His Holiness Patriarch Profirije of the Serbian Orthodox Church; His Eminence Archbishop Melchisedek of Pittsburgh; His Eminence Archbishop Irénée of Ottawa; His Eminence Archbishop Michael of New York; His Eminence Archbishop Daniel of Chicago; His Grace Bishop Nikodhim of Boston; and His Grace Bishop Vasily of San Francisco. Other concelebrating clergy included Igumen Nikodhim, Acting Chancellor of the Patriarchal Parishes, who represented His Grace Bishop Matthew of Sourozh. Also in attendance were His Eminence Metropolitan Metodij of Toronto and Mr. Zoran Popov, Macedonian Ambassador to the United States of America.
Metropolitan Tikhon offered the homily, in which he reflected on the holy apostles, who worked together to spread the Gospel and plant churches throughout the earth. His Beatitude referred to the concelebration as “only the beginning of a good and bright relationship between the Orthodox Church in America and the Macedonian Orthodox Church-Ohrid Archbishopric.” He went on to say, “I pray that our sister Churches may enrich each other with our respective unique gifts, collaborating and assisting one another for the greater glory of God and the proclamation of his kingdom.”
Read the full text of His Beatitude’s homily
The liturgical responses were sung by the Archdiocesan Choir of Washington, D.C. The Hawaiian Myrrh-Streaming Iveron Icon of the Mother of God and the relics of the newly canonized St. Olga of Kwethluk were also present for veneration.
At the conclusion of the liturgy, His Beatitude greeted Archbishop Stefan, welcoming the latter to his primatial See and to St. Nicholas Cathedral. He expressed the joy of all the clergy and faithful of the Orthodox Church in America at the restoration of full communion with the Macedonian Orthodox Church and wished many years to His Beatitude and all the clergy and faithful of the Macedonian Orthodox Church. In reply, His Beatitude Archbishop Stefan greeted Metropolitan Tikhon and offered his wish that “this day mark the beginning of fruitful cooperation between our two sister Churches. For the world around us is in need of a living witness of unity and love.”
Read the full text of His Beatitude Metropolitan Tikhon’s remarks
Metropolitan Tikhon also presented Archbishop Stefan with a gift of an icon of St. Olga and her relics.
After the liturgy, the two Primates, the bishops, and a number of other clergy, together with Mr. Dragan Šutanovac, Serbian Ambassador to the United States of America, attended a private reception at the Macedonian Embassy hosted by Ambassador Popov.