Bishop Petar of the Macedonian Orthodox Church says that they are not in direct talks with the Ecumenical Patriarchate in Istanbul, but he hopes that official talks will begin soon. Macedonia is hoping that, with the Prespa treaty, Patriarch Bartholomew may move to recognize the Macedonian church – a move bitterly opposed by Serbia.

All we have unofficial talks, but they indicate that there is readiness in the Patriarchy that the issue of our autocephaly is reviewed in one of their next meetings. We can’t predict how things will develop further. Of course, it was mentioned that the political relations of our country and the Balkan countries are taken into account, to a greater or smaller degree, Bishop Petar said.

Patriarch Batholomew moved to recognize the Ukrainian church, but given his Greek ties, recognizing the Macedonian church was always seen as a far more difficult proposition, even after the imposed Prespa treaty. Bishop Petar said that relations between the Macedonian and the Russian church haven’t cooled, and that Moscow has also initiated talks with Serbia.
In a recent secretly recorded prank call, Macedonian Prime Minister Zoran Zaev quickly agreed to a bogus offer to get autocephaly if he pays 100.000 EUR to Patriarch Bartholomew.

Prank: Zaev recorded accepting to pay a bribe of 100.000 EUR to Patriarch Bartholomew for his recognition of the Macedonian church