Serbian bishop Antonij warned that the Serbian Orthodox Church (SOC) will sever ties with the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew if he recognizes the Macedonian Orthodox Church (MOC). Serbia is waging a decades long push to prevent the international recognition of the Macedonian church, which it wants to become part of the Serbian church, but after the Prespa Treaty there is growing talk that the Greek dominated Patriarchate in Istanbul could recognize the MOC as wall as the Montenegrin Church.

The Patriarch of Constantinople already made a major precedent with the recognition of the Ukrainian church. If this precedent is repeated in the Balkans, it could push the SOC to stop its communion with the Fanar Patriarchate, bishop Antonij warned during a conference in the Kyiv Pechersk Lavra.