USA: Macedonian Orthodox primate arrives in America for church anniversaries

His Beatitude Archbishop Stefan of Ohrid, primate of the Macedonian Orthodox Church-Ohrid Archbishopric, arrived in Columbus, Ohio, on August 21, for an extended pastoral visit to the American-Canadian Diocese at the invitation of His Eminence Metropolitan Metodij. The Archbishop, accompanied by Presbyter Daniel Jovanovski and Protodeacon Aleksandar Dimitrijov, will participate in celebrations marking the 60th anniversaries of two of the oldest Macedonian Orthodox parishes in the diaspora: the Church of the Dormition of the Most Holy Theotokos in the Columbus suburb of Reynoldsburg, and St. Clement of Ohrid Church in Toronto, Ontario, reports liturgija.mk.

Upon arrival, Abp. Stefan was warmly received at the Church of the Dormition in Columbus by parish priest Fr. Radovan Cekovski, church board president Dushan Ristovski, and numerous members of the parish council. The Archbishop will spend his first week as a guest of this parish, attending anniversary celebrations on August 29 and presiding at the Divine Liturgy on August 30. Following his time in Columbus, the Archbishop will travel to New Jersey to attend the 51st Diocesan Church-National Assembly of the American-Canadian Diocese, hosted this year by Sts. Cyril and Methodius Church in Cedar Grove. 

A significant moment of the visit will occur on September 2 in Washington, D.C., where the Archbishop will concelebrate the Divine Liturgy with His Beatitude Metropolitan Tikhon, primate of the Orthodox Church in America. The Holy Synod of the Orthodox Church in America recently recognized the autocephaly of the Macedonian Orthodox Church.

After his two-week stay in the United States, Abp. Stefan and his delegation will travel to Canada for the jubilee celebrations at St. Clement Church in Toronto. The itinerary also includes canonical visits to other Macedonian Orthodox churches throughout Ohio, New Jersey, and Ontario. This marks His Beatitude’s second visit to America in less than a year, following his participation in the 50th anniversary of the consecration of Sts. Cyril and Methodius Church in Passaic, New Jersey, last November. (Quelle: www.orthochristian.com, 25. August 2025)last