Skopje, 12 June 2022 (MIA) – Today is a great historical day, because after many centuries the Ohrid Archbishopric holds joint liturgy with the Ecumenical Patriarchate, Prime Minister Dimitar Kovachevski said after Sunday’s joint patriarchal and synodical divine liturgy at the Church of St. George in the Phanar in Istanbul. “Archbishop Stefan said at the end of the liturgy that the ancient Ohrid Archbishopric has always been side by side with the Ecumenical Patriarchate. That is why today, all our people, all our Orthodox believers received with a feeling of deep admiration the news of the joint liturgy, and I sincerely believe that the acceptance of our church in liturgical and canonical unity will be crowned with the issuance of tomos by the Ecumenical Patriarchate,” Kovachevski said. He sent a message to all Orthodox believers around the world, to all priests from the Orthodox world to visit North Macedonia and the ancient city of Ohrid. Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew said he received an invitation from PM Kovachevski to visit the country, expressing hope that at some point he would have the joy of such a visit. “May all of you in North Macedonia rest assured that we will not deny your trust and expectations. It is the duty of the Mother Church to be by their side and help her daughters, and particularly your church which has been suffering for almost six decades, separated from the other Orthodox,” said Patriarch Bartholomew. The Ecumenical Patriarch sent his blessing to the people of North Macedonia and wished for the country to join the European Union.