Skopje, 28 September 2025 (MIA) - With the construction of this pan-Macedonian, pan-Orthodox church, we have gone beyond ourselves. May this new house of prayer, of incredible beauty, attest that our people continue to be church builders and that Macedonia continues to be a land of temples, a land of monasteries and a land of crosses, the Head of the Macedonian Orthodox Church (MOC), Archbishop of Ohrid and Macedonia, HH Stefan, said after Sunday's consecration ceremony of the Church of Ss. Constantine and Helena in downtown Skopje.

The consecration ceremony began upon the bell's chime on Sunday morning. A large number of citizens, believers, top government officials including Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski, MPs, political party leaders, mayors, university professors, and others gathered to attend the ceremony.

"This beautiful temple is a joy for all the senses, and gives us yet another place where earth meets the skies, and where the temporal becomes eternity, and Saints Constantine and Helena, to whom this house of prayer is dedicated, deserve such beauty. But the beauty of the temple is not an end in itself, it is, above all, a guide to God. The architecture, the frescoes, the iconostasis, and the church serve to help us raise our hearts to the heights of heaven. Houses of prayer are not built to show off our glory, but to be close to God, walking the path of purification of the heart and enlightenment of the mind. Therefore, it is not enough to sanctify only the temples, but we must also sanctify ourselves in them, it is not enough to be amazed by their beauty, but we must also beautify our souls in them," HH Stefan pointed out. 

According to him, the church is a place where people are baptized and married, where religious services are held, but most of all it is the place where the holy liturgy is celebrated.

"This building will be a mute witness if it is not filled with living souls. We have built a temple of incredible beauty, but what is most beautiful in it is that today it is filled with people. I reiterate, the most beautiful temple is the one that is filled with faithful people, and today, I believe, there is no temple more beautiful than ours, so may it always be like this, may we come to the temple at every liturgy and on every occasion to pray and thank God in solitude, to find the peace and tranquillity that comes from above. May we be temples that cannot be destroyed, temples of eternal life," said the Archbishop of Ohrid and Macedonia.

"A solemn act, very significant for Orthodox people, a church was lacking in the city centre," are some of the reactions of the citizens who attended the consecration ceremony of the Church of Ss. Constantine and Helena. 

After the ceremony, it was announced that the MOC was awarding the Order of St. Clement of Ohrid to founder Sasho Kostovski and his family, who provided financial support for the church's construction.

The faithful gathered at the church early this morning.

Believers also gathered outside the church, where two large video screens were set up. The ceremony was also being filmed using drone footage.

Ministers Panche Toshkovski, Gordana Dimitrieska Kochoska, Stefan Andonovski and Vesna Janevska, as well as SDSM leader Venko Filipche also attended the consecration ceremony. 

The construction of the church began in 2012 and lasted 13 years. Construction works intensified in 2024, completing the interior, exterior and surrounding area.

Photo: MIA