Skopje, 6 June 2022 (MIA) – Commission for Relations with Religious Communities and Groups (CRRCG) said Monday it is closely monitoring developments in the process of recognizing the autocphalous status of the glorious and ancient Ohrid Archbishopric by the Orthodox ecumene. “Making the decisions of the Serbian Orthodox Church (SOC) Council official and issuance of an adequate act that was handed over yesterday during the service of both sisterly churches in the Belgrade-based Cathedral Church of St. Michael the Archangel deserves our respect, we welcome it and see it as an important step that represents the maturity, readiness and worthiness of our holy church for autocephaly,” CRRCG said in a press release. At the same time, it adds, this is a step that demonstrates the settled administrative issues between the two churches and a step leading to the ultimate goal – the wish of many generations of Orthodox followers expressed through the unanimous request by the church and the state – for issuance of an official Tomos for autocephaly by the competent institution in the Orthodox ecumene, the Ecumenical Patriarchate, represented by His Holiness, Archbishop of Constantinople, New Rome and Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew. The Commission underscores the importance of the expected joint service at the head office of the Ecumenical Patriarchate in Istanbul set for 12 June, which will officialize the historic decision to recognize and accept the Ohrid Archbishopric into liturgical and canonical unity “after centuries-long temptations for our ancient church of the people”. “We express our joy and hope for the development of the process, while expecting the Ecumenical Patriarch’s sooner issuance of the fully valid Tomos for autocephaly, thus contributing to the protection and enhancement of the Orthodoxy, peace and unity, “ reads the CRRCG press release.