In a landmark event for Orthodox Christianity, hierarchs of the Russian Orthodox Church and the Macedonian Orthodox Church – Ohrid Archbishopric jointly celebrated a solemn liturgy on Valaam Island, marking the first such occasion since the recognition of the Macedonian Church’s autocephaly in 2022.

The Macedonian delegation, led by Metropolitan Peter of Prespa and Pelagonia, arrived on Valaam on October 15 at the invitation of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus’. Accompanying him were Bishop Nikolai of Velich, vicar of the Prespa-Pelagonia Diocese, and Hieromonk Athanasius (Arsovski), head of the publishing department of the Skopje Diocese.

Upon arrival, the delegation visited the historic Transfiguration Cathedral and venerated the monastery’s revered relics. They then met with Bishop Pancratius of Trinity, abbot of the Valaam Monastery, and together held a memorial service at the grave of Archimandrite Methodius (Petrov), a native of Macedonia and a long-serving spiritual father of Valaam.

On the morning of October 16, the joint episcopal Divine Liturgy took place in the Church of Saints Cyril and Methodius, co-celebrated by Metropolitan Peter, Bishop Pancratius, and Bishop Nikolai. A special memorial prayer commemorated Archimandrite Methodius and his parents.

Metropolitan Peter reflected on the spiritual and historical significance of the event, calling it the fulfillment of Archimandrite Methodius’s lifelong wish — the recognition of the Macedonian Church’s canonical autocephaly, which was granted by the Ecumenical Patriarchate and subsequently acknowledged by the Russian Orthodox Church.

“This is a historic day,” said Bishop Pancratius at the conclusion of the liturgy. “For the first time since the recognition of its autocephaly, the Macedonian Orthodox Church has celebrated the Divine Liturgy and received communion within the Russian Orthodox Church.”

Metropolitan Peter echoed the sentiment, emphasizing the unity of faith: “For the first time, a delegation from our Church is visiting the holy sites of the Russian Orthodox Church, and we have been granted the great mercy of partaking from the one Chalice of Christ.”

He also highlighted the enduring spiritual ties between Macedonia and Valaam, recalling how monks displaced after the monastery’s closure in 1940 found refuge in the Balkans. “We remember them and thank them for their example of faith. We believe that Macedonia has honored them fully through the life and legacy of Archimandrite Methodius,” he concluded.

The event symbolizes a deepening bond between the two Orthodox churches and affirms their shared commitment to unity, tradition, and spiritual heritage.