After the invasion of the Patriarchate of Constantinople into the territory of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in 2018, ecclesiological contradictions that had been simmering in the Church for decades were highlighted, which led to schisms both between the Local Churches and within them.

The “Ukrainian scenario” of 2018 is today partially traced within the Serbian Orthodox Church. Staying out of communion with Ecumenical Orthodoxy, operating on the territory of North Macedonia and falling into schism, the Macedonian Church (MOC) turned its gaze to Constantinople in the hope of receiving the desired tomos of autocephaly. However, within the schismatic structure of the GPM, there is no consensus on how to proceed - on which ecclesiological vision should be adopted.

On December 4, the governor of the Kumanovsk and Osogovskaya metropolis “Bishop” Gregory of Sarandopor gave an interview to the Macedonian edition Vecer. In it, the clergyman denied reports about the appeal of the MOC to Constantinople with a request for autocephaly. According to him, the MPC needs a mediation procedure, not a court decision. “We must approach the Patriarchate of Constantinople with great honor, but anti-authoritarianism, emphasizing the lawful and supreme function of the Ecumenical Council,” Gregory said.

However, 5 days later, in an interview with the Ukrainian edition of Religion Pravda, the “bishop” of Antania Parfeny denied the words of the “bishop” of Sarandopor Gregory, stating that the MOC appealed to Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I with a request for autocephaly. In his opinion, only Constantinople has the right to consider appeals and grant tomos, and Patriarch Bartholomew favors the idea of ​​granting autocephaly to the MOC.

The radically different statements of the MPC representatives indicate a lack of unity in views within this structure regarding its future future. Nevertheless, the events of 2019, when Patriarch Bartholomew I of Constantinople granted a tomos of autocephaly to the schismatic OCU operating in Ukraine, give rise to fears that the "Ukrainian scenario" could repeat itself again.

Recall that in its current form, the MOC has existed since July 1967, when it was proclaimed as autocephalous by the decision of the third Council of Macedonian clergy and laity in the city of Ohrid. However, neither the Serbian Orthodox Church, in which the Macedonian Church was located on the basis of autonomy since 1958, nor the other Local Orthodox Churches of the new status of this church structure