Skopje, August 18, 2026
Epiphanius of Examilia at his consecration by the schismatic OCU. He now serves in the Patriarchate of Constantinople
The Macedonian Orthodox Church-Archbishopric of Ohrid reportedly refused to let a vicar bishop of Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople concelebrate at Bigorsky Monastery’s feast day celebrations last month because he had been consecrated as a bishop in the schismatic “Orthodox Church of Ukraine, according to diplomatic sources cited by Religija.mk, a North Macedonian outlet known for taking positions favorable to the Constantinople’s interests in the country.
Bishop Epiphanius of Examilia had been expected to lead the All-Night Vigil at Bigorsky on July 6 ahead of the monastery’s feast day, then concelebrate the following day’s Liturgy with His Eminence Metropolitan George of Debar-Kičevo, but he didn’t appear. Bigorsky Monastery said only, in a single-sentence statement, that “with sincere regret we’ve received word that, despite the prior announcement and our joyful hope for his presence, His Grace Bishop Epiphanius of Examilia wasn’t able to travel, due to unforeseen health reasons.”
Religija.mk’s sources called the real story a “diplomatic illness,” not a medical one. According to those sources, the MOC-OA didn’t want Bishop Epiphanius serving at all, and offered him the option of attending only in prayer, with full honors but no right to concelebrate. The sticking point, the sources say, was his 2019 consecration as a bishop of the schismatic OCU, which, like the majority of Local Churches, the MOC doesn’t recognize.
In typical fashion, the sources argue that the MOC changed its mind under influence from Moscow, but the Holy Synod of the MOC already ruled back in March 2023 against recognizing and concelebrating with clergy of the OCU.
The MOC and Bigorsky Monastery both told Religija.mk that health was the only reason for the bishop’s absence. Even so, Religija.mk’s sources insist the incident happened and that Patriarch Bartholomew was seriously offended by the conduct of MOC’s senior clergy.
Bishop Epiphanius was originally a cleric of the Church of Greece, but was then consecrated as a “bishop” in the OCU in May 2019. He was released from the OCU this year and elected a vicar bishop of Patriarch Bartholomew.
Religija.mk’s sources say a concelebration between him and MOC hierarchs would have been taken by Constantinople as the MOC indirectly recognizing the validity of OCU Sacraments and clergy.
MOC bishops previously revealed that Constantinople has laid out several conditions the MOC would need to meet before recognizing its autocephaly, among them recognition of the OCU.
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