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The '''Macedonian Orthodox Church- Archdiocese of Ohrid''' or '''MOC''' (in Macedonian: '''Македонска Православна Црква''' or '''МПЦ''') is a an [[jurisdictionautocephaly|autocephalous]] in Eastern Orthodox fhurch of the Republic of North Macedonia which declares itself to be [[autocephaly|autocephalous]]. It Formerly, it had separated from the [[Church of Serbia]] in 1967. Its self-proclaimed with a unilateral declaration of autocephaly is , which was not officially recognized by other Orthodox churches, nor is considering it an archdiocese of the [[Church of Serbia]] .Communion was restored with the Serbian church in communion with any 2022. On 5 June 2022 the Macedonian Orthodox Church was granted full [[autocephaly]]<ref>[https://balkaninsight.com/2022/05/24/serbian-patriarch-brings-good-news-to-newly-recognised-macedonian-church/ Serbian Patriarch Brings "Good News" to Newly-Recognised Macedonian Church], Balkan Insight, 24 May 2022</ref>, recognised by many Orthodox churches, including the [[Patriarchate of themConstantinople]].<ref>[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Macedonian_Orthodox_Church#Recognized_autocephaly Macedonian Orthodox Church, English Wikipedia article]</ref>

Formerly known as [[w:Vardar Banovina|Vardarska Banovina]] (Province of the river Vardar), in March 1945, the People's Republic of Macedonia was created, as one of republics of Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, governed by the Communist Party of Yugoslavia. In Skopje, a Resolution to create the Macedonian Orthodox Church was submitted to the Serbian patriarchate which had since 1919 exercised sole jurisdiction in the area. This resolution was rejected. During World War II there was also an initiative to create an Armenian-Macedonian Church in the territory of occupied Greece, but this plan was supported only by few ethnic Armenians and Aegean Macedonians in the zone of Kastoria. After the war another resolution, submitted in 1958, proposing the Ohrid Archdiocese of St. [[Clement of OhridOchrid|Clement]] as a Macedonian Orthodox Church, was accepted ([[June 17]], 1959) under strong pressure from the Communist authorities. Dositej Stojković, auxiliary bishop of the Serbian patriarch, left Belgrade and was proclaimed the first Metropolitan of SkopljeSkopje. In order to prevent schism, the Holy Assembly of Bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church granted autonomy to three Dioceses in Macedonia. A Macedonian was consecrated bishop. But two of them soon consecrated new bishops who were without the proper qualifications. Soon Macedonians started to organize churches in diaspora without approval of the Patriarch and bishops who were responsible for the dioceses in diaspora. During the so-called Third Clergy and Laity Assembly on [[July 19]], 1967, in Ohrid, the Macedonian Orthodox Church was proclaimed as autocephalous with strong public support.

Since the breakup of Yugoslavia and the end of Communist repression of the ChurchIn 2022, communion was restored, with the Serbian patriarchate has been in conflict with Orthodox Church recognizing the Macedonian Orthodox Church, which has yet to gain recognition from - Archdiocese of Ohrid as autonomous. On 5 June 2022 the [[Ecumenical Patriarchate]] or any other autocephalous church. The issue of dispute is the allegedly anti-was granted full [[canonicalautocephaly]] method used to gain autocephaly, the issue of the Serbian recognised by many Orthodox minority (at least some 40churches,000 strong) and including the question of some hundreds of Serbian Orthodox [[shrine]]s from the medieval Nemanjić period. It is also presumed that the name ''Macedonian'' is a matter of dispute regarding the [[Church Patriarchate of GreeceConstantinople]].

The two churches had been negotiating the details of a compromise agreement reached in Niš, Serbia in 2002, which would have given the Macedonians ''de facto'' independent status just short of canonical autocephaly. However, the agreement, signed by Metr. [[Jovan VI (VraniskovskiVraniškovski) of Ohrid|Jovan (Vraniskovski)]] from the Macedonian side, was rejected by the Macedonian government and the MOC's holy synod. In turn, the Serbian Orthodox Church granted full autonomy to the [[Autonomous Archdiocese of Ohrid|Archdiocese of Ohrid]], its embattled branch in the Republic of Macedonia, in late May 2005 and appointed Jovan as its archbishop.

In August 2006, Abp Jovan was again convicted of embezzlement of MOC church funds and voluntarily surrendered himself to imprisonment after a short period in hiding. An appeal has been lodged on his behalf with the International Court of Justice at The Hague.

Despite public appeals from both churches for "Christian brotherhood In 2023 in was the Serbian and unityMacedonian Church decided that the Orthodox Ohrid Archbishopric under Jovan is to be abolished," both sides have failed and its dioceses trasferred from the Serbian to settle the disputeMacedonian Orthodox Church. As of 2023 its dioceses are in the process of mering into the Macedonian Orthodox Church. <ref>[https://spc.rs/en/communique-of-the-holy-assembly-of-bishops-of-the-serbian-orthodox-church/ Communique of the Holy Assembly of Bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church (2023)], ''Serbian Orthodox Church'', accessed 28 May 2023</ref><ref>[https://www.slobodnaevropa.org/a/spc-mpc-spor-ohridska-arhiepiskopija/32420359.html Spor između SPC i MPC okončan i formalno], ''Radio Free Europe'', 20 May 2023</ref>

Since 1999, the Macedonian Orthodox Church has been headed by Archbishop [[Stephen (Veljanovski) of Ohrid|Stefan of Ohrid ]] and Macedonia. He presides over the Holy Synod of Hierarchs of the MOC, consisting of himself, and nine [[metropolitan]]s and assistant [[bishop]]s.

The 13 10 dioceses of the MOC are governed by ten bishops, with around 500 active priests in about 500 [[parish]]es with over 2000 churches and [[monastery|monasteries]]. The church claims jurisdiction over about twenty 20 active monasteries, with more than 100 [[monk]]s.

===[[Diocese|Dioceses]] on in the territory of Republic of Macedonia===#[[Diocese of Skopje]], headed by His Beatitude Archbishop Stefan of Ohrid and Macedonia;#[[Diocese of Polog Tetovo and Gostivar]], headed by Metropolitan [[Josif (Todorovski)(metropolitan)|Josif]];#[[Diocese of Kumanovoand Osogovo]], headed by the Most Reverend Metropolitan Kyril[[Joseph of Kumanovo and Osogovo|Josif]];#[[Diocese of Debar and Kičevo]], headed by the Most Reverend Metropolitan [[Timothy (metropolitan)|Timotej]];#[[Diocese of Prespa and Pelagonia]], headed by the Most Reverend Metropolitan [[Peter (metropolitan)|Petar]];#[[Diocese of Strumica]], headed by the Most Reverend Metropolitan [[Naum(metropolitan)|Naum]];#[[Diocese of Bregalnica]], headed by the Most Reverend Metropolitan Agathangel[[Hilarion (metropolitan)|Ilarion]];#[[Diocese of Povardarie]], administered headed by the Most Reverend Metropolitan Timotej[[Agathangelos (metropolitan), Povardarie|Agatangel]]