Archbishop Ambrose of the Russian Peterhof cathedral visited the monastery of St. Jovan Bigorski on Tuesday, when Macedonia celebrated the day of Ss. Cyril and Methodius. Archbishop Ambrose attended a night wake and a holy liturgy in the fabled monastery.
"This was a calm reflection of our eternal gratitude toward the Holy First Teachers and Spiritual Founders. The joyous celebration was enriched with the presence of his excellence, Archbishop Ambrose, Rector of the seminary of Saint Petersburg", informed the Bigorski monastery.
Rector Velimir Stojkovski of the Ss. Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje initiated the visit of Archbishop Ambrose. Partenius, Archimandrite of the Bigorski monastery, welcomed the high guest from Russia, and the opportunity to jointly honor the sainted brothers who were key to spreading Christianity in central and eastern Europe, especially among the Slavic peoples.
"I'm in Macedonia on the invitation of the Rector of the University in Skopje, to deepen our cooperation. We have not only official contacts but a good fellowship developed among us. We have an agreement for cooperation and in the past years, we have six students from Macedonia in the Saint Petersburg spiritual academy", said Archbishop Ambrose.
Ambrose added that the Russian Orthodox Church is working to establish talks between the churches of Macedonia and Serbia. The Serbian Orthodox Church refuses to acknowledge the Macedonian Orthodox Church as equal and independent, and insists it must return under its mandate. The dispute has prevented the Macedonia church from assuming an equal place among the other orthodox churches.