Macedonian Church Causes Grave Storm Down Under

The Holy Synod of the Macedonian Orthodox Church, MPC, the Church's highest governing body, this week confirmed that religious rites performed by ousted priests in Australia who are accused of secessionism are not valid.

However, in a move to calm anxious believers, it has said physical reburials need not occur.

"Nobody has said that the deceased need to be dug up. Don't manipulate such expressions," Bishop Petar, who is in charge of the Australian diocese of the MPC, said.

"We said that new funeral services should be performed. Such services are being performed without the need of actual reburial," Petar told reporters in Skopje.

The Church's move was greeted on social networks with reactions varying from ridicule to utter disbelief.

One prominent representative of the Macedonian diaspora in Australia, Ico Najdovski, remarked that they would have to "get bulldozers ready to dig up dead people in Australia."

Other believers ironically asked Stefan on social networks whether they would have to re-marry their partners.

The letter that caused all this debate, which the MPC previously sent to believers in Australia, contained an order for believers to either repeat the burial services, marriage ceremonies and baptisms within 12 months, using legitimate priests free of charge, or pay the full price afterwards.

The letter signed by head of the Church, Archbishop Stefan, offended many Macedonians in Australia, as it called them "so-called believers".

The MPC has justified the letter as a chance for Orthodox Macedonians in Australia to repent and return to the true flock.

The row reflects a rift between the MPC and some Macedonian Australian church communities that centres on control...