Macedonian Orthodox Church

[JillianRose]

Hello!!

My Friend is Macedonian Orthodox. She says she would like to go to church with us. What is the Macedonian Chruch? Are they like us Catholics? Can she get communion?

Jill

 

[Attejohannes]

I travelled last summer in Macedonia with several of my Orthodox friends. Macedonia is a small and cosy, and very beautiful Balcan country. The majority religon is Eastern Orthodoxy, muslims being a sizable minority.

As far I understood, the position of the Macedonian Church in the Orthodox Community is somewhat problematic, due to matters of jurisdiction. Therefore we were not encouraged by the Finnish Orthodox church to meet any local Bishops during our trip, although we visited several monasteries and convents. But doctrinally they are Eastern Orthodox, all right, meaning that they are not Uniates or eastern rite Catholics.

So, I do not know what is the official line of Catholic church in cases like these. You probably know that, but may now be in a better position to advise your friend.

I wish you a spiritually fulfilling Lenten journey

 

[SonCatcher]

There is a note inside the cover of the misallette that most parishes use. It describes that Orthodox Christians are permitted to receive Catholic sacraments so long as they follow their own Church’s teachings. (Unfortunately, if they were to ask an Orthodox priest, he would likely tell them not to receive Catholic sacraments.)

EDIT: If she does decide to go to Mass with you, she should introduce herself and explain her situation to the priest, first.

 

[Cavaradossi]

Hello!!

My Friend is Macedonian Orthodox. She says she would like to go to church with us. What is the Macedonian Chruch? Are they like us Catholics? Can she get communion?

Jill

Respecting the Eucharistic discipline of the Orthodox, your friend probably ought not commune, because the Macedonian Orthodox are not in coommunion with Rome.