Охридската архиепископија и Македонците

Abstract

After 1018, when the Empire of tsar Samuel and his successors had ceased to exist, the Macedonians were subjugated under the authority of various rulers often being divided between several states. The Archbishopric of Ohrid was the sole institution, Macedonians could identify with and sough solace in those turbulent times. Macedonians fully associated themselves with the Archbishopric of Ohrid. The very existеnce of Archbishopric of Ohrid is considered impossible without Macedonians and vice versa. The abolition of the Archbishopric of Ohrid with Sultan's Decree in 1767, had urged the desire by the neighboring countries to suppress the national consciousness of Macedonians. But they cherished the memory of glorious past of their beloved Mother Church, the Archbishopric of Ohrid deep down in their harts. The Macedonians had survived the Ottoman yoke and the propagandistic aspirations undertaken by Greeks, Serbs and Bulgarians. When appropriate historical circumstances had occured, Macedonians revived their matrix institution, the Archbishopric of Ohrid epitomized in the Macedonian Orthodox Church. Macedonians once again had confirmed firmly their roots as proud descendant of St. Clement of Ohrid.