Faith and Spiritual Renewal in Secular North Macedonia: The Pastoral Role of the Macedonian Orthodox Church - The Archbishopric of Ohrid in a Pluralistic Society

Abstract

This article explores the relationship between faith and social dynamics in secular North Macedonia, with a focus on the Macedonian Orthodox Church-Archbishopric of Ohrid’s role in shaping spiritual values, social ethics and individual transformation. Although Republic of North Macedonia is a secular state, the Church remains a vital institution, an essential spiritual presence, offering spiritual guidance and fostering ethical frameworks that transcend cultural or national affiliations. It highlights how religious beliefs intersect with the country’s diverse cultural landscape, with an emphasis on the Church’s pastoral mission – directed not toward national or cultural constructs, but toward the transformation of individual. This ongoing spiritual influence continues to shape personal and social values in a secular context.