Bishop’s Political Sermon Sours North Macedonia Winemakers’ Holiday

The traditional pruning of the vineyards near the south-eastern town of Kavadarci for St. Tryphon's Day on Monday turned sour when the Bishop Agatangel of the Macedonian Orthodox Church called in his sermon for the opposition right-wing VMRO DPMNE party to return to power.

In the sermon, which was attended by VMRO DPMNE leader Hristijan Mickoski, Agatangel said that it was "the largest and the holiest party in the country".

He added that he believes that "God and Mother Mary will help Mickoski take back everything that is Macedonian and [that forms part of Macedonian] national [identity]" when the party returns to power.

His remarks fitted into the opposition party's narrative that since it lost power in 2017, the ruling Social Democrats' government has been committing a series of treasonous acts - first with the 2017 friendship agreement with neighbouring Bulgaria, then with the 2018 landmark 'name' deal with Greece, and now with renewed talks with Bulgaria over Sofia's blocking of North Macedonia's path towards EU accession.

The sermon caused a slew of negative reactions on social media, with some users accusing Bishop Agatangel of politically dividing people instead of uniting them, and saying he should keep his distance from politics.

Later on Monday, Minister for Local Government Goran Milevski said Agatangel was bringing shame on the church.

"Like worms and flies are pests for the winemakers, so is Agatangel… doing harm and causing shame for the church, the people and the public," Milevski said.

Although it is known worldwide as St. Valentine's Day, February 14 in North Macedonia, a wine-producing country, is also celebrated by winemakers as the day of St. Tryphon, their patron saint.

It is believed...