Archbishop Jovan VI of Ohrid

"Russian Church wants to mediate in SPC-MPC dispute"

BELGRADE -- Metropolitan Ilarion Alfeyev has said that Moscow wants to mediate in the church dispute between Belgrade and Skopje.

This is according to the Religious Information Agency (VIA), which referred to him as "the second most senior official" of the Russian Orthodox Church.

BELGRADE - Metropolitan Ilarion Alfeyev, the second most senior official of the Russian Orthodox Church, has said that Moscow wants to mediate in the church dispute between Belgrade and Skopje, the Religious Information Agency (VIA) reported on Monday.

BELGRADE - The Serbian Orthodox Church (SOC) on Wednesday expressed deep gratitude to the sisterly Russian Orthodox Church (ROC) for its great efforts to secure the release of Archbishop Jovan Vraniskovski of Ohrid.

The Macedonian prison authorities have declined to comment after Vraniskovski, who is in jail for embezzling some 250,000 euro from the Macedonian Orthodox Church before defecting to set up his own church, complained of being mistreated.

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SPC in "ecclesiastical charges" against Macedonia archbishop

BELGRADE -- The Holy Synod of the Serbian Orthodox Church (SPC) announced Tuesday its decision to bring ecclesiastical charges against Archbishop Stefan.

He is the head of the canonically unrecognized Macedonian Orthodox Church (MPC).

BELGRADE - The Holy Synod of the Serbian Orthodox Church (SPC) announced Tuesday its decision to bring ecclesiastical charges against Archbishop Stefan, head of the canonically unrecognized Macedonian Orthodox Church (MPC).

Archbishop of Ohrid Jovan remains in prison

SKOPJE -- The Macedonian Appellate Court confirmed the first instance ruling against Archbishop of Ohrid and Metropolitan of Skopje Jovan Vraniskovski.

He was sentenced to three years of imprisonment on charges for embezzlement of EUR 250,000.

SKOPJE - The Macedonian Appellate Court confirmed the fist instance ruling sentencing Archbishop of Ohrid and Metropolitan of Skopje Jovan Vraniskovski to three years of imprisonment on charges for embezzlement of EUR 250,000.

Senior bishops of the Macedonian Orthodox Church have called for jailed priest Jovan Vraniskovski to be pardonned ahead of potentially important talks between the Macedonian and Serbian churches.