We all need to go back to the base of the source of faith and respect for spiritual values to better cope with the challenges of today and to be united, Macedonian President Gjorge Ivanov and Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew assessed at the meeting in the Ecumenical Patriarchate in Istanbul.

Besides the messages for Orthodox unity, President Ivanov and Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew discussed about the problems faced by the Macedonian Orthodox Church, as well as about the Miracle in the Church St. Demetrius.

President Ivanov expressed hope that the issue of MOC will be solved through dialogue with mutual respect in the spirit of Christianity and that the Macedonian believers will take their place in the Orthodox ecumene. Church issues, President Ivanov said after the meeting, should be resolved by the churches; they do not have limited mandate as politicians have. Church issues are resolved by the churches. We are politicians and we are limited with a mandate. Ecclesiastical issues in the church have no restrictions and it is a process that makes me happy, it is ongoing process and the churches will find a solution, President Ivanov underlined.

Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew at the meeting said that his thoughts and prayers and his personal engagement are aimed to overcome misunderstandings and reaching Orthodox unity. He congratulated the leadership of President Ivanov for his commitment to spiritual values, dialogue and tolerance for diversity.

The meeting between President Ivanov and the Ecumenical Patriarch was preceded with President’s presence at the morning liturgy in the church St. George in the yard of the Constantinople Patriarchate. At the liturgy, led by His All-Holiness Bartholomew, the holy myrrh was prepared that brings all believers in Christianity, an act done every ten years, before the Easter holidays.

President Ivanov said it was a unique event that gives hope for the unity of believers of the common Orthodox ecumene. The preparation of the holy myrrh is done once in 10 years and is an event that is unique and brings all believers in the Christian world. Being present at this liturgy, the talks we have had with the Ecumenical Patriarch give us hope that our believers will be in communion with the whole Orthodox ecumene, President Ivanov said.