The President of the Republic of Macedonia, Dr. Gjorge Ivanov, on the occasion of the great Christian holiday Epiphany, sent a congratulation message to the Head of the Macedonian Orthodox Church - Ohrid Archdiocese, Archbishop of Ohrid and Macedonia, H.H. Stefan and to all Orthodox believers.

Your Holiness,

Let me extend my sincere congratulations to you personally, to all Orthodox believers in the Republic of Macedonia, to the members of the Holy Synod of Bishops, to the reverend clergy and monks, on the occasion of the great Christian holiday Epiphany.

Epiphany is a holiday which emphasizes the importance of the sacrament of baptism as one of the pillars of Christianity. Marking the day when St. John the Baptist baptized Jesus Christ in the waters of the Jordan River, we celebrate our spiritual birth, which strengthens our faith, gives us hope for a better tomorrow and encourages to respect each other and to compete in kindness. These are the values upon which we build the centuries-old Macedonian tradition of coexistence, respect and acceptance of diversity.

Let this holiday, when the waters are sacred, give us the ability to pay attention, respect and love to our families, neighbors and friends, aware that united we can deal with all challenges and temptations.

Congratulations on this great Christian holiday!

Dr. Gjorge Ivanov