Catholic Church in North Macedonia
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The Catholic Church in North Macedonia is part of the worldwide
In 2020, it was estimated that there are 15,000 Catholics in the country, less than 1% of the total population;[2] there were 50 nuns and priests serving across 11 parishes.
The beginning of Christianity in North Macedonia
In the 6th century, Emperor Justinian I (born in Tauresium, today's Gradište in North Macedonia) advanced the status of Christianity across the Eastern Roman (Byzantine) Empire, and is venerated in both the Eastern Orthodox Church and the Roman Catholic Church. After Justinian I, the next cycle in which Christianity began to spread began in the 9th century, when
Skopje Catholic bishops
Diocese of Skopje, under whose jurisdiction are believers of the Western or Roman rite is one of the oldest dioceses in the Balkans and its territory historically is not enough investigated. Many important historical facts and unsolved today. To a better overview, church history in these areas could be divided into three main periods.
First period
See also Diocese of Skopje
The first period of the Christianity in North Macedonia begins with the appearance of Christianity in Europe. Paul the Apostle was missionary at this time. Christianity was present in these areas illustrated by the fact that the
Second period
The second period is characterized by turbulent conditions and switch to the ends of these arms in the hands of various new rulers. With the arrival of the Turks a hard time for Christians in these areas arose. Five centuries of Ottoman slavery occasionated severe consequences in the diocese. But in a report in Rome dating from 1584, Skopje is mentioned as Catholic Center.
Third period
This period coincides with the founding of the Congregation de Propaganda Fide in 1622. In this period, the
Macedonian Apostolic Vicariate
In North Macedonia there are Catholics of Byzantine-Catholic rite that fall under the jurisdiction of the Macedonian Apostolic Vicariate.
Macedonian Apostolic Vicariate of the Bulgarians
The movement for liberation and independence gets his swing in mid-19th century, when the whole of Europe is waking to a national consciousness. This movement takes North Macedonia. In the struggle for religious freedom from the Hellenic influence a national spirit in the Macedonian people are waking up and the spirit of ecclesiastical independence from Constantinople Patriarchate arose. Then, a failed request allegiance in various independent churches, trying to free from the jurisdiction of the Patriarch of Constantinople ends in a compound of the local Bulgarians with the Catholic Church in 1859. The center of this movement was the town of Kilkis, what is known as "Union of Kukush".[4] In 1861, Bulgarian Catholic Apostolic Vicariate of Constantinople was created for the Eastern-Catholic Bulgarians of the Byzantine Rite in European provinces of the Ottoman Empire, including the then region of Macedonia. In 1883 as its off-shoot was created a Macedonian Apostolic Vicariate of the Bulgarians based in Thessaloniki. Its first appointed Apostolic Vicar was Lazar Mladenov.
Pastoral Vicariate
With the creation of the Apostolic Vicariate of the Bulgarians in North Macedonia, a legal structure of the Catholic Church of the Byzantine rite in North Macedonia was established. Bishop Mladenov indicates a clear direction for the development of the Catholic Church of Eastern Rite. But unfortunate circumstances affected this region: the Ilinden Uprising, the Balkan Wars and
Apostolic Exarchate
Pope John Paul II on January 11, 2001 in Vatican signed a decree to establish an Apostolic Exarch for Catholics of the Eastern rite in North Macedonia. The first Apostolic Exarch appointed was Monsignor Joakim Herbut, bishop of the Diocese of Skopje. The seat of the exarchate is the city of Strumica, and the Assumption Church in this city holds the title of Cathedral.
Eparchy
Pope Francis on May 31, 2018 elevated the Apostolic Exarchate to the rank of an Eparchy as the Macedonian Catholic Eparchy of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Strumica-Skopje.[5]
Both Catholic institutions in North Macedonia are under the leadership of one person, Kiro Stojanov, perhaps the only case in the world.
Religious buildings
Roman Catholic Diocese of Skopje
- Cathedral of the Sacred Heart of Jesus (Skopje)
- Holy Heart of Jesus Church in Bitola
- Saint Cyril and Methodius and Saint Benedict Church in Ohrid[6]
- Catholic Church in Štip
Eparchy of the Macedonian Greek Catholic Church
- Cathedral of Assumption of Blessed Virgin Mary (Strumica)[7]
- Saint Cyril and Methodius Church in Bogdantsi
- Saint Peter and Paul Church in Gevgelija
- Assumption Church in Nova Maala
- Saint Great Martyr George Church - Chanaklija, in Nova Maala
- Saint The prophet Elijah Church in Radovo
- Saint Cyril and Methodius Church (Petralinci)
- Saint Nicholas Church (Sekirnik)[8]
- Saint Apostle Paul Church in Paljurci
- Saint Joseph Church in Bistrentsi
See also
References
- ^ "Makedonski katolici - malobrojna, ali ?iva i kompaktna zajednica". Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2014-12-17.
- ^ Catholics and Culture website, retrieved 2023-08-08
- ^ Concordat between the Holy See and the Realm of Serbia in 1914
- ^ Frazee, Charles A. (2006). Catholics and Sultans: The Church and the Ottoman Empire 1453-1923. Cambridge University Press, pp. 243-244.
- ^ "Elevazione dell'Esarcato Apostolico per i fedeli cattolici di rito bizantino residenti nella ex-Repubblica Jugoslava di Macedonia ad Eparchia e nomina del primo Vescovo Eparchiale". the Holy See Press Service (in Italian). 2018-05-31.
- ^ "U Makedoniji tri nove katoličke crkve - Europa - Svijet - Dalje.com". Archived from the original on 2014-12-17. Retrieved 2014-12-17.
- ^ "U Makedoniji tri nove katoličke crkve - Europa - Svijet - Dalje.com". Archived from the original on 2014-12-17. Retrieved 2014-12-17.
- ^ "U Makedoniji tri nove katoličke crkve - Europa - Svijet - Dalje.com". Archived from the original on 2014-12-17. Retrieved 2014-12-17.
Sources
- Frazee, Charles A. (2006) [1983]. Catholics and Sultans: The Church and the Ottoman Empire 1453-1923. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. ISBN 9780521027007.
External links
- The Holy See — The Vatican's official website