Zagreb - Croatian Parliament Speaker Gordan Jandroković concluded his visit to North Macedonia on Friday with meetings with the Bishop of Skopje and Greek Catholic Eparch Kiro Stojanov, as well as the head of the Macedonian Orthodox Church, Stefan.
Bishop Stojanov informed Jandroković about the activities undertaken by the Catholic Church in North Macedonia to care for the local faithful, particularly the Croatian community.
Jandroković said the contribution of the local Catholic Church in preserving the cultural values and identity of the Croatian people in North Macedonia was commendable.
He also visited the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in Skopje, whose restoration was financially supported also by the Croatian government.
Archbishop Stefan recalled the path to a historic decision in 2022 which granted and recognised the autocephaly of the Macedonian Orthodox Church. He said this was an act of utmost importance for the Orthodox Christian community in North Macedonia, as well as for the Macedonian identity in general.
Stefan attended the consecration of a Macedonian Orthodox Church in Zagreb in 2023, to whose construction the Croatian government also contributed.