Archbishop Stefan urges unity, faith and defence of statehood in Ilinden message
Archbishop Stefan framed the three Ilindens as a continuous tradition of sacrifice and called on citizens to overcome divisions and defend statehood.
His Beatitude Stefan, Archbishop of Ohrid and Macedonia, used his Ilinden message to call for a return to faith, justice, honour and dignity, and urged citizens to put aside divisions. “Only a united people, who will overcome divisions and build mutual trust, can preserve their freedom, identity and state,” he said.
Three Ilindens as a single historical thread
In the address the archbishop framed the three Ilindens as proof of Macedonia’s historical continuity and as symbols of the nation’s aspiration for freedom and statehood. He recalled that Ilinden 1903 marked the uprising for freedom, ASNOM in 1944 affirmed the right to a state, and independence in 1991 completed the modern Macedonian state.
Stefan warned that freedom is not a permanently acquired right but a value that must be continually defended and preserved. He argued that contemporary challenges require as much responsibility from citizens as the trials earlier generations faced.
The archbishop also emphasised the historical role of the Macedonian Orthodox Church – Ohrid Archbishopric as a guardian in times when Macedonia lacked a state, saying the Church protected not only faith but also literacy, culture and national consciousness.
The Ilinden message closed with an appeal to cultivate Ilinden’s ideals and to keep alive the memory of all who sacrificed their lives for Macedonia’s freedom, a legacy that, the archbishop said, must remain an obligation for present and future generations.
Photo: press material from the event
