Kotzias: Name and negotiations not in jurisdiction of Greek church

The name is not in the jurisdiction of the Holy Synod of the Greek Orthodox Church and it would be helpful if it did not interfere, says Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Kotzias.

“They are concerned as citizens, but the issue is not in their jurisdiction as an institution,” says Kotzias in an interview with national TV station ERT.

He says the Greek church decided to support the name protests staged in the country while aware of the talks between the church in Skopje and the Ecumenical Patriarchate.

“The recognition of a church’s autocephaly or other aspects are in the competence of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, not the Greek church. Since the issue’s settlement has been launched, it would be good if they did not interfere and even better if they supported a solution,” says Kotzias and adds that talks between the Macedonian Orthodox Church and the Ecumenical Patriarchate have been ongoing for a year.

The Greek FM says talks are focusing on the recognition of the Macedonian Orthodox Church under name Ohrid Archbishopric.

“The renaming should be welcomed. People in Skopje should be rewarded for their thinking and the courage to come back to their traditional and non-provocative name,” underlines Kotzias.