The Role of Vicar Bishop Dositej (Stojković) at the Beginning of the Church Schism in Macedonia in 1958

Abstract

This article deals with the Church schism in the People’s Republic of Macedonia after World War II, on the basis of historical sources from the Archives of Yugoslavia and the Holy Synod of Bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church (SOC), with special attention devoted, within a broader context, to the roles of Patriarchs of SOC Vikentije and German in the resolution of the Church schism in PR Macedonia. The first part of the paper presents a chronological review of Church conditions in this southern Yugoslav federal unit after World War II, while the second analyzes the role of the Serbian Patriarch’s vicar bishop, Bishop of Toplica Dositej (Stojković), and his activity connected with the church-national assembly held in Ohrid in October 1958, followed by his participation in the establishment of a new hierarchy in PR Macedonia and the creation of the Church schism.