On August 29, 2023, on the feast of St. Joachim of Osogovo, the heads of the Serbian and Macedonian Churches celebrated a joint Liturgy at the Monastery of St. Joachim near Kriva Palanka in northeastern Macedonia, reports religija.mk.

Along with Patriarch Porphyrios and Archbishop Stefan, other Serbian and Macedonian hierarchs served, as well as Most Reverend Bishop Jacob of Dorostol of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church and Protopresbyter Nelutsu Oprya of the Romanian suburbs in Sofia.

“Today’s meeting is an example that in the Church there is no distinction between peoples, because the Lord is one for all,” said Archbishop Stefan .

He also called everyone to unity and said that opposition to communion and unity can be defeated by prayer and fasting.

“Prayers to Christ are the strongest weapon that unites us with God, who loves everyone, including those who oppose us, those who consider us enemies, because we are all one in the love of Christ and we are all friends,” the archbishop added.