At the ceremony after the dedication, Prime Minister Andrej Plenković, on behalf of the Croatian government, received the highest decoratiion of the Macedonian Orthodox Church, as a sign of gratitude and sincere friendship.
The Order of St. Clement of Ohrid, was also bestowed on the Croatian Bishops' Conference (HBK) for its hospitality and fraternal support and help, and was accepted by the envoy of the President of the HBK, Secretary General Msgr. Krunoslav Novak.
The decorations were presented to them by the head of the Macedonian Orthodox Church, Archbishop of Ohrid and Macedonia, Stefan, and Metropolitan Pimen of Europe and Metropolitan Josif of Tetovo-Gostivar were present at the ceremony in Zagreb.
The delegation of the Macedonian state was led by the ambassador of the Republic of North Macedonia, Milaim Fetai, who thanked the Croatian state for the help in building the church.
Plenković: This is a historic occasion for the Macedonian minority in Croatia
The first Macedonian orthodox church in Croatia was registered in December 1993. In 1995, the Zagreb archdiocese gave it temporary use of the church of St. Rok in Zagreb, and the construction of the church of St. Zlata Meglenska, dedicated to the 18th century saint and martyr, began nine years ago.
The President of the Parish Council, Neven Sukarovski, welcomed those present, as did Kirko Velinski, Archpriest Stavrophor of the Ohrid Archdiocese of the Macedonian Orthodox Church, responsible for the pastoral care of the faithful in Croatia and, as pointed out, the "soul of the entire project" of building the church.
In his words of thanks, the Prime Minister said he was happy to be present at "a great occasion, of a truly historic character for the Macedonian minority in Croatia".
I am truly personally honored, but first of all I see this as giving recognition to the entire government and numerous people who wholeheartedly, with understanding, respect, openness and sincere desire supported the Macedonians in Croatia, as well as all national minorities, "because we think it is good for our societies, for the culture of inclusiveness and especially for the position of Croats in all neighboring countries".
The government financially supported the construction of the church with €935,000, and the prime minister thanked the City of Zagreb "which has been supporting the Macedonian national minority for years."
The construction of the church strengthens our ties and shows how important religion, tradition, and gathering are for the identity of the people, said the Prime Minister, pointing out that it is "only part of the mosaic of overall, very good and friendly, relations between the two countries."
He also recalled his recent visit to North Macedonia and his speech in the Assembly and assessed that North Macedonia is at a moment when it is slowly finally catching up with the European path that it started, together with Croatia, a little more than 20 years ago.
Plenković: Croatia is N. Macedonia's advocate on the European journey
"Croatia was a bit faster, you encountered some injustices that we constantly point out were big and prevented you from moving on the European path as it would be normal and as you expected. But that's why you have friends on that European path, and I I am sure that Croatia is among the biggest advocates," he said.
Jadranka Žarković, adviser to the president for education, attended the ceremony as a delegate of the president of the Republic, and Marijana Petir, a representative of the Croatian parliament speaker, attended the ceremony.
Petir and the parliamentary representative of the Albanian, Bosniak, Montenegrin, Macedonian and Slovenian national minorities, Ermina Lekaj Prljskaj, received a certificate of thanks from the Parish Council of the Church Municipality of the Macedonian Orthodox Church in Zagreb for the efforts and assistance provided in the construction of the church.
The ceremony was attended by Deputy Prime Minister for Social Activities and Human Rights Anja Šimpraga and Minister of Justice and Administration Ivan Malenica, member of the Zagreb City Assembly Marta Kiš as a representative of the Zagreb Mayor and representatives of other church communities in Croatia.