sofia bulgarian orthodox church take step towards possible eventual recognition macedonia orthodox church rapprochement echo warm relations governments two balkan neighbor however move unlikely welcome orthodox church serbia greece region religious identity often closely tie nationalist passions politics macedonian orthodox church form country part communist yugoslavia never recognize orthodox church due long-standing dispute independence serbian orthodox church previously formally unite month however macedonian church send official request bulgaria 1,100-year-old orthodox church ask become symbolic mother church bulgaria close linguistic cultural historic tie macedonia statement monday bulgarian orthodox church say aware sacred duty ... take necessary step establish canonical status macedonian church must accept outstretched hand macedonia bulgaria orthodox patriarch neofit say least brothers move come three months prime minister bulgaria macedonia sign friendship treaty move design end years diplomatic wrangle boost macedonia european integration bulgarian church holy synod top executive body consult eastern orthodox church include russia greece serbia announce final decision say eastern orthodox church second large christian denomination worldwide 250 million members unlike roman catholic church supreme leader comparable pope instead compose mainly de facto national church lead patriarch immediate response monday orthodox church serbia greece elsewhere bulgarian move unlikely positive greece lock long-running dispute macedonia country name also name northern greek province athens block skopje government attempt join european union nato russia orthodox church far big worldwide unlikely anything might compromise moscow strong tie serbia moscow also oppose macedonia plan join nato eu bulgaria orthodox church could unilaterally recognize macedonia church move sure cheer bulgarian nationalists bulgarian church must recognize macedonian church bulgarian defence minister krasimir karakachanov co-leader unite patriots party junior partner centre-right coalition government sofia say monday two brotherly church speak without translator use church book add allude close linguistic link bulgarian nationalists regard macedonian language dialect bulgarian bulgarian macedonian orthodox church edge close despite thorny history