In the past, Greece had vigorously objected to Macedonia’s rayed solar flag choice, claiming the star was a Greek emblem. Indeed, the Macedonian flag, together with the name “Macedonia,” became the focus of a long-standing dispute between Greece and Macedonia. In July 1995, Greece went so far as to lodge a request with the World Intellectual Property Organization for exclusive trademark protection of the Star of Vergina. In 1995, due to pressure, the then Republic of Macedonia replaced its “Greek” starburst flag with the current central golden disk. Upon seeing Macedonia’s flag proudly flying atop the Macedonian Embassy near the Vatican, I could not help but wonder: will the design of the national flag of Macedonia change to match the country’s recent name change? Will the Macedonian Orthodox Church limbo be resolved? Will the Catholic Church play any role in this complicated ecclesial-political process
