Crossword Genius

European state’s obsession involving church function (9)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

macedonia

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'european state's obsession involving church function' is the definition.
I can't tell whether this definition defines the answer.

'obsession involving church function' is the wordplay.
'obsession' becomes 'mania' (I've seen this in another clue).
'involving' means one lot of letters goes inside another.
'church' becomes 'ce' (abbreviation for Church of England).
'function' becomes 'do' (both can mean an event).
'ce'+'do'='cedo'
'mania' enclosing 'cedo' is 'MACEDONIA'.

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(Other definitions for macedonia that I've seen before include "European country, capital Skopje" , "Landlocked Balkan country" , "republic" , "Southeast European country" , "Alexander the Great's homeland" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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