Klime Kovaceski: Acclaimed Macedonian Chef Ambassador Acevska to Chair Upcoming UMD Global Conference in Washington, D.C

Home , Macedonians in Germany, Michael Petkov, Quintus Curtius Rufus

United Macedonian Diaspora Publication Volume IX • Spring Edition - 2011 • www.umdiaspora.org

2010 Bitove Scholarships Awarded in Toronto: Alexandra Close, Alexander Karapancev, Biljana Markovska

In Memoriam: Romanian MP Liana Dumitrescu, 1973-2011

Klime Kovaceski: Acclaimed Macedonian Chef Ambassador Acevska to Chair Upcoming UMD Global Conference in Washington, D.C. Takes On The World Spring 2011 1 REGISTRATION FORM

REGISTER TODAY TO Regular Registration Late Registration SAVE $50 February 16, 2011- April 30, 2011 May 1, 2011-June 22, 2011

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HOTEL INFORMATION The J.W. Marriott 1331 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20004

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Register online at www.UMDGlobalConference.org, fax form to (202) 756-7323, or mail to: United Macedonian Diaspora, 1101 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, 6th Floor, Washington, D.C., 20004 For more information or if you have any questions, please e-mail Diana Booth at [email protected] IN THIS ISSUE

2 UMD Global Conference Registration

4 Letter from the President

5 Editorial: Academics Used As Pawns In Athens’ Anti-Macedonian Endgame

8 Macedonian Chef Takes On The World

9 Editorial Cartoon: Petar Jankov

10 Macedonia-Roman Wars: Second Act United Macedonian Diaspora 11 Young Australian-Macedonian Gets Top Marks 1101 Pennsylvania Ave NW, 6th Floor Washington, D.C. 20004 12 Donski: Ancient Macedonians Used Translators Phone: (202) 756-2244 To Communicate With Ancient Hellenes Fax: (202) 756-7323 [email protected] 14 Letter from Father Seraphim: [email protected] Appeal for Gavril Zezovski http://www.umdiaspora.org 15 “A Name Is A Name” DVD Launch Australia Office: 16 Ambassador Ljubica Acevska To Chair UMD Global PO Box 2153 Conference 2011 Hawthorn, VIC 3122 Australia Phone: 0438 385 466 17 Vodenka: Even From The Grave, Mirka Ginova Still [email protected] Incites Greek Anger

Canada Office: 18 Mirka Ginova: 3555 St. Clair Avenue East, Martyr For Macedonia Toronto, ON M1K 1L6, Canada Phone: 1-800-UMD-9583 18 Pavle Madzirov: [email protected] Dusseldorf’s Macedonian Councilman

19 Discover Your Roots: Editor: Mark Branov Archaeology Summer School in Vinica [email protected] 20 2010 Bitove Scholarships: Contributors Investing in our Future Ana Buling; Aleksandar Donski; Irena Gapkovska; Petar Jankov; Metodija 21 UMD Perth Food Festival: Koloski; Dame Krcoski; Jason Miko; Boris A Huge Success Patarov; Risto Stefov; Goran Stojanov; C. Benjamin Tracy; Vodenka 22 Jovica Palasevski: Represent Macedonia in the Windy City Translation team Magdalena Alceva; Martin Anastasovski; 24 Stojanov: Dame Krcoski; Boris Patarov; Vera Najdovska The Macedonian Church In The Ottoman Era

26 U.S.-Macedonia Cooperation in Vital Area of Water Layout and Design Management Cindy Armstrong 28 UMD Helps Baba and Dedo in Macedonia Any opinions or views expressed in articles or other pieces appearing in UMD Voice 29 UMD Global Conference Commemorative Journal are those of the author alone and are not necessarily those of UMD; the appearance 30 UMD Global Conference Sponsorship of any such opinions or views in UMD Voice is not and should not be considered to be an endorsement by or approval of the same by UMD.

Spring 2011 3 LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT

Dear Reader:

At the end of January, we were all shocked at the news of our dear friend Liana Dumitrescu’s passing. On same day that the news broke, I had a meeting with a staffer in Congress to discuss U.S. - Macedonian relations, and coincidentally, the staffer was of Romanian background; it Founded in 2004, United Macedonian must have been a sign. Diaspora (UMD) is the leading international non-governmental organization addressing Nobody could believe such a young, ambitious, passion- the interests and needs of Macedonians ate leader in our community could go so quickly. But her and Macedonian communities throughout historic achievements will live on forever. Due in no small part to Liana’s leadership, Romania the world. is the only EU country to fully recognize its Macedonian minority, and she gave Macedonians With headquarters in Washington, D.C. , a stronger voice in Europe. Her achievements should serve as a model for all Macedonian UMD has an office in Melbourne, Australia diaspora advocates in the world. I want to dedicate 2011 to Liana Dumitrescu – a brave and and Toronto, Canada and representatives inspirational role model for us all. May God Bless Her Soul! in Paris, London, Brussels, Vienna, Kiev, St. Petersburg, and Stuttgart. In March, Macedonia opened the Holocaust Memorial Center in Skopje. One of the world’s largest, this Center will serve as a reminder that 98% of Macedonian Jews were sent to the UMD is a 501 (c) (3) charitable Treblinka extermination camp by the Bulgarian fascist regime occupying Macedonia at that Organization in the U.S., and UMD dark time in European history. I was present at the opening ceremonies hosted by Mace- (Canada) is a registered charity. donia’s President and Prime Minister, and I couldn’t have been prouder to be Macedonian. Macedonian citizens of diverse cultural and religious backgrounds attended to pay their re- Board/Officers spects, and it was truly an historic occasion. Stojan Nikolov - Board Chairman/UMD Voice Development Director The relationship between Israel and Macedonia, and between the Jewish and Macedonian Metodija A. Koloski - President people, has grown stronger in recent years. Not only do we share historical ties, but the eco- Aleksandar Mitreski - Vice President nomic and cultural ties between Israel and Macedonia have been growing as well. In many ways, the Jewish Diaspora can serve as a role model to the Macedonian Diaspora, and our Ivona M. Grimberg - Secretary community must learn from their example, in our mission to become stronger and more ef- Denis Manevski - Treasurer fective advocates for the Macedonian cause. Ordan Andreevski - Director of Australian Operations This brings me to the next topic; friendship. To achieve one of our broadest goals of strengthening and protecting Macedonian culture, the Macedonian people cannot do it alone. We Jim Daikos - Director of Canadian Operations must do our utmost to build ties with other ethnic groups. UMD has been at the forefront of Goran Saveski - Liaison Officer strengthening dialogue with other ethnic groups, including the Bosniak, Croatian, Hungar- Aleksandra Trpkovska - Director, Chari- ian, Jewish, Turkish, and Ukrainian communities. These alliances are about accepting our table Efforts differences, promoting mutual understanding, and working together on issues of joint benefit. These alliances also improve and strengthen the societies we live in, such as Australia, Dimitar Nasev - Regional Representative, Canada, the U.S., and the nations of Europe. Los Angeles/Southern California Dame Krcoski - Regional Representative, As a result of UMD’s efforts, more ethnic groups around the world are learning about Mace- Perth/Western Australia donia, and about the challenges Macedonians are facing. Perhaps the best way to introduce Argie N. Bellio - Regional Representative, Macedonia to others is to share our rich cultural heritage with them. For instance, UMD’s Fort Wayne/Indiana Perth Region organized the first Macedonian Food Festival in Western Australia. What better way to attract interest, then to have non-Macedonians try Macedonian coffee, baklava, Blagoj B. Petkovski - Regional Represen- zelnik, and tavche gravche? I know all my non-Macedonian friends love our food! tative, Greater Washington, D.C. Area

Claude Zoran Spasevski - Representative, This year marks the 20th Anniversary of Macedonia’s Independence. With all the opposition Paris Macedonia has, our people have managed to build on the dream of Goce Delcev and our Boris Kamchev - Representative, St. forefathers, to build an independent Macedonian republic. We must never forsake the sacri- Petersburg fices that our forefathers made to build on this dream. It means we must work together, and we must ensure that Macedonia and the Macedonians prosper today and in the future. Zlatko Nikolovski - Representative, Vienna

4 Spring 2011 UMD is carrying on with its promise to create a new tradition in the global Macedonian community. From June 23-25, 2011, Macedonians and friends of Macedonia will converge on Washington to discuss the progress Macedonia has made in the last twenty years, the current situation, and what needs to be done - Shaping the Future for generations to come!

Your participation at the 3rd Annual UMD Global Conference will benefit both the global Macedonian community and yourself, and allow you to broaden your own thinking on the key issues that affect all of us. The site of the conference, the J.W. Marriott, is only blocks away from the White House, the National Mall, Congress, and all the wonderful monuments and museums. Bring your entire family and spend a few days sightseeing, while also celebrating our Macedonian heritage! When you return home from the Global Conference, you’ll have met new friends, and you will have made a renewed commitment to making a difference. There has never been a more important time to engage the most critical issues of the day. But, no organization can do it alone. We need you to engage, too - to think globally, and to act locally.

We look forward to seeing you in Washington as we celebrate Macedonia – it would not be the same without you!

I wish you and your families a Happy Easter, and to those who celebrate Passover, a Happy Passover!

Yours truly,

Metodija A. Koloski President

EDITORIAL Academics Used As Pawns In Athens’ Anti-Macedonian Endgame By Mark Branov, with files from Dame Krcoski, UMD Perth

glossing over any doubt for the unquestion- In any case, Melville-Jones’ recent extra- ing mind, and sadly, this false air of authority curricular activities have served the Greek can also become a political commodity to be lobby well. Whenever foreign academics bought and sold. Are foreign academics being wade into Greece’s ongoing propaganda war co-opted to advance the Hellenic Republic’s against Macedonia with names that are not international campaign against Macedonia? Greek, and from universities that are not in The evidence is mounting. Greece, it reinforces the false impression of One suspicious example is the curious objectivity, and makes them a more valuable case of Professor John Melville-Jones, an er- propaganda tool. Of course, Melville-Jones’ ne of the most cherished institutions udite expert in ancient coins at the prominent anti-Macedonian rants are woefully misguid- in any free society is the academia; University of Western Australia, in Perth. In ed, and bear very little relation to his actual for good or for ill, the halls of higher his spare time, Melville-Jones has become expertise in the field of ancient numismatics, educationO lend anyone associated with them a darling of the so-called “Australian Mace- but it seems that this fact hardly matters. a patina of authority. If someone’s field of work donian Advisory Council”, which is actually is directly related to the area being discussed, a Greek lobby group dedicated to spread- Here are some comments Melville-Jones that default authoritative air may turn out to be ing anti-Macedonian propaganda. Direct fi- made at a gala AMAC function in Melbourne, entirely justified, especially if their contribu- nancial links between AMAC and the Greek in November 2010: tion to academia is fair, honest, and objective. government are difficult to prove considering • “…(you Greeks should) resist the attempts However, that academic air of authority seems the secretive nature of the organization, but by the present day Slav inhabitants of the to linger anyway, regardless of the quality of all the hallmarks of a very close relationship FYROM to create a nation that is founded what is being presented, and regardless of are obvious. Similarly, the potential benefits on a recent invented mythology…” whether or not they are experts in the matter to a professor of ancient antiquities to make • “…The best option, as I see it, is to get being discussed. An obtuse string of initials political friends with the regime in Athens are the ‘Fyromians’ to agree to their country after someone’s name has a strange way of not difficult to imagine. being called ‘North Macedonia’ … it is too

Spring 2011 5 dependent Republic of Macedonia. In fact, Professor Peter Hill, visiting fellow at the the vast majority of Macedonians in Australia Australian National University, summed up he apparently speaks with, whom he brands the situation succinctly: “Fyromians”, are originally from the southern Aegean part of Macedonia, the part that is “Professor Melville-Jones, while a specialist so close to his Philhellene heart. In ignorant in classics and ancient history, cannot claim fashion, he treats these people as foreigners the same expertise in the modern history of in their own land. In fact, Macedonians are South-Eastern Europe or the South-Slavonic indigenous to the entire region of Macedo- languages. It is rash for a scholar to suggest nia, an uncomfortable fact the Greek govern- that a particular ethnic group in Australia, in ment would like the world to forget. this case the Australian Macedonians, are Melville-Jones’ extended commentary not intelligent enough to understand who about “recently invented mythology” would they are, or who they are not... Nations are, seem to have precious little to do with an- by definition, products of the modern era. It cient coins, his actual area of expertise. is often said that Australia became a nation But no matter, the professor makes sure to at Gallipoli. promote the red herring that the Republic of “The Hellenic Republic claims that the Professor John Melville-Jones Macedonia’s name implies territorial irreden- mere use of the name Macedonia by the late to put forward my own suggestion, tism against Greece. And finally, for good neighbouring republic is in itself irreden- which would have been ‘Vardaria’...” measure, Melville-Jones makes sure to la- tist, because there is an area of Northern • “(It must be) made clear that no territorial bel the Macedonians he knows in Perth as Greece called Macedonia. But there are claims could be made on the basis of this “uneducated”, and not being in a position to probably dozens of similar situations around name…” know their own identity. the world: Luxemburg is a Grand Duchy and • “I have met a number of people from FY- In a later “EurasiaReview.com” piece, Mel- also a province of neighbouring Belgium, ROM in Perth… they were often not well ville-Jones surprisingly took several steps Azerbaijan is an independent republic and educated, they have generally not been back from his previous diatribe in Melbourne: also a province in northern Iran. The name in a position question the distorted view of “I know that in northern Greece some of the France means “land of the Franks” (in Ger- history that is the basis of their nation… ” things that have been done to the Slav mi- man Frankreich) - but there is also a prov- nority (sic) who live there, such as discour- Melville-Jones earnestly does the bidding aging them from using their own language, of his Greek fans when he rebrands the cannot be defended… But I am a specialist Macedonians as “ethnic Slavs,” presumably in the ancient world, not in modern history.” because the Macedonian language is sig- It was a surprising and admirable admission nificantly Slavic in origin. By this logic, since from the professor. However, it reveals the the first language of Martin Luther King was utter hypocrisy of his previous statements. English, his ethnic origins must also have By acknowledging that ethnic Macedonians been Anglo-Saxon… originate in the south, Melville-Jones seri- By extension, since modern Greeks speak ously harms his previous assertion, that the an idiom related to ancient Hellenic languag- Macedonians are actually “Slavs” from an- es, this logic also suggests a direct, unbro- cient Paonia. But, these clarifications amount ken ethnic connection between them and the to a meaningless gesture, as the damage to ancient Hellenes, despite the fact that the his credibility had already been done. modern Greek language was not standard- “That a person of such academic achieve- ized until the 19th Century, with the founding ment could portray such bias towards one of of the modern Greek state, and it actually had Australia’s largest minorities only suggests to be taught in school to western Greeks (who that he is pushing someone else’s agenda generally spoke Albanian), and to eastern against Macedonians,” said Dame Krcoski, Greeks (who generally spoke Turkish.) The UMD represenative in Perth, “In his attempt fact is that the modern Greek language would to remove any legitimate rights the Republic be largely unintelligible to an ancient Hellene, of Macedonia has on its own name and heri- and most certainly unintelligible to an ancient tage, Professor John Melville-Jones is forced Macedonian. Indeed, the people who today to dig 2300 years into history, while complete- call themselves “Ellines” did not adopt this ly ignoring the realties of last two hundred name until the 19th century, instead referring years, not to mention the realities of 2011 AD. to themselves as “Romii,” or Romans. He is using his credentials and position at the Melville-Jones describes the Macedonians university to lend legitimacy to his ignorant polemics about modern-day Greek politics.” as originating solely from what is now the in- Liberal MP Jim Karygiannis

6 Spring 2011 Dr. Christos Karatzios, MD, McGill University

ince in Germany called Franken, in English Franconia, meaning “land of the Franks. “The Hellenic Republic claims that it feels threatened by its small neighbour. This is hardly convincing, since the Hellenic Re- public has one of the most powerful armies in NATO... In order to accommodate Greek sensibilities, the Republic of Macedonia even changed its flag... (and) its constitution to state explicitly that the Republic has no territorial claims against neighbouring states.” Dr. Karatzios raised several baseless con- Karatzios also boasted of his personal family On March 5, 2011, half way around the spiracy theories against Macedonia, and the connections with the Patriarchist war crimi- world, a lecture series called “Insights To sizable ethnic Macedonian minority in Ae- nal Germanos Karavangelis (an extremely Hellenism” was held at the prestigious Uni- gean Macedonia (northern Greece.) Laugh- hateful and disdained political figure to the versity of Toronto St. George campus, in To- ably, much of Karatzios’ “research” invov- Macedonian minority in Aegean Macedonia), ronto, Canada. led copy-pasting flaming-matches between and guerilla Pavlos Melas. “Greek figures Unlike the AMAC’s event in Melbourne internet trolls, in an effort to demonize the such as Karavangelis and Melas were war a few months previously, “Insights To Hel- Macedonians, and present them as Greek- criminals by anybody’s standard,” said UMD lenism” was unambiguously sponsored by haters to his largely teenage audience. Director of Canadian Operations Jim Daikos, the Greek government’s agency, the World “and it is shocking to see Greek nationalists Council of Hellenes. The Consuls General of Some of Karatzios’ theories include the fol- continue to lionize them as heroes.” both Greece and Cyprus opened the lecture lowing: Dr. Karatzios even went so far as to at- series with speeches, and it was conspicu- • That the origins of the “Macedonian Ques- tempt to justify the Greek government’s use ously attended by one of the best-known tion” began with Count Nikolay Pavlovich of aereal napalm bombing against civilians anti-Macedonian propagandists in Canada, Ignatieff - the great-grandfather of current in the Greek Civil War. (Go to: http://www. MP Jim Karygiannis, the Liberal member for Canadian Liberal Leader Michael Ignati- youtube.com/watch?v=7dEaqApJj40, and Scarborough-Agincourt. It was also attended eff - and his pan-Slavic desire to gain ac- check out minute 9:28, for this little gem.) by Costas Menegakis, Conservative hopeful cess to strategic Greek ports for the Tsar After Karatzios had finished, MP Karygiannis for the riding of Richmond Hill. of Russia stood up to praise the “academic” lecture in the On this day, the “academic” enlisted to do • That Ignatieff’s plot somehow morphed following question and answer period. He also the Greek government’s work was Dr. Chris- into a Communist conspiracy many de- took the opportunity to publically refer to eth- tos Karatzios, MD, a pediatrician from Mon- cades later, to “create a false nation” of nic Macedonians as “skopians”, which he has treal’s McGill University. The relationship be- Macedonians, only for the purpose of ter- done previously to a Globe and Mail journal- tween Dr. Karatzios’ formal medical training ritorial aggression against Greece, on be- ist in September 2007. “Skopian” is a hateful and his knowledge of Macedonian history and half of Bulgarians, Yugoslavs, and Soviets slur, used pejoratively in the Greek language politics is unknown, but he repeatedly made a • That the Children Refugees (Detsa Be- to denigrate those of ethnic Macedonian de- point of how he was presenting an “academic galci) from the Greek Civil war in 1948 – a scent, to pretend that only Greeks have histori- perspective” in the issue at hand. generation of tens of thousands of Mace- cal or cultural connections to Aegean Mace- Dr. Karatzios’ two-hour PowerPoint pre- donian children ethnically cleansed from donia, and to deny the existence of northern sentation entitled “Macedonism: Veracity Aegean Macedonia by the Greek govern- Greece’s ethnic Macedonian minority. or Fiction” was given to a room of approxi- ment, and evacuated by the International “Macedonians, especially those from Aege- mately 100 people. This included a handful Red Cross during the war – were actually an Macedonia, have experienced this kind of of Greek nationalist activists, agents of the “Greek children,” stolen from their homes xenophobic abuse from the radical elements Greek state, and Greek media, but the large in the night by Communists “at knife in the Greek community for a long time,” said majority of attendees were actually impres- point” Goran Saveski, UMD Canada Liason Officer. sionable high school children of ethnic Greek • That Macedonians are a nation with no “In the 21st Century, it is unacceptable that heritage, bussed in to be indoctrinated with historical or cultural connection to Aegean (such a) hateful attitude is being imported into an anti-Macedonian mindset. Macedonia, only to “Skopia” Canada by agents of the Greek state.”

Spring 2011 7 Macedonian Chef Takes On The World By Ana Buling, UMD Communications and Public Relations Fellow

acclaimed Miami restaurant called Crystal Cafe. Kovaceski is now corporate executive chef at Mez Restaurant in North Caro- lina, and is working on a book about Eastern European cooking with veteran Miami food critic Lee Klein. In our interview, Kovaceski talks about how his deep Macedonian roots inspire his craft, the lessons he has learned from his impressive clientele, and his many plans for the future.

AB: How has being Macedonian influenced your cooking? KK: The food culture of one’s homeland be- comes a flavor memory, and it stays in your subconscious. You know the flavor you are looking for, however indescribable it might be, and when you reach it, people respond to it, because you are cooking with your soul.

AB: How did moving to America chal- lenge or expand your skills? KK: When I relocated to the states in 1984, I found myself participating in the culinary evolution that was happening here during the eighties and early nineties, due to the explosion of food-related publications, food-related network television shows and general media interest. Living in a great international and competitive city like Miami, I woke up every morning and planned what I needed to do in order to create something fresh and new.

AB: What inspired you to become a chef and attend two culinary schools, one in Ohrid, and the other in Croatia? KK: Being a musician, I felt it was needed to find something that was equally creative, unpredictable and challenging that I could have as a secure profession, and that is what cooking became for me.

hef Klime Kovaceski has been serv- AB: How has being a Macedonian set ing a fiercely loyal and ever-expand- you apart from other chefs and restaura- ing clientele for the past two decades. teurs? CEducated in Ohrid and Croatia, Kovaceski KK: The fact that I was not French, Italian or went on to work in Amsterdam and Miami, Spanish, which are all very popular and well eventually becoming ten-year executive known cuisines; I had to be better all across chef for a Miami restaurant called Jama, and the board in order to attract attention and the owner-chef of a long-running and highly support.

8 Spring 2011 AB: Why do you think it is that Eastern AB: You are planning on publishing a Instead, I found him to be soft-spoken and European cuisine is so rarely explored by book on Eastern European food in the very kind. other chefs? future; what are some of your favorite KK: I think there are negative connotations Macedonian dishes? AB: What is your favorite self-created that are associated with a country’s history KK: Without naming the obvious and most dish? with communism, which may bring a fair popular, I prefer anything that has to do with KK: I don’t have a favorite. It’s like asking amount of aversion or avoidance here in a combining three to five ingredients, and none a father which of his children is a favorite. I western society. of them being pork. like dishes that I create quickly and spon taneously. They are always the ones that AB: What can be done to change this and AB: You keep a “little black book” of cus- become the most widely popular and well make the food more accessible to main- tomers and clientele; who is a favorite in liked. stream as well as exclusive audiences? that book? KK: To take the classical dishes and evolve KK: Iggy Pop was definitely one of my favor- AB: What advice do you have to aspiring them enough so that they please the main- ites. When I found my love for the guitar at chefs? stream, but also retain their unique and re- a young age, he was one, along with others KK: Of course, don’t serve a dish that you gional originality, for example, my salmon of that time period, which we were listening wouldn’t serve to yourself, but always re- dish, which was inspired by the traditional to back home, so it was great to meet him. member it is not about you. You are there as preparation of Ohridska Pastrmka (Ohrid Also, he was completely the opposite of a servant to culinary fantasies and desires of Lake Trout). the outrageous persona we see on stage. others.

By Petar Jankov, reproduced with permission

Spring 2011 9 Macedonian-Roman Wars: Second Act By C. Benjamin Tracy, B.A., English and Latin, M.S. Ed.

he second act in the theatre of war Rome again secured control and partitioned as your ally, when you have the Roman for between Macedonia and Rome (197 Macedonia into four republics, assigning a your lord” (Livy, Ab Urbe Condita 31.29). The – 148 BCE) reveals a rich history of Roman governor to each. Macedonian envoys reminded the Hellenes Tancient bilateral and trilateral negotiations, Meanwhile, Carthage was destroyed im- about Rome’s seizure of Syracuse, which political intrigue and martial alliance, not to mediately thereafter, allowing Rome to move was carried out on the pretense of restoring mention treachery and partition. The decades into the power vacuum in Hellas, something their liberty from Carthaginian oppression. following Philip V -- the eras of the Macedonian which Philip V had predicted thirty years pre- Yet centuries of mistrust, rivalry and armed kings Perseus (178–168BCE) and Andriscus viously. Rome seized control from within and struggle between the Macedonian empire “Philip VI” (c.150–148BCE) -- comprise two absorbed all of the Hellenic city-states. And and Hellenic city-states incited the latter and Macedonian-Roman revolutions. One result- Philip had warned the Hellenes of Rome’s her allies to seek bilateral relations with Rome ed in Roman conquest, and the partitioning of modus operandi: to keep opposing factions instead of Macedon. Political and martial al- Macedonia into four districts, in 168BCE. The at war with each other, until time came for liances were then reinforced between the other led to a Macedonian uprising which de- complete subjugation of all. coalitions of Hellas, the allies of Pergamum feated the Roman Army, temporarily re-uniting Prior to the Second Macedonian-Roman and Rhodes, and the Senate and People of the four districts and expanding Macedonia’s War, the Hellenes and their allies had ap- Rome, and against the forces of Macedonia. dominion to include Thessaly, in 149BCE. pealed to Rome for military support against Such began Rome’s entrance into the east, Rome had been forced to acknowledge Philip. Roman ambassadors had arrived to in the summer of 200BCE. Macedonia as a sovereign nation of signifi- Philip, arguing with him that their presence Never before had the Macedonians, the cant power. For that reason, the Senate and in the city-states was not an occupation, but Hellenic city-states or her allies east of the Ae- the People of Rome (SPQR) prepared to a defensive response against the military gean, seen a force such as that of the Roman thwart a Macedonian and Carthaginian re- advances of Macedon. Philip had dismissed army: alien weaponry, such as the razor-sharp surgence/alliance, by authorizing a new army their argument, for he knew their true motive: Spanish sword, and light body armor, orderly and electing a new praetor. The praetor was the subjugation of the east. arrangements as a whole, division into assort- named Quintus Caecilius Metellus, and his Countless arbitrations and delegations be- ed sections, with lines of camps at regular in- orders were to swiftly crush all resistance. tween Philip and the Hellenes commenced tervals, and novel tactics and machinery, such One year later, Quintus Metellus defeated thereafter, the former attempting to persuade as the testudo (turtle) formation, and the aries Andriscus at Pydna, which is exactly where the latter of Rome’s motives. Prophetically, (battering ram). The traditional ballistae and King Perseus had been defeated in the Battle during a session with the Panaetolian Con- peltasts used by the Macedonians and east- of Pydna twenty years earlier. For this victory, gress, Macedonian envoys warned the Hel- ern armies were no match for Rome’s military Metellus was awarded by the Senate the title lenic delegates of Rome’s real objective: to machinations, according to Livy, and Rome’s of “Macedonicus”, hence ending Macedonian allow their “legions to settle in these parts, martial style had confused Philip’s strategies, independence, annexing the nation, and es- and take their yoke on your shoulders; then it terrifying the entire east. Philip himself ad- tablishing it as Rome’s first eastern province. will be too late and all in vain to call on Philip mitted that “no one could imagine that such

10 Spring 2011 a camp was a camp of barbarians” (Livy, Ab conveniently, Philip refused. The Roman held at the high ground of Cynoscephalae. Urbe Condita 31.35). Conversely, Livy (Books consul asked, “Whom then do you fear?” The brutal engagement, hampered by a sud- 31- 45) expounds upon the indomitable spirit, Philip retorted, showing a proud and king- den fog, eventually claimed Macedonia’s de- the prowess and the centuries-proven inge- ly spirit, “I fear no one, except the immortal feat and Rome’s victory, at a cost of many nuity of the Macedonian army, seen from afar gods; but I do not trust the good faith of all I Macedonian casualties. in their red and gold armor, with their massive see, and least of all do I trust the Aetolians The Battle of Cynoscephalae resulted in long pikes. The Macedonian legions of hun- (the Hellenes).” a truce --requested by Philip -- that was im- dreds were known for psychological martial “But that,” replied Flamininus, “is a danger mediately accepted by Flamininus, much to tactics, such as setting up the king’s tent in felt equally by all who come to a conference the chagrin of their wayward ally, the Hel- front of the rampart, on the most conspicu- with an enemy, if there is no good faith.” lenic Aetolians; the Aetolians protested, and ous eminence, so as to strike terror into the “Nevertheless, Titus Quinctius,” contested challenged the Roman consul, who promptly enemy, and to inspire hope in his own men, Philip, “Philip and Phaeneas [the Aetolian rebuked them. Extensive council meetings as a display of his own self-confidence (Livy, magistrate] are not equal rewards for perfidy, followed, with more provocative dialogue Ab Urbe Condita 32.5). if there should be an act of treachery. For and negotiations between Flamininus, Philip Livy also illustrates the many battles, del- it would not be as difficult for the Aetolians (who abided by the Flamininus’ terms), and egations and political arguments between to choose another chief magistrate than the Hellenic envoys. Macedonia and Hellas and Macedonia and for the Macedonians to find a king to put in The city-states remained as Rome’s pro- Rome. Among his highly detailed description my place.” tectorate, and Macedonia and Rome entered is a most intriguing and tense dialogue be- When the envoys and Flamininus ordered into a truce that would last until Philip’s un- tween King Philip, the Hellenic envoys, and Philip to withdraw from Hellas, Philip argued timely death in 179BCE. His demise left the the thirty-year-old Roman general consul, that they were unable to tell him what the Macedonian throne to his adopted son and Titus Quinctius Flamininus (198BCE). This boundaries of Hellas were, for in Aetolia successor, Perseus. The young king resent- dialogue was actually held at sea, near Ni- itself, the Agraei, the Apodoti, and the Am- ed the paralyzing compromises incorporated caea, with each party on anchored warships, philochi occupied a very large part of Aeto- in the truce, and incited his nation to launch shouting their arguments at each other (Ab lian territory, and they were not Hellenes. a revolution against Rome and its Hellenic Urbe Condita 32.32). The arguments further incited hostility be- protectorate, to regain Macedon’s eminence When Flamininus requested Philip to come tween Macedonia and Rome, and eventually and power. This inaugurated the Third of the ashore, to talk and listen to each other more resulted in the last major battle in 197BCE, four Macedonian wars with Rome.

Young Australian-Macedonian Gets Top Marks By Mark Branov

mony, where Education Minister Andrew Barr awarded him with a certificate of achieve- ment, at the Australian National Library in Canberra. Attending the prestigious Australian Na- tional University on a full scholarship, Boban will pursue a double major in Finance and Actuarial Studies, an elite program which only accepts 30 students per year. It is not the first time that Boban’s achievements have made the news: as a junior, he won a national competition in natural sci- oung Boban Gorgoski has achieved ences, held by Australian mining giant Rio an incredible academic feat – rank- Tinto. He produced a perfect score, compet- ing in the very top percentile in his ing against 25,000 students from all over state.Y The ranking, known as an ATAR in Australia. Australia, measures one’s overall academic Boban particularly excels in Mathematics, performance against one’s peers, in incre- Chemistry and Physics, but his academic ments of 0.05. Boban’s ATAR was 99.85. gifts are broad and wide-ranging. A College As reported in the Canberra Times, Boban Vice Captain, Boban is also accomplished in was one of those honored at a special cere- music, sports and drama.

Spring 2011 11 Ancient Macedonians Used Translators To Communicate With Hellenes: Historical Evidence Clear That Ancient Macedonians were not Hellenes, Rather A Distinct People Who Spoke Their Own Language By Aleksandar Donski

roof of the difference between the I ruled Egypt and some neighboring coun- ancient Macedonian and Greek lan- tries. He founded the Ptolemaic dynasty, guages can be found in a fragment of which ruled Egypt after his death. The most papyrusP believed to be part of the lost “His- famous descendant of this Macedonian dy- tory of the Inheritors” by the Greek historian nasty is the Egyptian queen Cleopatra VII. Arrian (Lucius Flavius Arrianus Xenophon, In the biography about Marc Antony, Plu- 92-175 CE). In this work, (PSI XII.1284), tarch wrote about Cleopatra in detail and there is an episode from Macedonian history indirectly noted that her mother tongue was in which the distinctiveness of the Macedo- Macedonian: “It was a pleasure merely to nian language is clearly evident. Here, we hear the sound of her voice, with which, like read that the secretary to Philip and Alexan- an instrument of many strings, she could der of Macedon, Eumenes, “…sent forward pass from one language to another; so that a man named Xenias, who spoke Macedo- there were few of the barbarian nations that nian…” to negotiate with the Macedonian she answered by an interpreter; to most of army of Neoptolomeus. This event took them she spoke herself, as to the Ethiopians, place around 321 BCE. Troglodytes, Hebrews, Arabians, Syrians, Arrian wrote a biography of Alexander the Medes, Parthians, and many others, whose Great of Macedon, which is considered the The ancient historian Plutarch (c.45-120AD) language she had learnt; which was all the oldest, complete biography of this Macedonian gave an outstanding account of the distinctive- more surprising, because most of the kings warrior. In this biography, Arrian frequently ness of the ancient Macedonian language. In her predecessors scarcely gave themselves stresses the difference between the Macedo- his biography about Eumenes, describing the the trouble to acquire the Egyptian tongue, nians and the Greeks. Here, we will limit our appearance of Eumenes in front of the Mace- and several of them quite abandoned the remarks to a description of the battle of Issus, donian soldiers, Plutarch wrote: Macedonian.” (“Antony” by Plutarch, trans- in which thousands of Hellenes fought on the lated into English by the playwright, John side of Persia against the Macedonians. Ar- “...On the first sight of the general of their Dryden, who lived from 1631 until 1700. E- rian wrote that in this battle the most violent heart, the troops saluted him in the Macedo- version of this translation can be found on: conflict occurred between the Macedonians nian language, clanked their arms, and with http://classics.mit.edu/Plutarch/antony.html). and the Greeks, and that this was chiefly be- loud shouts challenged the enemy to ad- This account by Plutarch discusses the cause of the great hatred between the two vance, thinking themselves invisible while he mother tongue of the Ptolemies, i.e. the nations. Arrian put it this way: was at their head.” (“Eumenes” by Plutarch Macedonian language. Clearly, Plutarch be- 14, 10, translated by John and William Lang- lieved that, some of the Ptolemies, perhaps “There was a violent struggle. Darius’ Greeks horne. E version on: http://www.attalus.org/ for political reasons, neglected the Mace- fought to thrust the Macedonian back into the old/eumenes.html. John Langhorne lived in donian language in deference to speaking water and save the day for their left wing... the 17th century. He was a famous English the local language. Since, Plutarch does not The fight was further embittered by the old poet, and translated the works of Plutarch to- say that this was the case with Cleopatra, racial rivalry of Greek and Macedonian”. (Ar- gether with his brother William. This transla- we may infer that she retained her mother rian: “The Campaigns of Alexander”, trans- tion first appeared in 1770.) tongue. lated by Aubrey De Selincourt, Penguin Plutarch provides us with other accounts books, USA, 1987, pg. 119.) Plutarch mentions the Macedonian language about the distinctiveness of the Macedonian in his biography of Marc Antony as well. It is language. Sometime around 76 CE, Plutar- Can someone explain to me how it is pos- known that after the death of Alexander the ch, referencing some older works, wrote a sible the Macedonians and the Greeks were Great, his empire fell apart and his top mili- biography of Alexander the Great of Mace- “one people” when in this relevant ancient tary commanders ruled its respective parts. don, in which he describes (head 53), an testimony we can see that there was an old For example, his childhood friend (according argument between Alexander the Great and racial hatred between the two of them? to some sources, his half-brother) Ptolemy his friend:

12 Spring 2011 “Alexander... breaking from them, he called out aloud to his guards in the Macedonian language, which was a certain sign of some great disturbance in him.” (Plutarch: “Alex- ander the Great”, Macedonian translation, Skopje 1994).

This account refers to an incident when Al- exander thought that his friend Cleitus, with whom he had argued while drunk, posed a danger to his life. At one point, Alexander thought that Cleitus would attack him, so he summoned his guards (shield-bearers) to protect him. Plutarch clearly writes that they were summoned in Macedonian. To explain this account by Plutarch, we need to mention the fact that the official language in the Macedonian Empire and in its army, during the Macedonian dominion, was the language of “koine” (mixed language) that was used in the Macedonian Empire. In known – some say he lived BCE others say accused of refusing to speak in my mother addition to words from the ancient Greek dia- that he lived in the first century CE). language and for being disgusted with the lects (which were numerous) koine contained The incident of the trial of the Macedonian, customs of the Macedonians. Does this mean words from other languages as well. Alexan- Philotas, who was accused of plotting the that I am a threat to the kingdom I despise in der established this language for practical murder of Alexander, is well known. The plot this way? But, even from before, the mother reasons, since he was aware that he would was revealed and Alexander publicly interro- tongue was abandoned in the conversation encounter resistance were he to impose the gated Philotas. with other nations, thus the winners and the unfamiliar Macedonian language on the dif- Quintus Curtius Rufus described this event defeated had to learn a foreign language.” ferent nations in his empire. and clearly stated that the Macedonians (Q. C. R. quote, pg. 274). Universal use of this mixed language spoke a different language. He even quotes However, in the accusation against Philo- or koine, later was strictly enforced by the Alexander addressing the Macedonians in tas, Alexander’s commander Bolon inter- Macedonian dynasties that ruled the divided the first person plural “the mother and our fered, maintained that: “…although he was parts of Alexander’s empire to facilitate ease language”. Alexander addressed Philotas Macedonian, he was not ashamed to listen of communication among the different na- with the words: to the people who spoke in his own language tions. Today scientists consider koine as a with the help of an interpreter.” kind of Esperanto of that period. “Now you are going to be trialed by the Mace- This event establishes the existence of This means that Alexander communicated donians. I am asking you: are you going to an independent and separate Macedonian in koine with his military commanders and his address them in Macedonian?” language. Also, this description illuminates army (among whom the Macedonians were the fact that some Macedonians, whether dominant; there were also many Greeks, Philotas denied, explaining that, besides to facilitate greater communication with the Thracians, Jews and people from other na- Macedonians, there were other nations pres- other nations or for other reasons, used the tions). However, at the moment when he ent there. To this, Alexander addressed the foreign language koine. Among themselves, thought that his life was in danger, he instinc- Macedonians saying: however they continued to communicate in tively began speaking in his mother tongue, their mother Macedonian tongue. Macedonian. This reaction accords with hu- “Can you see? Did Philotas come to the point, We see that during the trial, Philotas was man psychology and most people would re- when he rejected his own mother tongue?... rebuked by Alexander for his refusal to speak act similarly to perceived danger. His instinc- But, let him speak as he wants, and you re- Macedonian to the Macedonians. Philotas tive reaction to call out in Macedonian, when member that he has equally alienated from accused Alexander of establishing koine, he he had no time to formulate an urgent call for our customs and from our language.” (Quin- argued that the Macedonian language had help to his Macedonian guards in a foreign tus Curtius Rufus, “De Rebus Gestis Alexan- been neglected a long time ago, so that both language, establishes beyond doubt that dri Macedonis”, VI, 10; translated from Latin the winners (Macedonians) and the defeated Macedonian was his mother tongue. by dr. Ljubinka Basotova, Skopje, 1998, pg (Greeks and other nations) had to learn a Clear evidence of the distinctiveness of 272). new language (koine). the ancient Macedonian language was also Bolon interfered and accused Philotas, who provided by the Latin historian Quintus Cur- But Philotas remained indifferent to these ac- though Macedonian, communicated with the tius Rufus (of whom the period of living is not cusations. In his speech he said: “I am being Macedonians through interpreters. This is an

Spring 2011 13 extremely important account and proof that, at cient Macedonia the spoken language was Greeks, too? One might well ask about the that time, many Macedonians could not speak Macedonian, a neighboring language of the rest of the nations at that time: Illyrians, Thra- koine, so when they wanted to talk to some- Greek dialects. cians and other nations that wrote in Greek. one, they used interpreters. Although Philotas To conclude, the koine language was used Even the Romans, until the second century spoke Macedonian, he did not want to com- in the Macedonian Empire, not because the BCE, wrote their chronicles in ancient Greek municate with the Macedonians in their own Macedonians were “Greeks”, but to permit dialects. Were they Greeks until the second language, but rather he insisted on having the different nations in the empire to com- century BCE and then suddenly transformed their words translated into koine. municate among themselves with the help of themselves into Romans? Regarding the language of the ancient this ancient Esperanto. There are over sixty ancient writers who Macedonians we present a map (see page 13) Even if we agree that the ancient Mace- clearly state that the ancient Macedonians from the “Ancient Languages of Europe” pub- donian language did not exist in its written were not Greeks. They include: Arian, Ap- lished in 2008 at the University of Cambridge form and that the first written language used pian, Ampelius, Demosthenes, Dexipus, Edited by Roger D. Woodard, published by for communication among the Macedonians Dichearchus, Dionysius, Dio Crysostomus, Cambridge University Press, 2008 which de- was Greek, it does not follow that writing in Diodorus of Sicily, Dio Casius, Aechinus, Zo- picts those territories in which ancient Greek Greek makes them Greek people. First of all, simus, Josephus Flavius, Justinus, Quintus was spoken. It is clear that most of Macedonia we have cited accounts that state that some Curtius Rufus, Cleaneus, Clauidian, Clem- (with the exception of the sparsely inhabited of them did not speak a word of spoken ent of Alexandria, Cornelius Nepos, Cohe- peninsula Chalkidiki, where Greek colonies re- Greek. Secondly, during the classical period, nus, Pausanias, Plutarch, Polybius, Pseudo mained for a very long time) was not part of the the written languages of the Romans and the Scylax, Sozomenus, Strabo, Trasymachus, Greek speaking area. We see on this map that Greeks were the only ones known in today’s Herodianus and others. In their works they all the Macedonian language clearly is presented Balkan area. It would be quite sad if every offered completely different types of evidence, as a language spoken in ancient times. nation that used either Greek or Latin writ- highlighting the distinctiveness of the ancient A map titled “Greek dialects in the first mil- ten language would be considered as ethni- Macedonians as well as the fact that they lennium BC and the neighboring languages” cally Greek or Latin. Even after their arrival were different from the Greeks. (Additional published in the book “Ancient Languages of from Asia into the Balkans, in the seventh details on these accounts can be found in the Europe” (Edited by Roger D. Woodard, pub- century, the Turkish-Mongolian Bulgars also upcoming book “Ancient Greek and other an- lished by Cambridge University Press Great used the Greek written language in their writ- cient testimonies of the individuality of the an- Britain, 2008, pg. 49-50). It shows that in an- ten communications. Did that make them cient Macedonians” by Aleksandar Donski).

Letter from Father Seraphim Dear UMD Voice readers, Gavril Zezovski was born in Strumica, Macedonia, in 1993. On negligence of the local medical treatment caused more problems November 12th, 2010, he suffered a serious accident with fire, for Dr. Rubenbauer and his team to treat, and Gavril needs more which resulted in 3rd and 4th degree burns to 60% of his body. treatment. Although we need to collect approximately 100,000 This boy was then treated with necrotomy, or the surgical re- euros more, any amount you can afford is helpful. moval of dead tissue, at a local hospital, which actually made his condition even worse. Thank you for your attention, and God Bless You! Because of the lack of skin transplants in the country, Gavril was accepted at a hospital in Munich, Germany, for surgery Respectfully, and 60 days of rehabilitation. Thanks to God and many good Father Seraphim people, 50,000 euros have been collected, and young Gavril has been transported to the hospital in A fund has been set up for charitable donations: Munich for the urgent treatment. Beneficiary: Gavril Zezovski, S. Dobrejci, Strumica, Macedonia We thank Dragica Kazandzhiska, IBAN: /MK07380577076402233 EUR Gavril’s relative and a nurse at the SWIFT: PRBUMK22XXX hospital, who made Gavril’s trans- Bank: ProCredit Bank, Macedonia, www.pcb.com.mk port to Germany possible. Also, our sincere thanks to Dr. Johannes For more information in Macedonian, please contact Father Rubenbauer, director of the Burns Seraphim directly at: [email protected]; for more and Plastic Surgery, Bogen- information in English, please contact Irena Gapkovska at: haussen Hospital of the Technical [email protected]. University Munich. He accepted to begin treating young Gavril, despite Also, you can see a Munich TV news story about Gavril at: http:// our lack of financial resources. The www.muenchen-tv.de/gesellschaft/Hilfe_fuer_Gavril-7114.html

14 Spring 2011 A Name Is A Name DVD Launch Brings Message To Wider Audience By Jason Miko

t took seven months to make and involved As Macedonia prepares to celebrate its coordinating professionals in five coun- 20th birthday as a modern, independent tries on two continents. Over 20 hours of nation-state, this important piece of art, digitalI photography were edited down to 48 created through an international collabora- minutes. An American producer, Jason Miko, tion, is yours to watch, enjoy and share with an Icelandic director, Sigurjon Einarsson, a others. The Macedonia Foundation encour- British narrator, Sir Andrew Motion, a Mace- ages individuals and groups to consider pur- donian team of talented professionals includ- chasing the film in bulk for distribution to pol- ing 3X production house, and rock and roll icy makers and decision makers around the musicians from around the world all contrib- world – Washington, DC, Ottawa, Canberra, uted to making it. Those included Norwegian London, Brussels, Berlin, Paris and other Morten Harket, lead singer of rock sensation capitals. Policy makers and decision makers a-ha, Graham Nash of CSNY fame, Icelan- in state and provisional capitals should see dic bands Sigur-Ros, mum and Earth Affair, this film as well, and you or your group may To learn more about the film, please California band Monte Negro, Macedonia’s want to consider donating a copy to your lo- vist: http://www.anameisaname.com/ own Kiril Dzajkovski and the late, great Tose cal libraries or schools. Proeski. To date, the film has been shown in Help get the word out about the Macedo- To order NTSC Format, please visit: 22 cities on three continents. nian people and their fight to be recognized https://www.createspace.com/298996 The With Macedonia Foundation is proud for who they are. Help spread the word to present the powerful documentary film A about Macedonia’s right to its name, identity, To order PAL Format, please visit: Name is a Name, now available on DVD. The language and culture. Help tell the world that https://www.createspace.com/296512 Foundation is offering A Name is a Name the Macedonian people – a proud, European through CreateSpace, an Amazon.com com- people with a long and unique history – have To purchase bulk orders, please email: pany, in both NTSC (North American) and every right to their name and identity, just like [email protected] PAL (rest of the world) formats. anyone else. Thank you for your support!

Spring 2011 15 “In less than seven years, UMD has gone beyond what any other Macedonian organization has done in our community – a first-rate organization – and I am honored to be associated with such dedicated, energetic and passionate individuals of all ages, working daily to help Macedonia and the Macedonian cause.”

Ambassador Ljubica Z. Acevska to Serve as Washington UMD GC2011 Honorary Chair

The United Macedonian Diaspora (UMD) is proud to announce that Macedonia. “I am honored that the UMD Board of Di- Ambassador Ljubica Z. Acevska, Macedonia’s first woman diplomat rectors have bestowed upon me the privi- and Ambassador to the United States, will serve as the Honorary lege and respect of serving as the Honor- ary Chair of this auspicious occasion,” said Chair of the 3rd Annual UMD Global Conference, which will be held Ambassador Acevska. “In less than seven in Washington, D.C. on June 23-25, 2011. This year’s conference years, UMD has gone beyond what any other Macedonian organization has done in our will celebrate Macedonia’s 20th anniversary of her independence. community – a first-rate organization – and I am honored to be associated with such dedicated, energetic and passionate individuals resident Kiro Gligorov could crucial years as an independent nation.” of all ages, working daily to help Macedonia not have picked a better suited UMD GC2011 is UMD’s signature event of and the Macedonian cause.” person to establish diplomatic the year that brings together Macedonians “Ambassador Acevska continues to be “Prelations between Macedonia and the United and friends of Macedonia from throughout one of Macedonia’s most able servants tak- States. Ambassador Acevska’s role as the the world. UMD GC2010 in Toronto brought ing Macedonia wherever she goes, whether first Ambassador was the foundation for what over 1,000 guests from 20 different coun- to Haiti, Africa, or China through her charity would become a strategic partnership be- tries. UMD conferences have attracted work and travels,” said Koloski. “UMD could tween these two nations. As a result of her former Presidents of the UN General As- not think of a better person to serve in this important work during this time, Macedonia sembly, Ministers, Senators, Congressmen, capacity as we celebrate Macedonia’s 20th can now call the United States its best friend Parliamentarians, CEOs and business lead- anniversary of independence. She has been in the international community,” said UMD ers, Ambassadors, journalists, and global a mentor to UMD since the beginning and President Metodija A. Koloski. “She helped Macedonian advocates. UMD GC2011 will we are certain she has the passion and dedi- open the lines of communications for Mace- build on this tradition and pass the torch to cation that would make an excellent Honor- donia, and represented Macedonia in the the next generation of leaders as all Mace- ary Chair and help raise our event’s profile best light during some of Macedonia’s most donians work together to shape the future for on the world’s stage.

16 Spring 2011 Even From The Grave, Mirka Ginova Still Incites Greek Anger By Vodenka

id you know that in the Municipal- the “others”, which is what they sometimes ity of Korydallos, Athens, there is a call us Macedonians. Since the “others” are street dedicated to Mirka Ginvoa, the known to have, at the very least, a highly sus- DMacedonian patriot? So, such a public display picious ethnic consciousness, it makes them of respect is possible in the Greek capital. second-class citizens in their own country. And yet, somehow, when a majority of the The concept that argues that the street elected local Municipal Authority in Voden names must be “mutually acceptable” shows tried to name a city street in honor of Mirka, the enormous hypocrisy of some Voden citi- the motion was rejected. zens! A majority of the Municipal Council can The Legal Committee used article 12, of not be regarded as representing the will of Presidential Decree 410/95 (D.K.K.), to re- the people, but a minority can seek mutually ject the decision of the majority of the Mu- acceptable names for the streets of Voden. nicipal Council of our city. They said, among The Greek minority should tell us when any- other things, that: “(Ginova) is a controver- body was consulted about how “mutually sial figure, as it is found in written and oral acceptable” other street names are. Some testimony” and that “persons whose names of these names only bring a feeling of hor- are intended to provide an identity of the city ror or disgust to the Macedonians of Voden, streets must be mutually acceptable.” names like: “Captain”, “Akritas”, “Captain What can we say about this concept? Agras”, “Pavlos Melas”, “Cretan Mercenar- What’s controversial in the fact that this wom- ies”, and others. an actually fought in the Resistance for free- So, let’s just say that the names of these dom, democracy and equality for all Greek so-called “heroes” were agreed to by a large citizens? Is it the fact that she was born a part of Voden society, and can therefore be because it was the desire of Voden citizens Macedonian? Does that negate her bid to be allowed to exist as street names. Then, why who originate on the Eastern Aegean coast, honored by Greece and the Greeks? should there not be some streets bearing in what is now Turkey, and far away from Ginova was killed because she was a the names of heroes of Macedonia? For in- Macedonia. The monument is to honor their Macedonian heroine, and she was strug- stance, how about those who fought against ancestors, but instead of erecting a monu- gling -- along with allies of Greek heritage -- the Ottomans for freedom, and were killed by ment in the city cemetery, where all Voden for equality before the law, for all Greek citi- them? Names such as: Apostol Petkov from citizens have memorials of their dead ances- zens, regardless of race, national or cultural Boemica (Axioupoli Kilkis), Gotse Delchev tors, they did it in a public square. identity. To give the name of a Resistance from Kukush (Kilkis), Aleksandar Tour- I do not understand how the refugees ben- fighter to a street of Voden would have been ountzev from Ekshisou, Lerin (Xino Nero, efited this city so much as to erect a monu- a minimum tribute to such a courageous Florina), Lazar Poptraikov from D’mbeni, Ko- ment for them in a public space! If I wanted woman, by all Voden citizens, regardless of stur (Dendrochori Kastoria) and many others. to erect a memorial to my grandparents in where they originate. There are also other prominent personalities any one of the city public places, would the Unfortunately, the fascist ideology of of Macedonian origin who could be honored Municipal Authority allow me? I do not think Metaxas and the mid-wars period still ex- for their works. For example, Krste Misirkov so, because in that case, everyone would ists in our town, and it separates the people. from Postol (Pella). have the same claim. There are still the “genuine Greeks” and As for the monuments that adorn the city But... I forgot! They have prepared a of Voden, again there is an official distinction monument also for us, the Macedonians of between first class citizens, and the “others”. Voden, so that we will not have to complain: An example is the monument for the Greek the Vodenec with the donkey and the goat! refugees from modern-day Turkey who set- I would like to know, however, how much tled in Voden after the Treaty of Lausanne “consensus” this project had among the in 1922. people of Voden. Usually, monuments erected in a public place are for great personalities, or to remind Vodenka uses an anonymous name, due to us of some historical events (a victory, for the Greek government’s policies of systemic example). But this monument was erected discrimination against ethnic Macedonians.

Spring 2011 17 Mirka Ginova: Martyr For Macedonia with files from Risto Stefov

irka Ginova (Irini Ginis) was born archist targets, Ginova was eventually cap- in 1916, in Rousilovo (Xanthogia), tured, and severely beaten. She was then Aegean Macedonia. This school- held in the Vlkojanevo Monastery, where she Mteacher would later become a legendary was interrogated and tortured for days by the freedom fighter during the Greek Civil War, Monarchist Greek police. She and her com- and also a martyr, committed to achieving rades were beaten with rifle butts, punched cultural equality for the Macedonian people and pulled by the hair, then paraded through in Greece. the streets of Voden. Ginova was later par- In WWII, she joined the resistance against tially buried in the ground and shot in the German-Bulgarian occupation in the Voden head with blanks, and had needles put under (Edhessa) region. She later became a re- her fingertips. cruiter of Macedonian youth for the leftist On July 23, 1946, Ginova and six com- the international resistance army ELAS, and took part in the rades were moved to Enidzhe Vardar (Gi- hymn and called out slogans of freedom.” Partizan attack on the German garrison at annitsa). A military tribunal was held in an The Associated Press wrote: “26 July Sol- Ostrovo (Arnissa), on August 2nd 1944. elementary school, which tried them behind un. Early this morning the execution of Irini After the Germans eventually retreated, closed doors. They were sentenced to death, Gini and her six associates was carried out. however, the struggle in Aegean Macedonia accused of being separatists. During her trial, A military court in Andes Vardar found them continued. Greek Monarchists who had been she is quoted as saying: ““NOF is not a mili- guilty. Gini is the first woman in Greece to be aligned with the Nazis remained in power, tary but a political democratic organization executed for political reasons.” and continued to oppress the Macedonian fighting for equal rights for the Macedonians An anonymous letter published in a Greek people. Ginova joined the TOMO, which within the confines of the Greek State. We newspaper, testified to the following: “At six would later be known as the NOF, or National fight for freedom and democracy.” o’clock this morning, sadly, Irini lost her life. Liberation Front, to work against Greek Mon- Ginova and six others were found guilty My respects for your daughter who faced archists and defend the Macedonian minority and executed by firing squad three days later, her end with a smile on her face singing in Greece from their acts of aggresssion. at the Enidzhe Vardar cemetary. A report to courageously to the astonishment of every- Ginova became well-known to people in headquarters of the Greek army said, among one present. She was amazingly heroic and the Voden Region as a charismatic speaker other things: “The seven executed were in showed no fear in the face of death. It was the and devout patriot for Macedonia. But after good spirits and refused blindfolds. The great- same for the other six but mostly for her. I am former ELAS soldiers associated with NOF est bravery among them was shown by the not writing you to compliment your daughter carried out a series at attacks on Greek Mon- teacher Irini Gini (Mirka Ginova) who sang but to tell you the truth as I witnessed it…”

Pavle Madzirov: Dusseldorf’s Macedonian Councilman By Mark Branov

ast year, a German citizen of Mace- these experiences, I decided to get back in donian descent, Pavle Madzirov, the Education sector and I work now as vice was elected to represent Dusseldorf director of a middle school. LCity Council, under the banner of the ruling Christian Democrats. MB: What sparked your interest in political life, and running for election? MB: Please tell us a little about your back- PM: I ran for election for the CDU Düsseldorf ground. in the municipal government. Düsseldorf is PM: First I studied Education, but after I the capital of Nordrhein Westfalen; a large graduated, I decided to get an M.A. in Euro- and wealthy city. So the opportunities to cre- pean Politics and Intercultural Communica- ate projects are great, because the city is tions. I worked in different companies, then debt free and able to invest in different areas embassies and government ministries. After of life.

18 Spring 2011 MB: What are the key issues you stand Macedonian community is not well orga- shows what is possible, if we stick together. for, and will fight for, on Dusseldorf City nized in a political way. There are some or- Council? ganizations, but there is no wide support for MB: What are some ways that young PM: The key issue is to stay debt-free, so them among the Macedonians in Germany. Macedonians living in EU countries like we can invest our money in projects like the This needs to be improved. Without political Germany can contribute the Macedonian new Kö-Bogen urban development initiative, lobbying, German politics in this field can’t cause? which will become the new highlight of the be influenced! PM: Macedonians in EU countries should be city! Тhe traffic will go underground and this politically active and organized. Getting into area will be one of the most beautiful urban MB: Please tell us about the local com- political parties, creating a good image of places in Germany. Further on, we have to munity of Macedonians in the Dusseldorf Macedonia and fighting against the surreal create a good environment for companies to area. picture of Macedonia that the Greek lobby come to Düsseldorf and work here. PM: There is a big club called “Goce Delcev” is creating, are all crucial. This is a way of in Düsseldorf. I am working together with that active support and the only way to get to MB: What can you tell us about the level club and we succeeded to get a Macedonian political decision makers. If the number of of support for Macedonia in German poli- member of that club, Mr. Iljo Skangalov, elect- political active Macedonians increases, the tics these days? ed into the local Commission for Integration chance to affect decisions on a political level PM: There is no real support, because the in Düsseldorf. This was a big success and will be much higher.

Discover Your Roots: Archaeology Summer School in Vinica By Mark Branov

rom June 27 and July 8, 2011, the In- stitute EuroBalkan and the Museum Terakota are organizing a unique op- Fportunity for Macedonians of the Diaspora who have a passion for Macedonian history. In Vinica, the Archaeology Field School will offer a chance to learn first-hand about Mace- donia’s rich cultural heritage, while gaining practical academic experience. Vinica is located in the eastern part of Republic of Macedonia, in the Kocani val- ley, at the foot of the Plackovica Mountain, and near the river Bregalnica. The area has been continuously inhabited for millennia. The school’s primary field research will take place at the Vincko Kale, a site of particular interest for archaeological study of the late Hellenistic era, the Roman era and the early will receive a detailed handbook pre-arrival, Byzantine era. which provides an overview of the Neolithic, Admission to the program is open to both Eneolithic, Bronze, Iron, Early Antique, Ro- advanced archaeologists and total begin- man, Late Antique and Middle Age periods in ners, who will be provided with all the nec- the Bregalica River Basin area. essary training to participate in the excava- Julijana Ivanova, Director of Vinica muse- tion. Training will include basic knowledge um, says: “New archeological investigations in proper excavation methods, stratigraphy will be of immense importance in discovering and chronology, and meetings with profes- the history of this region, especially prior to sional Classical archaeologists. Modules will the Roman era. Prehistoric and early antiqui- include: field work, field training, educational ty material evidence is rare, but is often found lectures, and there will also be planned ex- accidentally, while exploring the terrain.” cursions to two other important sites, the ancient Roman city of Stobi, and medieval For more information, please contact: sites in the region of Ohrid. All participants [email protected]

Spring 2011 19 2010 Bitove Scholarships: Investing In Our Future Pictures by Robert Stamenov Photography

of their Macedonian upbringing and heritage. Left to right: Tom Bitove, Alexander Karapancev, Biljana Markovska, Alexandra Close, The Bitove Foundation awarded $50,000 to and Vonna Bitove. UMD in June 2010 towards the Scholarship Program, and the funds will be distributed over the course of the next several years. “The Bitove Foundation is very excited to partner with UMD and be part of this inau- gural celebration and scholarship presentation. These worthy students exemplify part of the mandate of the Bitove Foundation, to encourage the preservation of our Macedo- nian cultural roots. The Bitove family immi- grated to Canada almost 100 years ago and we hope to encourage many more generations to take pride in Macedonia,” said Ms. Vonna Bitove, daughter of Mr. John L. N. Bitove, C.M. following the presentation of the Awards. Ms. Bitove, together with her brothers Mr. Thomas J. Bitove and Nick Bi- tove, represented the Bitove family at the ceremony. UMD Voice Editor Mark Branov emceed the event and welcomed the Consul General of Macedonia to Toronto Mr. Dragan Gjurcevski, who congratulated the scholarship recipients. UMD is grateful that Consul General Gjurcevski was able to attend. “I congratulate Alexandra, Alexandar, and Biljana and their families for raising such proud, young Canadian-Macedonians,” said UMD Director of Canadian Operations Jim Daikos. “May their future be as bright as a shining star.”

2010 John L. N. Bitove, C.M. Macedonian Heritage Scholarship Recipients:

Alexandra Close Born and raised in Canada, Alexandra Close pril 11, 2011 – Toronto, Canada – On in Toronto, Canada before family members, is very proud of her ethnic Macedonian roots. Sunday, April 10, 2011 the United friends and supporters of UMD. Alex, as she likes to be called, is the daughter Macedonian Diaspora (“UMD”) pre- The UMD John L. N. Bitove, C.M. Mace- of Michael Close, the internationally known Asented three young Canadian-Macedonians donian Heritage Scholarship, named after artist, designer and actor and of Menka with their 2010 John L. N. Bitove, C.M. Mace- prominent philanthropist and pillar of the glob- Close, an art historian, archaeologist, cura- donian Heritage Scholarship Awards (“Bitove al Macedonian community, John L. N. Bitove, tor and educator. Alex was a gifted student Scholarship”). The Awards, in the amount of C.M., was established to assist Macedonians early on and has been focused on creative $2,000 each, were presented to Alexandra pursuing undergraduate degrees in Australia, work since she could hold a pencil. A recipi- Close, Alexander Karapancev, and Biljana Canada, Europe, and the United States. The ent of numerous academic awards, she has Markovska during a ceremony at St. Clement purpose is to assist in the education of young also won many international awards for her of Ohrid Macedonian Orthodox Cathedral, Macedonians who are guided by the values art work from such places as Russia, China,

20 Spring 2011 Portugal, Macedonia, Slovenia, Turkey and Greece. Currently, completing a Gifted Stu- dent and Visual Arts Program at O’Neill C.V.I. in Oshawa, Canada, Alex has been already UMD Perth Food Festival: accepted to York University and Ryerson, and is awaiting acceptance from Parsons Design A Huge Success School in NYC. She plans to major in Fash- ion Design. n Friday 8th April 2011, for the Perth and Western Australia, Mr. Dame first time in Australia, UMD orga- Krcoski, in a public speech amongst the Alexander Karapancev nized a Macedonian Food Festi- guests, said: “The goal of UMD is to pro- Born in Toronto, Alexander Karapancev is a val,O in Perth. The event took place at Edith mote Macedonian culture, nurture it and young Canadian-Macedonian proud of his Cowan University Joondalup campus, share it with others. The Macedonian food ethnic roots. Currently, in his second year showcasing Macedonian culture through Festival has done exactly this, by bringing studying Political Science at the University its delicious cuisine to students and visi- people of all nations together’. of Western Ontario, Alexander is a member tors of all backgrounds. In a statement made for the Joondalup of the Pre-Law Society and has aspirations The Macedonian Food Festival was at- Times, UMD Australia Treasurer Mr. Robert to continue his studies in Law School upon tended by over a thousand students and Pasquale stated: “Macedonian culture is finishing his undergraduate degree. At West- visitors, including special guests such as often confused with other cultures in the re- ern, Alexander is a member of various clubs the President of the Western-Australian gion, so we thought it would be a great way and associations including the: UWO Conser- Macedonian Parliamentary Friendship to show off our country in a way people can vatives, the Campus Coalition for Democracy group, WA Parliament Liberal party mem- appreciate it best – with their tastebuds!” and is a proud member of the Lambda Chi ber, Mr. Tony Krsticevic, who was accom- While the people enjoyed various Mace- Alpha Fraternity. Outside of university Al- panied by other local politicians and diplo- donian delicacies, a PowerPoint presen- exander is a member of the Fraser Institute matic representatives of various nations. tation was set up to give visitors an insight – Research Circle and the Canadian Inter- UMD Regional Representative for into Macedonia, and also UMD. national Council. Alexander is quite involved in the Macedonian community, and recently founded a Macedonian Club at his University. He spoke at UMD’s 2nd Global Conference in June 2010, regarding youth activism.

Biljana Markovska Born and raised in Canada, Biljana Mark- ovska is proud of her Macedonian heritage, and is honored to uphold and share with other Canadians her heritage and rich Macedonian culture. Biljana is in her second year at York University, earning a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology and Health Science. She is a provincial gymnast and an artistic gymnastics coach, and won first place champion at the 25th Gymnastics of Ontario Invitational in 2005. Biljana is an English and Math tutor and was a member of her high school track and field team and football team. She has been a gold award winner for best choreography on floor from 2005 to 2008 with Gymnastics On- tario. Proud of her Macedonian heritage, Bil- jana has been a dancer with her community folklore group since 1995, and also a competitive gymnast with the Canadian-Macedonian Olympic Club. In 2008, she volunteered in the constituent office of Lui Temelkovski, the first Macedonian to ever be elected to Canadian Parliament, and the first outside of Mace- donia. In 2009, Biljana won the Miss United Macedonians competition.

Spring 2011 21 Jovica Palasevski: Representing Macedonia in the Windy City By Boris Patarov

Macedonia in the E.U. After this, I became JP: Absolutely, the Diaspora was a major a part of the Ministry of Agriculture, to then contributor to the opening of the Consulate finally transfer over to the Ministry of Foreign General of Macedonia in Chicago. Right after Affairs in the cabinet of Minister Milososki. my arrival here, I started working on estab- After a certain period of time I was honored lishing contacts with our Diaspora in Illinois, as a First Secretary of our mission in E.U. at Indiana and California. As expected, I was Brussels. When I returned from the mission approached with nothing but hospitality and in Macedonia, I became a Head of the sector willingness for cooperation. Everyone was for economic diplomacy, in charge of attract- excited about the fact that a new consular ing foreign investments and increasing the body was in the midst of opening its doors, Macedonian export. In 2008, I was named and I won’t mention the individuals that have by the government of Republic of Macedonia contributed because the list is so big that I’m as a Consul General, to finally arrive in Chi- sure I will miss mentioning someone. Also, I cago on September 1st, 2008. The Mace- would like to use this opportunity to invite ev- hicago is one of the largest U.S. cit- donian Consulate in Chicago was officially eryone in the Diaspora to start building ties ies, with almost 10 million residents registered at the U.S. Department of State in with the consulate, which is a direct connec- in the greater metropolitan area. It 2008. Setting up the foundation of the First tion to the government of Macedonia. Cis known for being one of the world’s most General Consulate in Chicago was not an important centers for industry and business, easy task, but the desire, the motivation, and BP: What are the priorities for the Gen- and is a political stronghold for the Demo- the support from Prime Minister Gruevski eral Consulate in Chicago within the next cratic Party, and the current Obama admin- and the Minister of Foreign Affairs Milososki few years? istration. helped me conquer those challenges. Today, JP: The actual priorities of the Consulate UMD Voice had a chance to meet with we can all proudly stand and say that Mace- General of Macedonia within the next few Jovica Palasevski, the Macedonian Consul donia has its own consular representation in years can be divided into five major catego- General for Chicago: the heart and soul of one of the most promi- ries: presenting the Macedonian culture and nent cities in the USA, Chicago. This is an its customs in USA, economic diplomacy, BP: Mr. Palasevski can you please tell opportunity to promote Macedonia to Ameri- strengthening the cooperation with the us something about yourself and your can society and the world organizations here Diaspora, establishing cooperation between career, and how would you describe this in Chicago, and also to bring the Macedo- universities from the USA and Macedonia, opportunity to be the first Macedonian nian Diaspora closer to their native country, and developing different types of political ac- Consul in Chicago? providing services from this newly opened tivities coordinated by our embassy in Wash- JP: I was born in 1978, in Bitola (also known consulate. The reason that we chose Chi- ington, D.C. as the City of the Consuls), where I spent cago is because of its cosmopolitan nature the first seventeen years of my life. In 1995 and strategic location, which already has an BP: How would you describe the impor- I moved to Wisconsin where I completed my established diplomatic core consisting of 83 tance of the recent Census for the Mace- high school education, after which I enrolled different countries from all parts of the world. donian people in the USA? at university in Belgrade, where I spent two We have also witnessed the emergence JP: The recent census from 2010 was of years, and later transferred to an American of Chicago as a political center by electing great importance to us. This was a chance university in Paris, France. After completing President Obama and his team (mainly from for every Macedonian out there to stand firm my college education, I returned to Macedo- Chicago), into office. Chicago is also a major in their own national identity and declare their nia where I got my MBA in International Eco- cultural, educational and a scientific center, own identity. The USA Census is required by nomics at the Economic Institute - Skopje. In which only adds to its value. their constitution to be conducted every ten the meantime, I had started working at the years. In the last ten years, the demography Ministry of Environment, which was the first BP: Did the nature of the Macedonian of the population has changed significantly. governmental job of my career. I then went to Diaspora in Chicago and the region have Their immigration policy, as you can notice spend a large amount of time in the starting anything to do with choosing Chicago as in the past years, has been more involved team of the Secretary of European Issues the home of the next Macedonian Consul- in our parts of the world, and as a result, for the Government of Macedonia, a team ate in U.S.A., and can you tell us how the the number of Macedonians in the USA has that laid the foundation of the integrations of response has been so far? risen exponentially. The importance of us

22 Spring 2011 getting a bigger number, as an ethnicity in this USA census, is that it helps us to gain influence on many bilateral and international issues with the USA, and of course, this will help enhance the relationship between these two countries. The Consulate General in Chicago in coordination with the Macedo- nian Embassy in Washington, and the other Consulates General in Detroit and New York, were actively involved in this action, to enable a more accurate reflection of the Mace- donian Diaspora community.

BP: How do you plan to improve political and economic awareness for Macedonia? JP: Even though I’ve been here in Chicago for such a short period of time, I have suc- cessfully became a part of some the most prestigious economic and political communities in the city. The Economic Club of Chicago, Executive Club of Chicago, Union League Club, and Chicago Council on Global JP: The cooperation with organizations is at a the Winter Wonder Fest, which was visited by Affairs are some of the many communities to very good level. I’d especially like to thank the more than four million people in one month, mention here in Chicago, where presenting United Macedonian Diaspora for their involve- where we had a Macedonian Christmas tree, Macedonia and establishing professional re- ment in different spheres of community life. representing the friendly and spiritual nature lationships with other members is of crucial Here in Chicago, they had a premiere of the of the Macedonian people. In March of 2010, importance to our mission. As for our cultural film “A Name is a Name” where the response we were a part of the Balkan Festival here representation in these parts of the United was spectacular. This gave me a chance to in Chicago, where we had another chance States, our cooperation with the city of Chi- invite people from different diplomatic bodies, to represent the beauty of the Macedonian cago, and other districts within our jurisdic- and it gave me a unique chance to present Folklore. Currently, we are working on show- tion, is in process and many projects will be our side of the issue to them. In Los Angeles, ing some Macedonian movies to the Chicago developed in the future for our own cultural UMD also organized and funded a concert by audience, and we hope to ultimately turn this affirmation. I would also like to say that I’m Simon Trpceski, which also triggered a big re- into a Macedonian Film Festival event. very happy here in Chicago, and proud to sponse. I talk on regular basis with represen- have witnessed the recent grand opening tatives from UMD, and I am looking forward to BP: We are witnessing an economic re- of the Macedonian-Cultural and Educational work together with them on different projects traction throughout the world, and the Center by handful of young and ambitious in the future. United States. In these days of uncertain- Macedonians, showing their vision and de- ty, how do you plan to put Macedonia on sire for cultural affirmation. BP: We know that a nation is recogniz- the international economic map? able by its tradition and culture. Is there a JP: Economic promotion is an everyday ob- BP: What are some of the services of- plan for more intensified exposure of the ligation, which is why I became a member fered by the Consulate? Macedonian culture and tradition to the in all of these prestigious and prolific clubs JP: One of the services offered by the consul- American community? and organizations in Chicago. This is a per- ate is to enable the citizens of Macedonia to JP: When it comes to cultural activities, I have fect ground to spread the word about what receive a new biometrical passport. At this mo- to say that we want to use every opportunity Macedonia has to offer to foreign investors. ment, we are in the process of gathering infor- we get to present our unique cultural values. To represent our unique economic nature in mation about the persons of interest through We have had many different cultural events, the region, we held the second Macedonian applications and other forms, and once we such as the Macedonian Days of Culture, Business Forum in February 2010. In April obtain the necessary information, teams from which was held in Chicago for the first time of 2010, Macedonia, along with countries Macedonia will arrive to finish up this process. ever in November of 2008, and the Navy Pier from Southeastern Europe (Croatia, Bosnia, When all is said and done the new passports presentation of Macedonian folklore, which in- Serbia, Romania, and Turkey), was part of will be delivered to the people. cluded various folk dance performances, pro- a common business forum, where we could jection of the “Macedonia Timeless” video and use the opportunities to tell investors we BP: How would you describe your coop- food presentation from our part of the world, come from a business region, as opposed eration with United Macedonian Diaspora and which ended up being especially appeal- to a region overwhelmed by conflicts. I plan and other different Macedonian organiza- ing to the visitors. Also, in December of 2009, to further extend these forums to the west tions with similar character? for the first time in Chicago, we participated in coast, in Los Angeles and San Francisco.

Spring 2011 23 The Macedonian Church in the Ottoman Era

By Goran Stojanov Sveti Jovan Kaneo Church, Ohrid, Macedonia, built in the 13th century

n regards to the Ottoman Empire, we are used to viewing it as a brutal occupier. However, the Empire’s administration wasI very efficient and pragmatic. Society was divided into religious and ethnic sub- groups known as Millets. Apart from the largest Islamic Millet and second largest Orthodox Christian Millet (called Rumeli, in other words Roman) the Gregorian-Arme- nian, Jewish, Protestant and Catholic Millets were also recognized. Within the framework of Millets, the Ottoman Empire allowed for relative religious and spiritual freedom. The Millets had their own separate admin- istrations, which had the right and obligation to collect taxes. In return, they were allowed to organize the religious, cultural and the spiritual life of their members. The Head or Millet Basha of the Orthodox Millet was the Patriarch of Constantinople (Istanbul). In the beginning of the nineteenth century, social reforms took place in the Ottoman Empire, which allowed for greater social and flock of the Exarchate. Word had spread that economic freedom for the Christians of the the Exarchate would stop seeking control of Balkans. Relatively quickly, this gave rise to southern Macedonia, in order to gain recog- segments of rich artisans and merchants. nition from the Patriarchate. Faced with the Following the independence of Romania, fear of a religious divide within Macedonia, Serbia and Greece, these states began to the clergy, firstly from south-eastern Mace- organize autonomous national orthodox donia, and after in other Macedonian cities, churches on their territories, which became began negotiations for the restoration of independent of the Patriarchate of Constan- the Ohrid Archbishopric, as a Macedonian tinople. The Macedonians, Bulgarians and church under protection from the Pope. Orthodox Albanians remained under the We discover these events from the letters Patriarch’s control, until the middle of the of Petko Slavejkov, a well-known Bulgarian nineteenth century when they began a battle revivalist, who had been sent by the Exar- for their own national autonomous churches. chate on an intelligence mission to Mace- Under influence from Russia, on 28th Feb- donia in January 1874. Firstly, he describes ruary 1870, the Sultan issued a Firman, or the dissatisfaction by the Macedonian clergy Pope Leo XII of Rome royal decree, under which he allowed for the with the outcome of the church issue, in proclamation of a Bulgarian Exarchate. This such a way that it was only benefitting the these, we have involvement in the Solun, allowed for referendums in all Christian dio- Bulgarians. Furthermore he goes on to state: Ser, Drama and Melnik villages, and all the ceses where, with a two-thirds majority vote, “This dissatisfaction had very easily turned other Macedonian Dioceses will join them, they could cross over from the Patriarchate into distrust towards the initiators of the re- headed by that of Veles.” to the Exarchate’s control. vival, which gave birth to the local patriots Warned by Slavejkov, the Bulgarian Exar- The Christians from Bulgaria joined the a fatal idea to act independently, to use the chate and Russian Consul in Constantinople Exarchate fairly quickly. However, in Mace- local Macedonian dialect in the schools, and had taken a number of means to prevent the donia, a real war of propaganda appeared to create a separate Macedonian clergy. On movement. The entire affair had been fina- between the supporters of the Patriarchy and the frontlines of this movement stands Ku- lised by placing the Vardar and Pirin parts those of the newly formed Exarchate. The kush, helped by until now the sleepy Dojran, of Macedonia under the Bulgarian-exarchate Patriarch termed the Exarchate a ‘schismatic with the public involved from Strumica, the church control, whereas the Aegean part of church’ and his followers intimidated all the Malesevija region and Voden. Following Macedonia - its largest part - remained un-

24 Spring 2011 der the control of the Patriarchate church Sultan Mustafa III administration. This division led to the basis for the propaganda wars which rose later on, and after the Balkan wars, played a part in the territorial division of Macedonia. The next attempt to establish an independent Macedonian church was made by the Skopje Bishop Theodosius. Born in the Serres village of Trlis in 1846, he was appointed the Metropolitan of the Skopje Epar- chy in 1885. In his eparchy, he established a religious reform in which he replaced the Bulgarian language with Macedonian, giving out separate certificates in the Macedonian language. After the unsuccessful secret negotiations with the Patriarchate to establish an autonomous Macedonian Church, which was to incorporate all of the Macedonian Eparchies, he wrote a letter to the Pope Leo Bishop Theodosius XIII, on 4th December 1891, which we bring to you in full: ward the following conditions in order to step ies sent over, apart from those who are into a Union and canonical unity between the already involved with the educational and “To the Holy Father, Pope Leo XIII of Rome, orthodox herd of Macedonia and the Roman charitable institutions in Macedonia, and Catholic Church: for them not to interfere in the internal I, the below signatory Metropolitan of Skopje church and educational activities of the Theodosius, by God’s blessing the Bishop 1. To Re-establish the Ohrid Archbishopric, Archbishopric. of the Skopje Eparchy, am sending you this this will be in a canonical Union with the request in my name and in the name of the Roman Catholic Church, with the bless- Those are our conditions, we believe that entire Orthodox flock of Macedonia, in which ing of the Holy Father. they are righteous and we cannot make any we beg you your Holiness to take us under concessions. We hope that they will be ac- the protection of the wing of the Roman 2. I, Theodosius, to be appointed as the cepted and respected in all times.” Catholic Church, and to help us re-establish Head of the renewed Ohrid Archbishop- the ancient Ohrid Archbishopric, unlawfully ric, as an Autocephalous Macedonian From the office of the Pope, they had pre- abolished by the Sultan Mustafa III in 1767, Church. pared an answer of approval, however had and to incorporate it in a canonical unity with decided to wait sometime until they could the Roman Catholic Church. 3. All the Highly regarded Metropolitans, “study the issue in more depth”. In the mean- Our wish stems from the historical right monks, and secular priests are to be born time, the news reached the Bulgarian Exar- of the Orthodox Macedonian people to live in Macedonia and appointed by myself as chate who, with the help of the Ottoman Au- independently from other Churches: The the Archbishop, whereas your Holiness thorities, removed Theodosius and sent him Bulgarian Exarchate and the Constantinople can affirm the appointment of the Metro- to captivity in a monastery near Sofia. Patriarchate, and to be united in its own Or- politans. The first church mass in which it was once thodox Church, which will serve the people again brought up to re-establish the Ohrid and enable them an independent spiritual, 4. The borders of the Archbishopric to be in Archbishopric took place near Ohrid in 1943, cultural and educational life and develop- line with the borders of today’s Macedo- and in 1945, a Public-Church Synod was es- ment. Your Holiness, please take into ac- nia (Reference is made to the whole ter- tablished, which brought forward a resolution count the specific features of the Orthodox ritory of Macedonia), and the divisions of to re-establish the Ohrid Archbishopric as a faith, from which the Orthodox people will the Eparchies to remain as they currently Macedonian Orthodox Church. That resolu- not abandon, and those are independence are. tion was at first rejected by the Serbian Or- in terms of the rites, church services and thodox Church, however later, in 1959, the clerical duties”. 5. The old unions from Kukush-Poljan and Serbian Orthodox Church agreed to the re- Strumica Eparchy to be exempt from the establishment of the Ohrid Archbishopric as He then brought forward the following condi- jurisdiction of the Uniate Archbishop of an autonomous church, in canonical unity tions in order to step into a union: Constantinople, his holiness Nil Izvorov, within the Serbian Orthodox Church. Eight and be included in the dioceses under my years later, on the 200-year anniversary of the “In my name and in the name of my Mace- jurisdiction. abolition of the Ohrid Archbishopric in 1967, donian herd, I, Theodosius, the below signa- at a public church mass, the Macedonian Or- tory Metropolitan of Skopje, am putting for- 6. To not have any new Catholic missionar- thodox Church announced its autocephaly.

Spring 2011 25 U.S. - Macedonia Cooperation in Vital Area of Water Management By Mark Branov

ater is an indispensible natural re- The tour began in Washington D.C. and The private sector and NGOs were also source for any nation, with deep Baltimore, where the group had meetings represented, including the Environmental political consequences. In early with the federal and local agencies most di- Justice Coalition for Water, California Farm W2011, representatives of the Macedonian rectly engaged in water planning: the United Bureau Federation, and the Conservation Ministry of the Environment toured the U.S. States Geological Survey, United States Strategy Group/The Nature Conservancy. at the initiation of the U.S. State Department. Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Water planning and management are par- The mission was to share valuable expertise Resources, Subcommittee on Water and amount in Santa Fe, New Mexico, an arid re- about effective water management policy Power, Natural Resource Defense Council, gion with very limited water supply relative to and the new technologies related to it. Interstate Commission on the Potomac River its population. At offices of the State of New Ms. Kaja Sukova, from the Ministry of Envi- Basin, and various other related bodies. Mexico, the visitors had the opportunity to ronment and Physical Planning, Mr. Ilber Mir- California has the largest water planning learn about effective oversight of water us- ta, from the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry requirements in the country because of the age, as well as how to improve cooperation and Water Economy, Mr. Zarko Erakovic, from arid and heavily populated south, which is between various levels of government. The PE Komunalec in Gevgelija, Mr. Goran Gavr- largely dependent upon resources from the meetings were with the Water Division for ilovski, from PE Vodovod, Kumanovo, and Mr. northern part of the state and other states. In the City of Santa Fe, the New Mexico State Romeo Ivanovski were invited to the United San Francisco, the group had meetings with Engineer’s Office, U.S. Geological Survey, States under the auspices of the Department officers of the California Department of Wa- and other government bodies, as well as a of State’s International Visitor Leadership Pro- ter Resources, California Energy Commis- private company in the water sector, New gram, with a detailed program arranged by the sion, the Department of Land, Air and Water Mexico-based, MIOX, which provides water Meridian International Center. Resources, and other government agencies. treatment technology in hundreds of U.S.

26 Spring 2011 A educational visit to the San Ildefonso Pueblo informed the visitors about water issues from the standpoint of Native Americans.

communities and more than 30 countries. A educational visit to the San Ildefonso Pueblo informed the visitors about water issues from the standpoint of Native Americans. Finally, Louisville, Kentucky proved to be an interesting vantage point to look at water planning and allocation issues because a main source of water is the Ohio River, a role somewhat analogous to that of the Vard- ar River in Macedonia. Water quality and maintaining water treatment facilities were toured, and meetings were held with various public and private organizations working on water and river issues, such as the Louis- ville Water Company, Ohio River Sanitation Commission, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and other organizations.

There’s no place finer than Wimpy’s Diner

www.wimpysdiner.ca For franchise info call 1-888-594-6797 UMD Helps Baba and Dedo in Macedonia By Ana Buling, UMD Communications and Public Relations Fellow

very year, UMD organizes a dona- Kiro Krstevski Platnik Senior Citizen’s Home in Macedonia,” said UMD Board Member tion from the diaspora community for in Prilep, and the Mother Theresa Senior Cit- and Charitable Efforts Coordinator Aleksan- Macedonia. This year, UMD decided izen’s Home in Skopje. UMD was also able dra Trpkovska. “Many of us in the diaspora toE help the elderly who reside in the senior to provide a washing machine to the Senior miss our grandparents in Macedonia. Some citizens’ homes of Macedonia. Over the Citizen’s Home in Kumanovo. UMD thanks of them may live with families, while others holiday season, thanks to the donations of its partner, Konekt, from Macedonia, for their live in senior citizens’ homes. We wanted to Macedonian Diaspora around the world, and help in coordinating the project and efforts reach out to the ones that are not with their even Macedonians in Macedonia, UMD was delivering the aid to the seniors. families this holiday season and let them able to raise $2,500, which was matched by “In the past, we have coordinated dona- know we haven’t forgotten about them. They UMD’s Charitable Fund totaling $5,000. tions to orphanages and to hospitals, and this are somebody’s Baba and Dedo.” On March 7-8, 2011, UMD donated paja- year we wanted to address another segment Please send your ideas for charitable projects mas, socks and sweaters to the elderly in the that is not talked about much - the elderly to [email protected]

28 Spring 2011 United Macedonian Diaspora Third Global Conference Washington, D.C. UMD Global June 23-25, 2011 con fer ence 2011 ADVERTISEMENT ORDER FORM

Reserve your AD today for the UMD Global Conference Commemorative Journal. Please fax this form to (202) 756-7323, or mail to the address below.

☐ $1,000 ☐ $250 Full Page, 7.75” x 10.25”, Color Quarter Page, 3.75” x 5.125”, Black and White ☐ $750 ☐ $100 Full Page, 7.75” x 10.25”, Black and White Business Card, 3.875” x 2.5”, Black and White ☐ $50 ☐ $500 One (1) Line Name Recognition Half Page, 7.75” x 5”, Black and White

In order to secure space for your AD, fill out the form below and send with full payment no later than May 23, 2011. We encourage a high-resolution PDF or EPS files with all fonts converted to outlines. If you need help designing your ad, there will be an extra charge per hour. Send final artwork to Mila Manevska at [email protected]

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For more information, please e-mail Mila Manevska at [email protected] • www.UMDGlobalConference.org th United Macedonian Diaspora, 1101 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, 6 Floor, Washington, D.C., 20004 • 202-756-2244Spring 2011 29 SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES Sponsorship of the 3rd Annual United Macedonian Diaspora Global Conference (UMD GC2011) – J.W. Marriott – in the heart of downtown Washington, D.C. – offers marketing, branding, networking, and knowledge gathering opportunities. Features include strong global promotion and an opportunity to present your message to a versatile audience.

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UMD will work closely with you to ensure that your sponsorship meets your company’s expectations. For more information, please contact Metodija A. Koloski at (202) 294-3400 or [email protected].

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SPONSOR - $500 FRIEND OF UMD - $1,000 Benefits include: Benefits include: • Logo Recognition on all Conference Event Material • Logo Recognition on all Conference Material • Complimentary Valet Parking for one (1) car • Complimentary Valet Parking for one (1) car • One (1) Complimentary Conference Registration • One (1) Complimentary Conference Registration • Mention in Conference Journal • Advertisement in Conference Journal (Business Card Size – Black & White)

MACEDONIAN HERITAGE PATRON - $2,500 GLOBAL MACEDONIAN - $3,500 Benefits include: Benefits include: • Logo Recognition on all Conference Material • Logo Recognition on all Conference Material • Complimentary Valet Parking up to two (2) cars • Complimentary Valet Parking up to two (2) cars • Two (2) Complimentary Conference Registrations • Two (2) Complimentary Conference Registrations • Advertisement in Conference Journal • Advertisement in Conference Journal (Quarter Page – Black & White) (Half Page – Black & White) • Advertisement on UMD GC2011 Official Website • Advertisement on UMD GC2011 Official Website

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The person signing this contract represents that he/she has the authority to enter into this contract with the United Macedonian Diaspora and bind his/her company to the terms set forth herein. In addition, the authorizing person acknowledges having read the general terms of this contract and agrees to the terms as written.

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