It is an irrefutable fact that the Macedonian people have managed to ensure their continuation despite all forms of pressure for their assimilation. This is yet another proof that this people, being a Biblical one, has managed to confront and endure all conquests, oppressions, and denials. Macedonia is the only country in the world that has such a long and ancient history. Its roots could be traced back to the Ancient Macedo- nians and to their leaders Philip II and Alexander of Macedon. Since the time of Philip and Alexander, and during the rule of Rome and Byzantium and the Slav migrations to the south, followed by the domination of the Ottoman Empire and others, Macedonia has always been the landmark and crossroads of various civilizations, cultures, languages, and religions. Again, it is an irrefutable fact that when Europe was going through the dark ages it was en- lightened only by the torch of Macedonian culture. Among other things, St. Clement’s University of Ohrid was shining as a symbol of one of the oldest civilizations on the continent.
Starting from the 4th century onwards, Christianity has prevailed in these areas. This is confirmed by the archeological findings and by the great number of Christian churches, episcopal cathedrals, basilicas, baptisteries and other sacral facilities of huge dimensions that prove that Christianity has been rooted deeply and organized well in Macedonia since its very beginning up to the present time.
One of the historic
episodes that took place in Macedonia at that time was the creation of the
first alphabet by Saint Cyril of Solun (Thessalonica) that had a historically
significant role for all Slavic speaking peoples. As a result, the first
translations of religious books to Old-Slavic, i.e. to the Old-Mace- donian
language, marked the period when the Macedonian language, with its alphabet,
was ranked among the dominant languages of that time - Latin, Hellenic, and
Jewish – on equal footing. Ever since that episode, the word of God began
spreading in Macedonian as well, and people began writing and reading books
written in Old Church Slavonic, as it is called today.
Undoubtedly, this
event was of epochal significance for the Macedonian people. First, because the
brothers Saints Cyril and Methodij came from Solun, Macedonia, and second,
because the first books written in Old Church Slavonic were written in the language
spoken by the Macedonians. Obvi- ously, Saints Cyril and Methodij could not use
any other language but the language that the Macedo- nians from Solun and
suburbs spoke. Another episode which was epochal for the Macedonians took place
at the beginning of the 11th century AD when Macedonian Tsar Samoil located his
capital first to Prespa and then to Ohrid. Witness to this are the remnants of
his fortresses that we still see today as a permanent mark of our glorious
past. Ohrid was also a center of the Ohrid Archbishopric until it was abolished
in 1767. Namely, along with the declaration of the Patriarchate it was no
coincidence that Tsar Samoil was declared Emperor by the first Ohrid patriarch.
Until the arrival of the
Ottomans to the Balkans in the 14th century AD, Macedonia experienced great
progress in the area of construction. Witnesses to this are the numerous
medieval churches and monasteries, which are now a part of the treasury of the
European and world culture. It was no coincidence that the Ottomans did not
abolish the autocephalous status of the Ohrid Archbishopric immediately,
instead they also showed tolerance towards the Christian faith. After their
occupation of Ohrid in 1408, Macedonia found itself occupied by the Ottoman
Empire. Nevertheless, the Ottomans not only didn’t limit the independence of
the Ohrid Archbishopric, but they also increased its power in order to weaken
the Patriarchate in Constantinople. In spite of this, however, the expansion of
the feudal system in the Ottoman Empire objectively meant weakening of the
Ohrid Archbishopric.
In the midst of the
difficult situation in which they found themselves, the Macedonian people and
their church were under the constant pressure of the Patriarchate of
Constantinople and the Catholic propaganda of Rome. The Patriarchate used
various methods to Hellenise the Macedonian people and destroy their church
which was embodied in the Ohrid Archbishopric. To achieve this, the
Patriarchate did not choose means or methods to impose itself upon the church
authorities of that time. As a result the Patriarchate convinced the Ottoman
Sultan to abolish the Ohrid Archbishopric in 1767, inflicting, in that way,
great harm upon the Macedonian Christian population.
Even though the Balkan
Wars (1912-1913) meant some form of freedom for Macedonia from Ottoman slavery,
they in fact brought the country a new subjugation. Macedonia was tragically
par- titioned by Greece, Bulgaria, and Serbia, and later by Albania, followed
by even worse conditions and discrimination for the
Macedonian people. Not only was the Macedonian nation denied, but
also the use of the Macedonian language was forbiden, especially in Aegean
Macedonia where strict penalties were imposed upon those who dared to speak
Macedonian. Macedonia was colonized within Serbia which was later to grow into
the Kingdom of the Serbs, Croatians and Slovenes under the Yugoslav monarchy.
Once again, the Macedonians were denied their national identity and their language
was repressed. Macedonians who live in Bulgaria, in Pirin Macedonia, shared a
similar fate as well.
The age-old fight
of the Macedonian people for their national and social freedom, for justice
and truth, especially their active
involvement in the anti-fascist coalition, enabled them to acquire, after
WWII, their sovereign state that had its own national institutions and an array
of cultural communication with the world. The Macedonian language became an
official language of the Republic of Macedonia that is well-known and
acknowledged in the world. It is studied at many universities on several continents,
and it contributes to the spreading of the values of Macedonian culture and
their inclusion in the common treasury of culture. Unfortunately in the parts
of Macedonia that are still under Greece and Bulgaria the well-known attitudes
to deny the Macedonian identity and truth are still in effect.
After its
liberation, the Republic of Macedonia, as a whole, has experienced a
substantial rise in the fields of education, culture and construction, as well
as social life in general. Even as a child, George Atanasoski gained and
enjoyed all those great advantages and benefits of life in that period. He
aroused his interest in the future of his life, in education, in books… He
started to read books at the not so well-stocked school library and he grew
into a progressive young man who was loved and respected by his
fellow-students, teachers and countrymen.
In addition,
George Atanasoski also witnessed a complex phenomenon of immigration – many
men from his village and beyond used
to leave their fatherland and go abroad to earn a living. He was not
immune to it. He felt all those emigrational waves that fell all over
Pelagonija and the entire Macedonia. He still has vivid memories of the
partings of the migrant workers, of their escape across the border, and of
those turbulent times.
When he left
his heart and home for the first time, his first destination was Prilep. There,
his inter- est expanded and grew paving his way to the United States of
America, the land of opportunity. All that he had experienced in his homeland
was a solid basis for him to open up and expand his horizons. Therefore, by
leaving Macedonia and settling down in the U.S. he has, above all, enriched his
life on an economic level which, undoubtedly, was a good basis for his further
development and his integration into the new setting. But, simultaneously with
the improvement of his economic situation, he began to live, work and create in
a completely new way.
George
Atanasoski’s homeland was proclaimed as the People's Republic of Macedonia in
1944 within the boundaries of the former Federal People’s Republic of
Yugoslavia. Not many years afterwards, it was renamed Socialist Republic of
Macedonia. However, when the socialist block col- lapsed in 1989, the Yugoslav
republics opted for their independence. As a result, Macedonia was constituted
as a separate, independent and sovereign state -
Republic of Macedonia following the referendum held on
September 8th, 1991. In those starry moments, Macedonia
became a member of the United Nations and a permanent member of many other
international organizations.
For the Republic
of Macedonia the period since the achievement of independence – Septem- ber
8th, 1991 – thus far has been fulfilled with construction of a great number of
monuments from the history of the Macedonian people and Macedonia since ancient
times. The 8th of September is one of the most significant dates for the
continuation, progress and future of Macedonians and of the Republic of
Macedonia as a whole.
By Slave Nikolovski - Katin
Macedonian Timeline Australia
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