PART II
INTRODUCTION BY SLAVÉ KATIN
INTRODUCTION BY SLAVÉ KATIN
Otherwise, the primary sources for studying the ancient history of Macedonia are mostly of
Greek, followed by Roman origin, even though recently many historians have shown increasing interest
in this matter. Thanks to the advantages that the Hellenic civilization inherited from previous cultures
the use of the letters and the bringing of Macedonia to the head of the European cultural world,
numerous moments of prehistory have been shed light upon not only through works and remains of the
material culture, but also through written information, which are mostly found in Greek literature.
Macedonians were born and have lived since ancient times in these areas that were in the past
the center of the civilized world. Cultures sprang here, and great people were born here who were not
only significant to the history of European culture but also for mankind. They aroused awareness of the
new generations. It is often said that what took place in Macedonia cannot be compared to anything
anywhere else in the world, or at any other time.
Therefore it can be said that the book “Selection of papers for Macedonia”, is а part of the
chronicle of the terms and conditions of the Macedonian people to the historical scene. It is a work for
selected papers concerning Macedonia, Macedonian Orthodox Church and the Macedonians in the
world, who have an independent and sovereign state today, and who have confirmed successfully their
identity to the world.
This book is especially devoted to Macedonia and the Mace-donians. It is devoted to the question
of whether separate political entities have the exclusive right to monopolize over the historical heritage,
i.e. whether the young generations of today, born and raised in the confronted parts of Macedonia,
were raised and educated believing that the Macedonians are not sufficiently informed of the historical
fact that they are part of one nation and of one land called Macedonia.
Macedonia is traditionally an emigrational region from which emigrational movement of the
Macedonian people and movement to the transoceanic and other countries took place in the mid of the
19th century. Such movements were especially increased during the second half of the 19th century
and were known as “pechalba” (going abroad for economic reasons). With a ranging scale and
intensity they have continued till the present day. Thus, according to some data, the first group of
“pechalbari” (people who went to work abroad) reached the North American continent in 1885 and
Australia in the 1920’s. However, individuals who had joined groups of “pechalbari” from the
neighboring and other countries had crossed the ocean even before that.
Therefore, the book “Selection of papers for Macedonia”, is especially devoted to Macedonia, the
Macedonians and the Macedonian Orthodox Church-OA, which has been and probably will continue to
be the target of discussions, arguments, and even attacks from the church institutions in the
neighboring countries and wider, that are trying to prevent, or postpone its joining the family of the
equal Orthodox Church organizations. In so doing, an entire propaganda and media mechanism has
been engaged to conduct pressure, isolation, and negation of the Macedonian Orthodox Church-OA
and its legitimate existence. Its aim is to distort and hide historical facts from the past and the present.
The purpose of this write-up is to bring into question the essential characteristics of the
Macedonian Orthodox people, its church organism and its truth as a people that possesses its own
independent and sovereign state – the Republic of Macedonia.