MEMBERS OF THE BOARD ELECTED - Part 03

Битола Драги Јани, Тебе, г-жа Цена и љубимите ви деца ви поздравуваме со братски и искрени поздрави од родниот ни крај. Свежи се спомените од вашата љубов, внимание и искрена соработка на општо полезната ни заедничка работа во времето на мојот престој во Канада од 7-седум години. Патувањето беше и леко и тешко. Тешко ни беше дека зад нас оставивне најмил дел од нашиот живот во лицата ваши. Во тешките моменти вие ни бевте духовни крила, радост и морална поткрепа.По такви теми и цело време дури бев во Скопје говоревме со г. Буглески кој храни големо уважение и љубов лично кон тебе.Тој ми повлече многу позитивни нешта за тебе лично но и би сакал да биде во коресподенција со тебе. ( извини ме машината ми е нова и уште не е го знам табиетот, те затоа и вака прескокнувам).

Во Скопје се задржав 10- дена и имав можност да се вида со многу луѓе кои се надлежни и заинтересирани за животот на нашите иселеници во Канада. Ти велам дека ти си предмет на големо внимание, како заслужен, чесен и исправен во се. Тоа беше и за мене голема гордост дека работата твоја беше и моја - заедничка.

Посебно зборувавне со Н. Блаженство за општата положба за таму и со радост и задолство се примени доста мој убави сугестии. Направивме и еден осврт на грешките од миналото лето кои се направени овде и си ги признаваат дека не требаше така да се фатат за гнили конци, но тоа е изминато.

Ако имаш повеќе време би сакал со тебе редовно да кореспондираме и се држиме во течение на работите. Јас си го зедов старото место и сега ќе имам доста време и за почивка и за лесна работа. Пишими за се што те интересира и мене нема да е лен за да ти пиша.

Ти исто знаеш дека јас имам дел од мојот живот и љубов оставено за нашата емиграција и за нејзиниот развиток, та према тоа и мене ме интересира и потамошниот ход на развојот на нашата црква и животот изопшто.

Потсетиго ако имаш време о. Теохарев и речи му да ми одговори што поскоро на моето писмо што му го испратив преди три недели. Се однесуваше до мојот пеј за Јануар месец. Незаборави да му јавиш.

Јас се наместив и сега ќе можа да те прима нагости како вистински домакин.

Имаме доста место, а кујќата е во центарот на Битола. од секаде Пелистерски воздух и спајнето ке ти је пријатно. Штом ќе решите да идвате на прошетка со Цена и фамилијата, мојата кујќа ќе е и ваша. Кар купивме и од таа страна немаш да имаш мачнотии. Ова ти го предлагам со големо задоволство и вистинско братство.

Ќе одиме на езера, на лозје, на бавча и ќе дишиме чист воздух со пријатни разговори и убави спомени од Торонто, особено од тебе и г-жа Цена.

Се надевам дека сега си наполно здрав од операцијата и затоа најсетне те питам за тоа, дека знам да си орајт. бих ти писал многу, али за сега колку за поздрав ќе бидиме задоволни и со ова. По касно ќе си пишиме по одредени теми и актуелни вопроси.

При крај приемете ги нашите срдечни поздрави и благопожелби до сите вас, со надеж на видување било овде или таму.

Срдечни поздрави до г-жа Цена и малките убавици на дедо.

Ваши: Вери. Рев. Атанас К. Попов и Тодорка Потпис: Ат. К. Попов.

Во писмото датирано на 1 Јули, 1972год. пишува:

Драги мој Јани, Братски и срдечно ти благодарам за срдечното и опширно писмо. Радостен сум и му благодарам на Бога што сте сите здрави. Искрено речено, мене многу ме интерешираше како се чуствуваш ти после операцијата. Сега сум спокоен и се радувам што си пак на работа. Кажи и на Кери (Caroline) дека баба Тодорка ке е сошијат дрес, па било овде кога ќе дојте, или таму кога ќе дојме ние на гости.

Ние сме многу добри, мислам ти писав, дека можев да бидам и Скопје на поголема служба, али за мене Битола и Ваздухот Битолски од Пелистер со ништо не се заменува. Друго, јас се сметам најголем кога ќе служам , а не кога ке ми служат. Тие две нешта пак ме вратија на старото мое место между мојте мили браќа свештеници со кои сум работал повеќе од триесет години. Така да Февруари и Март се одморив, а од Април почнав со работа.Многу сум задоволен и мирен.На шест недели една недела сум јас дежурен, а другите слободен и безгрижен.Да ти речам искрено и братски, Што се однесува за мојте примања, разликата е малка.

Тоа не е важно, важното е да овде нема ...и ...и други за да ја трујат македонската душа. Поради се она што прават тие, јас неможа, а да несум мислено и сочуствително со мојте браќа македонци исполнети со љубов и саможертва кон нашата мајка црква и стариот крај. Напротив, јас ке бидам везден со вас и вие сомене дека ни сврзува една и иста цел за нашиот напатен македонски народ.

Обединението на чесни начала везден ке ми биде девиза во мојот живот. Несум бил никога човек од атар, на против со одредени мои принципи во животот. Таков и ке остана.

Драги мој Јани, јас сум бил секогаш искрен према тебе сум те ценел и ке те цена како мој најближен соработник за доброто на нашата мајка црква, татковина, како и за името македонско пред лицето на Канада и секогаш со тебе и нашите искрени соработници сме врвеле кон таа цел. Ке продолжиме со трпение, и понатаму, со вистината, да ги разбиеме мрачните тенденции на нашите непријатели кои имаат за цел да ја расцепат нашата чесна и мирна емиграција. Ние ке треба да жертвуваме се што е лично за општото дело за нашата мајка. Нема да престанеме, а да не ја покажуваме везден вистината пред секого и на секаде.Ова е важно. По приемот на твоето писно не ми беше лен да одам до Скопје, содржината и деталниот опис на настаните многу беја интересни и требаше да ги анализираме на највисико место.

Презадоволен останав што луѓето беја презадоволни од твојот опис, така искрен, сардечен и патриотски од кој разбра и протолкуваа многу позитивни нешта како за тебе , така исто и за другите чесни македонци. После пет дена ке имаме средба во Охрид и ке биде многу интересно. Ти знаеш дека јас си водев дневник и сега е згоден момент да се послужам со се она што е забелезано во него.Јас сум дал клетва пред Бога и нашиот народ дека никогаш нема да ја скривам вистината и никогаш нема да ги издам придобивките на нашата мајка - Македонија. Ти знаеш да јас никого не мразев. Но, јас неможев да ги замижа очите или да намигувам и на оније кои го мразат македонското и државно-црквеното уредување во нашата татковина. Јас неможев да позвола да се псује федерацијата и нашиот строј од продажните и не совесни елементи. Бидете сите уверени и имајте трпеније дека еден скорашен ден ке ја извади вистината на површина и позитивното пак ке биде наша животна норма. Кој може да ги одрекне заслугите, љубовта и жертвите за нашата црква и нашиот народ на брајќата Василеви, на Бил Клечов, на Ѓорги Лукрас на Васил Дундас на Мајк Таллин, на Андро Самарџиев и на многу други видни и чесни македонци кои се за мир и љубов во црквата.Кои се вистинските борци против злото и кавгите и кои не се на една линија за растурање на нашата емиграција.

Драги Јани, биди уверен во тоа, дека никогаш и никој нема вас да ви подцени и да ви изостави, а да им даде предност на нездравите елементи.

Неможа да ја заборавам нивната злобност кога навалија со клевети против најздравиот наш син-македонец Јими Југлов со намера за да го растројат единството на нашата емиграција. Но, тоа незначи дека еден ден тие нема да се откријат заедно со нивните лоши намери. Јас сметам, да она што стана во Гери е нивно дело, кое беше планирано прво да стане во Торонто. Но, тие неможеа тогаш да ја постигнат таа цел поради ред причини и опстојателества во која ја држевне црквата.

Сметам да нема место за очајавање бидеќим вистината не ке може да се покрие со кавги и да е лаги.

Драги мој Јани, уште еднаш ти благодарам за убавите информации околу црквата и Јунајтед, а јас ти давам чесен збор дека нема да изоставам од мојата должност за се што може да се стори во полза на исправување на тамошната положба. Можат да пишат свој забелешки и отценки сите наши пријатели.

Поздравиго и Спира. Многу ке значи пишувањето и запознавањето со сите, па макар и најдробните настани, кои се случват сега.Се она што ви се чини вам неважно, за нас е многу важно, дека од тие мали работи можат да се видат и големите.

А, сега, најнапред предај ги нашите братски и срдечни поздрави на г-жа Цена, децата и сите наши пријатели.

Братски те целува твој:

Вери Рев. Атанас К. Попов По мојот избор за претседател Отец Атанас Попов пишува:

Драги мој Јани, Преди две недели овде беше Јосиф од Преспа и ми кажа дека си бил избран за претседател на Црковната Општина, што ме радва и ми дава надеж да ке ја извршиш поверената ти задача како презедент-достојно на задоволство на сите позитивни сили на македонците собрани под крилото на Св. Климент Охридски.

Јас, еден од твојте пријатели се радвам и очекувам, со надеж дека ке одговориш достојно и чесно, како и везден на предстојните ти задачи.Уште повеке ако и тимот на Бордов Директорс е умен и честен.

Многу ке зависи од искрените и добри намери на твојте соработници и исходот на позитивните решенија кои ке бидат од корист за црквата и македонскијот народ.

Ако мрачните сили кои дејствуват од надвор најдат на монолитност на членовите на црквената Општина, тогаш да се надеваме на голем успех во секој однос.

Од се срце ти го честитам изборот, како и на сите членови на црквената општина со вера во успех на општо црквено-народната работа.

За Јубилејот испратив телеграма со кратка честитка, незнам дали е прочитана и поздравено членството? Но, се едно ида е инаку.

Срдечни поздрави на Цена и милите деца, како и на нашите пријатели. Се надевам дека ке има прилика да ни дојдеш во посета како претседател. Се што е најдобро и похвално ти го заслужи со твојата позитивна и толку корисна работа за доброто и единството на нашиот народ.

Поздрави ги: Кондово Пире и Мери, Лукраса, Червенков, Клечов, Паул, Спиро, Џуглов, Андреја, Јани- псалтот, Ѓорги Ангелевски, мојте кумови- нарочито браќа Јановци и сите други пријатели.

Ваши: Атанас и Тодорка Попови. Битола 24 Ноември, 1981 год.

My teacher and dear friend Very Rev. Atanas K. Popov After the split in the church community in 1965 and the arrival of Father Atanas Popov, he became the target of all those who were against the Holy Synod. Their frustrations and dissatisfactions with the Holy Synod were directed towards the Very Rev. Atanas Popov. Father Popov was a person well read, an educated person, with three faculties behind him and the long extensive experience of his work more than qualified him to defend the honour of the Holy Synod and the Macedonian Church as a whole. A short time after his arrival he found himself under the anti-synod propaganda. Father Popov was capable of defending himself against all those who he faced, but how do you defend yourself from those who, during the late night hours, were making anonymous telephone calls with name calling, calling him Stalin and pretending to be the RCMP.

Many times Father Atanas told me that he knew why he had been visited by the RCMP and who sent them to him, by the questions asked. But he said that he knew how to answer because of his love for the church and love for all our people, it was not hard to answer the questions. Father Tanas was abundant with gifts, he was a serious and reputable man. When the city of East York was celebrating and Father Popov was asked to address the public at East York Square, I felt proud to listen to him. His sermons after the church services were interesting, full of tips and samples for a better Christian family life. He did not hate although there were some who disliked him because he defended the honour of his Holy Synod and the Church. It was a great honour to work with him, he was also my dear friend and teacher. Our friendship continued after he left Toronto. We maintained close contact through mail exchange. Father Atanas, after seven years of service at St. Clement of Ohrid Church, wanted to be informed of all events taking place in our church congregation.

In 1980, my wife Tsena and I visited Father Atanas in Bitola. When the time came to say goodbye, Father Atanas came to the train station to say goodbye to us. As the train started moving, Father Atanas ran along with it, unable to part with us. This is an image that will remain in our memories for as long as we are alive.

One of the many letters from Father Atanas Popov, dated March

8, 1972, Bitola Dear Jani, To You, and madam Tsena and your lovable children we're sending you brotherly and honest greetings from our homeland. Our memories are fresh of your love, attention and sincere cooperation working together for a mutual and useful work together during my stay in Canada.

The travel was easy and sometimes not so easy. It wasn't easy because we left behind us the better part of our lives in people like you. In tough times you were our spiritual wings, joy and moral support. On such topics all the time while in Skopje I discussed them with Mr. Bugleski who feed large and distinguished personally love tour you. He highlighted many positive things personally about you and wants to be in correspondence with you. (sorry, my typing mashing is new and I had difficulties to operate, this is why I'm skipping).

In Skopje I stayed 10 days and I got to see a lot of people who are competent and interested in the life of our immigrants in Canada. I'm telling you that you are generating a lot of attention and praise as an honest and up right in all. I was very proud because your work was also my work. Especially our discussions with his eminence about the general situation there and with joy and satisfaction were received my good suggestions.

We also made a review of the mistakes that has been made here last summer which were recognized that they did not had to hold on rotting thread but, that is in the past.

If you would have more time I would like to have regular correspondence with you and keeping in the flow of things. I have received my old position and now I'll have plenty of time for rest and light work. Write to me what interests you and I'll not be lazy to write to you. You also know that I have a part of my life and love left for our immigrants and its development, so therefore I am interested in the future development of our church life in general. Remind Father Teoharev if you have the time and tell him to answer me as soon as possible on my letter that I send him three weeks ago in regard for the last month pay for January. Do not forget to remind him. I am all set up and now I can welcome you as a true host. We have quite a place, and the house is in the centre of Bitola. Everywhere Pelisterski (mountain name) air blows and your sleep will be enjoyable. Once you decide to come with Cena and family my house will be yours. We have bought a car so you are also covered and you won't have any difficulties. This I'm suggesting to you with great pleasure and true brotherhood. We'll go to the lakes, will walk in the garden and breed fresh air with pleasant conversations and memories of Toronto, especially from you and madam Cena. I hope you are now fully recovered from the surgery you had and this is why I'm asking the last because I know you are all right. I will have written much more but for now as a greeting we will be satisfied with this.

Later we'll write to each other about certain and specific topics. At the end accept our cordial greetings an well wishers to you all with the hope to meet here or there. Cordial greetings to Mrs. Cena and the little beauties of mine.

Very Rev. Atanas Popov and Todorka.

John Givens, a Bazelovec?

Why was I called, by some members of the Board of Directors at St. Clement, a Bazelovec? Bazelovec meant anyone who was associated, in any way, with Mr. Spiro Bassil. I will simply say, when people have no good argument to contradict your ideas, perceive your actions and ideas as antagonistic towards their own way of thinking or they don't have a better idea, they tend to associate you with people who they consider to be their enemies.

Anybody who dared to differ was attacked by being called a Bazelovec. Where did I fit in all of this? I will try to answer the question. For starters, I must say that I had no ties to Uncle Spiro's political beliefs or political affiliations outside the Macedonian community. I'm categorically denying, whatsover, any political connections with Uncle Spiro. However, one possible reason that somebody could associate me with Uncle Spiro is the fact that we do come from the same village of Oshchima. Is this a good enough reason to associate me with Uncle Spiro? I will have to say, yes. Was this reason enough to be called a Bazelovec? Maybe not.

When it came to Macedonian national policies, definitely yes. I shared his ideas and dedication about the Macedonian cause. Uncle Spiro achieved many things during his lifetime. He was the main force that promoted and established the organization, the

"United Macedonians Canadian Committee" and later, through the United Macedonians Committee, came the invitation to the Macedonian Synod in Skopje, inviting the Macedonian Church to send a delegation in order to attend the Ilinden celebrations, at the Ilinden picnic, in Toronto. We owe our deepest gratitude to Uncle Spiro and others like him for having made this event happen.

The church delegation rejuvenated the Macedonian national consciousness in Canada.

Many of us may not have agreed with Uncle Spiro's political ideas, but when it came to the Macedonian cause, not many, if any, can equal his patriotism and the love of Macedonia and its people. This is why I do not hesitate to say to my critics, yes, you can associate me with Mr. Spiro Bassil. He always put the Macedonian cause before his party politics. Today, there is no one who can claim that Uncle Spiro brought up, at any given time, party politics in the United Macedonians organization. Uncle Spiro always tried to reason with his opposition. I am giving tribute to Uncle Spiro by submitting the document/letter that he sent to his Macedonian comrades in Australia that proves him to be a better patriot than most. He was a great Macedonian visionary, as no other!

Where I disagree with my critics is when people who are trying to pretend to be good Macedonians, through the name calling of others and with their lies, attempt to degrade others. I believe degrading others does not make you a better person or a better Macedonian. As far as I am concerned, my record speaks louder than words and is very clear regarding my activities in our national organizations in Canada. To say the least, I'm proud of the support I had received through my long years as an active participant in the Macedonian community, since I have served in all capacities in the United Macedonians and our Macedonian Orthodox Church St. Clement of Ohrid, in Toronto.

I had the honour to be elected treasurer of the United Macedonians Canadian Committee for 1964 and I was elected president of the United Macedonians Committee of Canada for 1965, replacing James Saunders. In 1970, I was elected president of the Joint Executive Board (Supreme) at the first International Convention of the United Macedonians of North America. I am also a founding member of the Macedonian Orthodox Church St. Clement of Ohrid, in Toronto. In 1964, when the board of directors was enlarged from five directors to eighteen, I was elected to the board of directors; the board that oversaw the construction of St. Clement of Ohrid, until the end of 1965. In September 1965, I was elected treasurer of the church for 1966. At the first church convocation of the American-Canadian Diocese, in 1970, in Toronto, I was elected member of the first board of the diocese (Upraven Odbor). In November, 1980, I was elected president of St. Clement of Ohrid Macedonian Orthodox Church for the years, 1981 and 1982. In 1983 I was elected delegate to the Diocese. On July 15 and 16, 1983, at the Macedonian Orthodox Church St. Peter and Paul, in Gary Indiana, at a regular election meeting of the American-Canadian Macedonian Orthodox Diocese, and in the presence of the head of the Macedonian Orthodox Church in Macedonia, His Eminence Archbishop Angelarii, I was elected vice-president of the Diocese, for 1984 - 1985.

Ilinden In Light of St. Clement's 1050 Anniversary Jubilee Dear Compatriots, More than 60 years are dividing us today from the 1903 Ilinden epic period and 1050 years from the death of our immortal educator and teacher, St. Clement of Ohrid. In 1903, a historic year for the Macedonian people, the fires of the Macedonian Uprising were ignited and the flags of battle flew high, calling attention to Europe and to the world that the Macedonian people were prepared to break the chains of five centuries of slavery with immovable determination, uncompromising calling out “Freedom or Death”, in order to gain their national freedom and to revive a life worth living.

More than sixty years have passed since historic Ilinden, when peaceful Macedonia became a bloody battlefield, when ordinary people picked up guns and hid behind shrubs and bushes, ready to ambush and retaliate against the Ottoman oppressors, tormenters and against the Bashibuzuk plunderers. Those Macedonians were seeking their freedom and human rights; rights that were sunk in darkness for five centuries of slavery and human suffering. The Macedonian people, at the dawn of today’s civilization, have contributed a great deal to their own development and in the foundation of their nation have incorporated the accomplishments and values from Clement’s holy culture and creative spirit.

In exactly the same Macedonia, while the curtain of history was being lifted on the European stage, Slavic literacy was born in Clement’s University; the same University which taught rich human culture and scientific thought and trained thousands of missionaries who then were sent off to propagate and bring progress to Eastern Europe.

This was part of the heritage of the Macedonian people and of their proud and glorious history. Unfortunately the wild waves of the Ottoman Empire flooded the fertile fields of Vardar, washed away the slopes of Pirin and poured down on the shores of the Aegean Sea, cutting off all growth and development in Macedonia and bringing war, death, violence, torment, persecution, jailing, burning of villages and towns and the worst form of slavery and nightmare known in the history of mankind. In those crucial pre-Ilinden days a giant, a true leader of the Macedonian people, founder of the National Liberation Movement, a tireless fighter was born. His name was Gotse Delchev. With the help of his companions, Delchev began to prepare for the National Liberation of all the people in Macedonia, working tirelessly to awaken the Macedonian consciousness, visiting all parts of Macedonia, organizing, directing and undertaking measures for specific actions. With his words and with a rifle in his hands he went off to prepare the Macedonian people for an uprising. In addition to fighting against the cruelty of Ottoman authority, Delchev also fought against the dark plans of the circle of ruling kings from the neighboring countries whose plans were to subjugate Macedonia. Their aim was to grab Macedonia for themselves. These land-grabbing Greater-Serbians, Greater-Bulgarians and Greater- Greeks wanted to grab Macedonia’s resources by denying the Macedonian nation its place on the map of the world and by wiping out the name “Macedonia”; a symbol of the Macedonian people’s historic right to freedom and independence.

Because Delchev was a faithful son of his people and an incorruptible freedom fighter, fighting for the Macedonian people’s national independence, he fell victim to the allied dark forces and to all those who did not want to see a free and independent Macedonia in the future. Delchev died from a bullet wound before his time, before he was able to ignite the flames of rebellion, before he was able to free the Macedonian people to whom he had dedicated his entire life. But the effort and bloodshed for that freedom during this Uprising has been cemented in the people’s future, a people who will never abandon what history had confirmed and what the generations had felt!

Despite the decision to start the uprising early, despite all attempts by Macedonia’s neighbours to turn the situation to their advantage, the first Ilinden rifle volley agreed with Delchev's ideas: “A free and independent Macedonia, which will not be freed from the Ottomans so that it will again fall into new slavery as prey to the appetites of the foreign hegemonies ruling Macedonia’s neighboring countries.

August 2nd, 1903 The world public was informed: “A people small in numbers but great in moral strength and consciousness, far inside the Balkans, has risen against centuries of oppression and has rebelled against an empire which has its tentacles spread over three continents.

Rebel bands all throughout Macedonia combined forces to form a single army. Rifles buried underground for safe-keeping were dug out and police stations and military barracks were attacked. Sabotage missions were organized with aims at destroying the imperial communications system. Fierce fighting began in the villages centre on the age-old towers which stood as guardians of feudal power. World telegraph and news agencies belonging to the various foreign consulates in Macedonia began reporting on the rapid progress of the insurgency. The rebellious Macedonian people triumphed when they freed the now famous town Krushevo.

Note: (Unlike in Krushevo, for example, where the insurgents suffered defeat after thirteen days of fighting and had to accept capitulation, the insurgents in Kostur Region fought a guerrilla war, ended only by a leadership decision. By October 14, 1903, when rebel General Headquarters decided to end all military action, the Kostur fighters had participated in 17 battles in which 4,170 rebels had clashed with 30,360 Ottoman soldiers. In that time 83 rebels and 513 Ottoman soldiers were killed. By the time the fighting ended 2,750 Macedonian homes had been burned down, which amounted to twenty-eight percent of the total number of houses in Kostur region. As a result of this 15,650 people were left homeless and 413 civilians were killed. They were killed in the countryside in retaliation by Ottoman forces.)

Krushevo was the first liberated Macedonian territory. This was the Macedonian people’s first hopes of seeing better days. Here Nikola Karev and the other Macedonian leaders declared Krushevo a Macedonian Republic and then went on to establish the first National government which unequivocally emphasized the goals of the uprising. There are no confessions of hatred or revenge in the historical Krushevo Manifesto, only political and moral maturity, statesmanlike and far seeing wisdom and deep human spirit.

Among other things written in the manifesto was the following: “Fellow townsmen and dear neighbors! We, your neighbors' and acquaintances in fair Krushevo and its smiling villages, without distinction of creed or nationality, being no longer able to bear the tyranny of the traitors, thirsting for blood and human flesh, who wish to reduce us to beggary and make our dear, rich land a wilderness, have today lifted up our heads and decided to defend ourselves with arms against these enemies of us and you. You know very well that we are not evil people, you understand that continual oppression has driven us to stake all on a bid to live like men or die like heroes! Having lived on this earth as brothers from the time of our ancestors, we consider you as on our side and wish to remain so till the end. We have not aimed our guns at you. That would have been an insult on our part. We have not taken arms against a peaceful, hardworking people who earn their bread by the sweat of their brows; you are our brothers with whom we have lived together in the past and shall do so in the future. We have not risen to kill, to burn your houses, steal and loot. We are not traitors, but revolutionaries sworn to die for justice and freedom. We are rebelling against tyranny and slavery, against traitors, against the violators of our honor and those who exploit our sweat and labor.” These words sounded like a hymn of understanding, of humanity, of goodwill between people in a genuine spirit of tolerance and cooperation; because all men are brothers and together they can bear the brunt of a struggle for human rights, freedom and human dignity.

Confirmation of that, unprecedented in history, was the invitation in the manifesto calling on the Turkish population: “We sympathize with you as brothers, for we understand that you are slaves like us, slaves of the kings and their lords, slaves of the aggressors and destroyers who set fire to our country on all sides and have forced us to make a stand for justice, freedom and a life fit for people. We invite you to take part in the struggle, too. Come, brother Muslims, and fight the common foe! Come under the banner of independent Macedonia. Come and break the chains of slavery that we may be saved from torture and suffering…” The Macedonian flag flew proudly in Krushevo for thirteen days boldly calling for freedom.

For thirteen days the eyes of the world were turned to the heroic struggle of the Macedonian rebels.

For thirteen days, ten camps of the regular Ottoman army, under the leadership of Bahtir Pasha, attacked the fortress of freedom, which eventually fell on a black Friday.

The number of defenders was small but their hearts were big as they took their positions on Mechkin Kamen where Pitu Guli’s notorious squad stood and faced the Imperial armies, which attacked many times and suffered many casualties. Guli’s squad heroically stood its ground and defended the city gates to the last drop of blood before it was invaded by the enemy.

When the last shot was fired, and when the last defender fell, the soil was soaked with blood and the sky was shrouded with dark clouds of sorrow. Even the Ottoman commanders felt the need to pay their last respects to the dead who fought like lions, saying that: “This is how heroes die!” But, unfortunately, after the death of the heroic Macedonian defenders, the enemy took revenge against everyone, not just against the rebels who took part in the rebellion, but also against the innocent Macedonian civilian population through revenge killings, murders, persecution and terror. It was cruelty with no end as the uprising was crushed in blood and fire. But the struggle of the Macedonian people continued: The covenant of Ilinden was not to forget, and the best sons of the Macedonian people, with rifle in hand, took to the mountains and fields of Macedonia and gave their lives for everyone’s freedom.

One of the most prominent figures of the time was the legendary Iane Sandanski from Pirin. Under the new circumstances Sandanski continued to fight for Macedonia’s liberation, following in the footsteps and ideals of Delchev. Then during the Balkan Wars, when for a short moment it seemed like the hour of freedom was upon us, he was greeted with disappointment when he looked into the face of reality and found out what was about to happen to Macedonia. After the end of the First World War, the map of this part of the world was changed; Macedonia was occupied and partitioned among three of its neighboring countries.

Not only was Macedonia partitioned, the identity of the Macedonian people was vigorously denied and the people were terrorized and forcibly pressured to become assimilated into the new folds, into becoming Greeks, Serbians and Bulgarians by force and by denial of their real Macedonian identity. It was not until the Second World War, when the Macedonian people fell under new enslavers, that they found new hope for freedom and the unification of all of Macedonia through a united struggle by all Macedonians. But unfortunately even after so many casualties, the desired hour, the hour of the unification of all the Macedonian people never came. Our enemies, the enemies of the Macedonian people, with all their might fought against our unification by exploiting our differences and as a result fulfilled their age-old political objectives to keep us apart and to deny us our identity and freedom.

Today, with great joy, we can say that more than twenty years have passed since one part of Macedonia, the Vardar (Serbian occupied) part, was liberated and the Macedonian people, as a nation, live free and are reaching new heights of success while keeping in mind that the other two parts (three with Albanian occupied Macedonia) are without freedom and without national and human rights. We here cherish our culture and must not let anyone abuse, misuse, or highjack it from us like it has been done in the past.

Allow me to also say that the Macedonian churches have been a vanguard of defense and have served as our religious and cultural centers, in which we drink from our pure Orthodox faith in our Macedonian mother language. With that we have something to say to our friends; we are proud of our culture and nation. Our churches here in our new homelands, all throughout the world, are also unifiers of all the Macedonian people who have migrated into the world from all corners of our ancient homeland.

And finally, it is our honor to bring you cordial greetings from our Priest the Very Reverend Atanas Popov and especially to your respected Priest the Very Reverend Spiridon Atanasovski.

Greetings and congratulations on your jubilee and may God be with us always.

Илинден во очите на 1050тата годишнина од Св.

Климентовиот јубилеј Драги сонародници, Повеќе од шеесет години не делат од оние епопејни дела во 1903, а и 1050 од смртта на бесмртниот наш просветител и учител Св. Климент Охридски. Во таа историска 1903 година, Македонскиот народ ги распламти огновите на востанието и ги разви знамињата на борбата, подвлекувајќи ја пред лицето на Европа, пред лицето на светската јавност својата непоколеблива решителност и волја да ги скрши синџирите на петвековното ропство, да ја извојува својата национална слобода и да заживее живот достоен за човекот, високо истакнувајќи го бескомпромисното: Слобода или Смрт.

Повеќе од шеесет години поминаа од оној историски Илинден, кога мирната македонска земја стана крваво разбоиште и секоја грмушка заседа и секој чувар пушка одмазничка, дигната против отоманските поробувачи, насилници и башибозлучки зулумкјари. А слободата потона во темнините на петвековното ропство и пак човечките правдини се задушија во морето на потплата и страданијата на еден народ, кој во зорите на денешната цивилизација ги даде своите придонеси за нејзиниот развиток и во нејзините темели ги вгради постиженијата и вредностите на својата Свето Климентова култура и својот творечки дух.