Sunday mornings at the Cathedral of Saint Clement Ohrid The congregation gathers in the Church sanctuary There, traditional Byzantine frescoes on the ceiling and walls Depict the Birth, Life, Death and Resurrection of our Lord Jesus In whose memory the communion service is celebrated. Stand at the back, unobtrusively taking in the whole scene Inhale the wafting scent of incense and melting candles Observe the ...

Ilinden was the day chosen for the uprising of the people When, the Fathers of modern Macedonia With their brave compatriots Rose to throw off the Turkish yoke. Formed in the fire of revolution, self awareness as a nation Ilinden the forge, Macedonia the anvil, Freedom the hammer Macedonia for Macedonians was their rallying cry Of their resolve for independence, their martyrdom spoke. For a few historic days, the ...

Introduction; The master artist sets down his paint brush and steps back, satisfied It is the last brushstroke of the millions that precede this final act of applying his trade. With a sense of resignation he lowers boxes of paints and brushes, adhesives, gold leaf protractors and compasses along with a stool and benches, from the top of the scaffolding to the ground. He climbs down, how many times has he ascended ...

Oh! Brother poet Eloquent and gifted Macedonian You are dead, And from the grave no one is able to speak. Yet! You speak, your words come alive Whenever your poems are spoken Wherever your poems are read Here in this land, far away from Macedonia I have read what you have written. Oh, Soldier poet, when you died in the war I was a child nine years of age I would be unable to understand your sad poem “What are these ...

Every time I pass Niagara Street in Toronto’s west end a story my Father told me comes to mind. My Grandfather Tanas Radeff with some fellow villagers from Ohschima had come to Canada from Macedonia in1898 looking for work. They had not come to stay but to sojourn for a few years then to return, hoping to buy a farm or build a bigger house with what money they saved. When my Grandfather returned to Macedonia at the ...

Dear patriotic spirit and Mother of the people Many children emigrated from you with deep regrets To their new lands, languages and hope No matter distance; it`s Mother no child ever forgets. With song you nourish your peoples soul As when you sang at Ilinden That day the Narod rose up to say We are not Bulgars, Greek or Serb, we are Macedonian Mother Macedonia sweet singer of song Please sing us a song for today ...

Macedonians of today are proud of their heritage Especially the role of women in keeping language alive During a violent century, it was the Macedonian speaking home That held together the Macedonians as a distinct people Who held the people together? She who was the preserver of the Macedonian language The teacher is honoured by the child`s first word “Majka” Words to infants are seeds planted, which grow to become ...

Red Egg Day was the name given by the neighborhood boys for the observance of Easter Sunday by the local Macedonian Orthodox community. Our neighborhood was located in the Cabbagetown area of Toronto around Saint Georges Macedonian Church on Regent Street. I lived four doors east of the Church on Sutton Avenue. My Father was an immigrant from Macedonia and my Mother an Irish immigrant. I grew up enjoying both ...

Seeking freedom, patriots rose and fell in the Ilinden uprising Turks holocaust two hundred villages, rampant revenge stalked the land. Unlikely allies, Bulgars, Greeks and Serbs drive out the Ottomans The partitioning of Macedonia, was their Balkan war prize demand. A night of gloomy darkness falls over Europe's power struggles Ilinden, Balkan, World and Civil wars, repeatedly Macedonia is overrun. Sunrise ...

Robed Macedonian priest Swinging smoking censer, heavy incensed air Harmonic and familiar, two part Macedonian Orthodox funeral song. We are gathered to lie to rest Cousin Sophie Who lived well and lived long. Born in Oshchima, Macedonia Land of her Fathers Rich in history and Christian culture Leaving the Balkans to which turmoil relates. To Canada and a new life with promise This young girl and family did ...