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MILS: News from the FYROM, 97-05-05Macedonian Information Liaison Service Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: "Macedonian Information Liaison Service" <mils@mils.spic.org.mk>CONTENTS
MILS SUPPLEMENTMILS NEWSSkopje, 05 May, 1997[01] `TAT' BANKING SCANDAL: `CIVIC RESISTANCE INITIATED'At the symbolic time of `five minutes to twelve' the second protest meeting against bank client restitution measures outlined by the Macedonian Government has been staged at Bitola last Saturday. Bitola bank clients - headed by the corresponding National Association and the Association of the ruined `TAT' bank - were joined by a larger number of clients of the `ALFA- S' and `Lavci' banks and several hundred laid-off workers. `Nova Makedonija' reports that the meeting has been directed against the draft-bill passed by the Government, has been marked by the announcement that initially all deceived parties are to stop paying tax, community utility fees and other public charges. Later steps of `civic resistance' would mirror Government action. Speakers have also asked `TAT' owner Sonja Nikolovska to publicize the names of current Government members involved in the scandal in any way by the end of this day. This appeal and the deadline extended to Nikolovska has been brought about by talks between her and client representatives, and by the promise that the court hearing would begin on 5th May, when she would submit a list with the names of all personalities involved in the scandal. It has also been announced during the meeting that the encounter between client representatives, the Mayor of Bitola Siljan Micevski and Bitola MPs of the SDSM yielded the consensus to request a meeting with PM Branko Crvenkovski, in order to remind him of the publicly made promises on just client restitution and the detecting of all guilty sides in the banking scandals.Speakers also announced that unless the Government accepted the proposals of the bank clients and the draft- bill became reality all meetings - according to Bank Clients' Association Chairperson Ilija Nevenovski - would be suspended and clients would become the Government's `worst nightmare.' `Nova Makedonija' further informs that the meeting has been attended by five to six thousand citizens carrying many slogans. Their contents mainly indicated the extreme poverty affecting ten thousands of families, following a series of banking scandals i.e. the bankruptcy of several banks in the country. [02] CONGRATULATIONS TO GLIGOROV ON HIS 80TH BIRTHDAYMacedonian Head of State Kiro Gligorov received several congratulatory messages on his 80th birthday last Sunday, by eminent foreign statesmen, and individuals and organisations from Macedonia and abroad - `Nova Makedonija' reports. Thus the President of the Russian Federation Boris Yeltsin extended his best wishes for good health and a long life, while stressing that Russia held the great experience and authority of Gligorov as a statesman and politician in high esteem.French President Jacques Chiraques used the opportunity to repeat French commitment to strengthen bilateral relations and cooperation, as well as French support to further relations between the EU and Macedonia. German President Roman Hertzog stresses that his country monitored the peaceful and stable evolution of the Republic of Macedonia - which is inextricably linked to the person of President Gligorov - with a great deal of gratitude and respect. The congratulatory note of German Foreign Secretary Klaus Kinckel underlined the personal sacrifices made by President Gligorov for the development of the country and the maintaining of stability in SE Europe. On behalf of the EU congratulations were forwarded by Commission Chairman Jacques Santerre and Commissioner Hans Van Der Bruck, who expressed their sincere hopes that the endeavours made by Kiro Gligorov will be conducive to the successful integration of Macedonia into the European family - and to peace and stability in the region. [03] PRESIDENT GLIGOROV REFUSED TO MEET SERBIAN PRESIDENT MILOSHEVIKJ RECENTLY`Dnevnik' reports that some ten days ago Macedonian Head of State Kiro Gligorov refused to meet Serbian President Slobodan Miloshevikj. The invitation extended by Miloshevikj made provisions for a meeting towards the end of April, upon the return of Miloshevikj from Athens.Ljubljana-based periodical `Delo' informs that the reply to this offer had been negative as President Gligorov had been suffering of a cold. In the opinion of Belgrade TV station `BK' the true reason for such a rejection is the fact that Macedonia is discontent as the common border has not been demarcated yet, the autocephaly of the OCM has not been recognized either and the `flu' due to which Miloshevikj had to cancel the scheduled meeting in Skopje. Belgrade weekly `NIN' reports in this context that this epidemic initiated the dive of Serb-Macedonian relations. Another reason are results are achieved so far at two previous meetings, during which President Gligorov had declined the proposal to consider a Serb-Macedonian Union. According to `NIN' the public refusal of Macedonia's political leadership to meet with official Belgrade embodies one more piece of evidence that Miloshevikj's days as a politician are counted - both on the domestic and international scene. [04] NO OPTIMISM IN TERMS OF BULGARIAN-MACEDONIAN RELATIONSBulgarian President Petar Stoyanov - who has defined his country's aspirations to Macedonia by denoting it the most romantic part of Bulgarian history - denies the existence of a Macedonian minority in Bulgaria, not inspiring any optimism in terms of a speedy normalization of relations between Bulgaria and Macedonia... according to a press release issued by the Macedonian National Council.`Dnevnik' reports that this body stressed the necessity for Bulgarian Government structures to exhibit a greater dose of realism while approaching this issue, and to encourage processes leading to the recognition and promotion of the national rights of Macedonians in Bulgaria, as their national awareness may not be stifled through denial or police intervention. These days MAAK-CP also addressed an open letter to Bulgarian President Stoyanov, which emphasizes that there are over 2 million Macedonians in Bulgaria, who need little encouragement to publicly state their national sense of identity and affiliation. `We are assuring you that this process will not be impeded by either repression or romanticist statements. It can only be conducive to the further development of bilateral relations', the letter states. [05] RADIO TIRANA: `DISCRIMINATION OF ALBANIAN CULTURE IN MACEDONIA'Upon quoting its Tetovo correspondent, Radio Tirana reported in its broadcast `On Pan-Albanian Regions' that Macedonian authorities have not only stepped up violence against Albanian political activists, but also started to use force to prevent the staging of cultural events. This statement is being supported by the fact that Albanians are not in the position to organise cultural events at Kumanovo, Gostivar and Kichevo due to `loyal Macedonian despotism'. Thus, it is being informed, an Albanian- language poetry meeting ended one day sooner than planned at Kumanovo, in favour of a request submitted by the Church and the local Government. At Gostivar the fact that not one cultural event had been held at the Culture Centre so far is attributed to the Director, and in Kichevo premises are being occupied by the props for a play to be performed by a Macedonian company.[06] DPM: `SOME OTHER LAWS' AT TETOVO AND GOSTIVARThe intentional ignoring of Easter (also a state holiday) at the Tetovo and Gostivar region, generated understandable revoltedness among the Macedonian population of the country's west. The population there is deeply disappointed by the self-conceit of local politicians, the DPM claims in its press release, adding that on International Labour Day the Albanian and Turkish flag were also hoisted next to the Macedonian one - concordant to decisions passed by the Mayors of Tetovo and Gostivar. Thus, following this latest provocation by Tetovo Mayor Alaydin Demiri, the DPM Municipal Council faction is to consider abandoning this body. The release states that `some different laws appear to be binding for these areas, those passed by Roufi Osmany and Alaydin Demiri who continue to violate legislation in a most provocative manner by passing decisions on the use of minority flags. To these autocrats the meaning of the Justice Dept. seems not to possess any substance, in spite of the fact that it has been clearly indicated that until a new package of legal provisions is enacted the only national flag to be used by minorities in the country on public occasions is that of the Republic of Macedonia.'[07] EMBASSY OF LOCAL DEMOCRACY OPENED IN OHRIDLast Saturday the Embassy of Local Democracy has been opened at the Red Cross building at Ohrid. MTV reports that the opening hosted by the city fathers has been attended by a large number of guests of the Congress On Local and Regional Government within the Council of Europe, as well as by mayors or their representatives of the cities of Versoi (Switzerland), Cardica (Greece), Pendle (England), Pira (Slovenia), etc. In the opinion of Municipal Council Chairman Lambe Arnaudov, the Embassy is to make a substantial contribution to the development of democratic procedures on a local level and to encourage the evolving of objective and impartial journalism / informing. It is also to further the inter-municipal cooperation between Ohrid and its surroundings, inter- border cooperation with neighbouring municipalities in Greece and Albania, the sustaining of ecological projects of common trans-national interest and the upholding and nurturing of human rights and liberties.Gianfranco Martini, a representative of the Congress On Local and Regional Government within the Council of Europe, stated that he expected the support of official Macedonian authorities for the Embassy in order to facilitate the achieving of its objectives. [08] REMEMBERING THE GREAT DEEDS OF GOCE DELCHEVYesterday several manifestations have taken place in remembrance and honour of Goce Delchev and his struggle for the liberation of the Macedonian people during the Ilinden era. In this context a delegation headed by Deputy Parliamentary Chairman Blagoja Filipovski laid down flowers at his grave, accompanied by representatives of the Armed Forces of Macedonia, the city authorities of Skopje, Delchevo, Struga, Tetovo and the IMRO-Independent of Bulgaria. Others to pay tribute to the Macedonian revolutionary included delegations of the Associations of Macedonians of the Aegean region of Macedonia, the City Council of the Veterans' Association and representatives of numerous organisations and state institutions.In addition to this, the `Goce Delchev Award' ceremony for 1997 was held at the Macedonian Parliament. This year's recipients include Dr. Iliya Vaskov, a Reader at the Faculty of Dental Medicine of Skopje for his monograph `The Roentgen Atlas of Maxilofacial Regia Disorders'; Dr. Gjorgji Zdravev, a Consultant at the Institute of Old Slavic Culture of Prilep for his monograph `Macedonian Folk Songs' and Dr. Vladimir Ortakovski of the Faculty of Security (=Police Academy) of Skopje for his book `The International Position of Minorities'. [09] `OCM' VISITING THE USA AND CANADAHis Holiness, the Archbishop of Ohrid and Macedonia, the Reverend Mihail is to visit the US-Canadian Orthodox Diocese between 1st and 15th May - Macedonian media report. During his stay in New York and New Jersey the Reverend Mihail is to hold festive archiepiscopal mass and meet representatives of the Religious Community Management Boards and Orthodox worshippers in the US and Canada. In Toronto the OCM Head is to bless the `St. Iliya' Church.MILS SUPPLEMENT[10] `Local Miracles - Global Cults'(`Vecher' - 30th April & 1st, 2nd and 3rd May 1997)There are more miracles and blessings than stars up in heavens... St. Naum has yoked a bear in his plough, St. Prohor of Pchijna has prophesied the future Byzantine Emperor, St. Gabriel of Lesnovo transformed sorrow into joy, St. Ilaryon of Meglen - who sang angelic hymns ate the age of three - filled grain storages by praying... Their miraculous powers did not wither away with the end of their earthly existence, and in many cases their unfathomable belief in Christ have kept them from forsaking their Saviour and submitting to the temptations of the Cunning one. `One cannot speak of a set number of Macedonian saints. There are undoubtedly many of them, but who are they? Especially large is the number of those undergoing martyrdom for Christ during Ottoman rule, whose lives have never been written down', states Dr. Marko Kitevski - who in his most recent book `Macedonian Popular Tradition and Customs' dwells on the biography of 26 saints of whom it is believed that they have originated from this region. All of them are known throughout the country and wider - i.e. their cult has since long transcended the bounds of their place of birth or activity. The basic criterion for a mortal to be proclaimed a saint, to be crowned with a halo and secure a place in God's kingdom among the angels, are his earthly deeds. `Usually the act of clerical canonization would be preceded by the population's proclaiming them saints or blessed ones, so that the rest remains a mere formality. A Commission within the Synod is formed to examine the traits of a saint's life which is eventually canonized through a decision passed by this highest clerical structure. Saints are usually such Christian worshippers of whom it is known that they have been the focal point of the most various miracles and `gestes' (`heroic deeds') during their lifetime, while after their passing away miracles occur near their graves - or they appear to people in their sleep. Their mortal remains - relics - do not decay for a very long time after their death, they remain whole and also generate the occurring of many miraculous phenomena which can only be attributed to their sacred power', says father Metodija Lazarevski. The gestes or miracles which - concordant to tradition - accompanied the earthly sojourn of these mediators between divine will and the worshippers, have always been a strong motive to fortify faith into Christ's teaching and a role- model for its disciples. Part of them remain well-known even nowadays, thanks to most various forms of popular tradition, along with the belief that saints are still present among us, to aid those who honestly believe in them with their super-natural power or to punish those tempting them. Among the 26 short hagiographies contained in this book by Dr. Kitevski, are the lives of the first pan-Slavonic educators: St. Cyril, St. Methodius, St. Clement and St. Naum - the miracle workers of Ohrid); then the hermits (St. Prohor of Pchinja, St. Gabriel of Lesnovo and St. Joakim of Osogovo); the heresy fighters (St. Ilaryon of Meglen); the martyrs (St. Zlata of Meglen, St. George of Kratovo, St. Spase of Radovish; the priest-martyrs (the 15 of Tiberiopolis), etc. But bearing in mind the long and abundant Christian tradition in Macedonia at the same time, it can undoubtedly be said that - in addition to those of which there is no testimony surviving time - almost all known kinds and ranks of sainthood were encountered in this area (e.g. martyrdom, charity, ...). Among those numerous miracles which re part of the aura of these people, records account how St. Cyril located the relics of the Roman Pope Clement I. in the depths of the sea after they had appeared to him in a dream. Legend has it that whenever some ill fate lay in store for Ohrid, the spirit of St. Clement would appear and save the city from suffering. The miracle worker of Ohrid - St. Naum - remains in the memory of the people for his power to heal the sick during his lifetime and afterwards. Thus his monastery has represented a place of pilgrimage over the past ten centuries, visited by people from many places seeking remedy or comfort. It is believed that not only his relics rest at the monastery, but also his spirit. Therefore visitors also include Christians from Turkey, Albania and other countries. The hermit St. Prohor of Pchinja has spent 32 years in isolation - dedicating his life to God. He fed of cabbage and roots, spent his days in fasting and praying in the scorching summer heat and freezing winters - accompanied only by wild beasts. After his death, in his cave on Mount Kozjak (near the Pchinja river) he appeared to the Byzantine Emperor Diogenes I. (to which he had prophesied his reign before) in his dreams, summoning him to the rest place in the cave. There the saint's body was found, and legend has it that the imperial escort could only carry his earthly remains as far as the point where the monastery `Sveti Prohor Pchinjski' stands today. Similar legends exist with respect to the lives of St. Gabriel of Lesnovo and St. Joakim of Osogovo. The former was known for having cured many people from different diseases and rabies. He has spent 30 years as a hermit in a cave called `Oblov Vrv' (`Oblov Peak'), where he also died. His relics were also found after he had appeared to Joseph the Russian in his dreams. Eventually they were carried to the monastery of Lesnovo. St. Joakim of Osogovo began his ascetic life at the village of Gradec (the Osogovo area) and continued and ended it at Babin Dol near the Skandaporska river. Records state that a cornerstone has been set up at this site fifty years after his death, which carried the monastery dedicated to him. St. Ilaryon - the Bishop of Meglen appointed due to `the will of the Lord' - fought against heresy which appeared to gain momentum at that time (12th century). Miracles occurred at his grave, which resulted in its opening and the transfer of his relics to the church. According to records once the grave had been opened ointment was seen to flow out his eyes in streams, which served as the cure to many ailments. The holy martyrs St. Zlata of Meglen, St. Spase of Radovish and St. George of Kratovo embody the resistance to Ottoman rule and the preservation of Orthodox Christian faith. Subjected to most savage torture, beaten, whipped while hung upside down, St. Zlata even endured the tearing of strips of skin form her flesh. When even this kind of torture did not result in her conversion to the Islam the Turks cut her up with their swords and threw the pieces of her body into the Meglenica. Due to the same reasons Sveti Spase (Atanas) of Radovish ended up executed. As was the case with the bare- faced 18-year-old boy named George of Kratovo, who has become known as the patron-saint of goldsmiths and jewelers. The Bitola region prides itself with fathering forth Nectarius, who served at the monastery dedicated to the holy prophets Kuzman and Damjan and then went to Sveta Gora (the `meteor region') in Greece. Several miracles have been tied to the life of this saint, such as the inexplicable filling of the monastery cellar with aromatic wine, or the wonderful scent surrounding his relics upon the opening of his grave (five years after his death in his monastery cell in Greece). The perhaps oldest saints from this region are the 15 priests of Tiberiopolis. One of them, Theodore, had attended the first session of the Synod at Nikeya in 325 A.D. While fleeing from the horrible anti-Christian prosecution at Nikeya he and Archbishop Timothy and the brethren Comassius and Eusebius reached Tiberiopolis (Strumica), where they were joined by the local priests Peter, John, Serge, Nikiphoros and Theodore, the abbots Vassiliy and Thomas and brethren Jeroteus, Charitonos, Danail and the healer Socrates. All of them were apprehended and executed for spreading Christianity in 362 A.D. The people visited their grave at Bregalnica to seek help from their relics. Belief has it that barren women would conceive after seeing their grave, and paralyzed or mutilated people would walk again, mute would regain the power of speech, etc. even nowadays the Orthodox people of Macedonia remember the miracles and gestes of saints, and these 26 studied by Dr. Marko Kitevski have their own holidays within the Orthodox church calendar. Thus St. Naum is being remembered on 5th January, St. Prohor of Pchinja on 28th January, St. Gabriel of Lesnovo on 24th February, St. George of Kratovo on 24th May, Ss. Cyril and Methodius on 29th August, St. Joakim of Osogovo on 21st August and St. Spase of Radovish on 11th September; St. Zlata of Meglen on 26th October, St. Ilaryon of Megla on 3rd November, St. Clement of Ohrid on 8th December, the 15 Saints of Tiberiopolis on 11th December and St. Nectarius of Bitola on 18th December. It would certainly make no sense whatsoever to attempt to determine the national origin of these and many other Christian saints, as nowadays they are being adopted by several Balkan Orthodox churches and their relics - should they be preserved - have been kept at several sites at their `last place of rest'. What is important is that they inspired a living cult in Macedonia, and as Dr. Ilija Velev has put it in his `St. Gabriel of Lesnovo in Literary Tradition' one should not entertain any pretentious views with regards to this subject as `one will inevitably lose orientation in the fog of medieval absurdity. (end)mils news 05 May 1997Macedonian Information Liaison Service Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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