Macedonian Patriotic Organization

[Karposh]

The MPO of America is a funny one to really characterise properly or correctly. My personal take on it is that the organisation's leaders and coordinators were made up of Bulgarophiles but the people in general that the MPO was meant to be representing in America only had Macedonia in mind. “Bulgaria” wouldn't even have entered the minds of these people that the MPO leadership, no doubt, considered Bulgarian.

When you look at all the old newsreels from the time (1920's & 1930's) all you see is thousands of proud Macedonians participating in marches and parades and there is nothing to suggest any Bulgarian association. I've spent ages on many occasions trawling through those old newsreels on YouTube and not once did I ever come across a banner, a poster or a placard that had even one mention of the word Bulgaria or Bulgarian...Only Macedonia and Macedonians.

I suppose it wouldn't be out of place to suggest that the MPO was a Trojan horse among the Macedonians in America of that time. Knowing how proud Macedonians were of their heritage as Macedonians, these Bulgarophile agents that made up the MPO committees seized the opportunity to badge their organisation as “Macedonian” while clinging to the notion that the Macedonians are really Bulgarians and entrenched those beliefs within their organisation's constitution. In reality though, the newsreels of the time tell another story that is completely different.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bbQfNWfpj_0

[Niko777]

The MPO (or it's leaders) definitely became more Bulgarian after WWII.

[Liberator of Makedonija]

These days they claim to be an organisation for people from Macedonia irregardless of ethnic or national identification. I reckon it's just there way of distancing themselves from their clearly Bulgarophile past.

[vicsinad]

Well, the Macedonian-American People's League was founded in the US in 1930 specifically to fight against the MPO because they believed MPO was a weapon of Bulgaria (which it was). Many of the leaders of MPO were clearly Bulgarian in mentality and allegiance; however, the early years saw many who viewed Macedonians as simply Macedonian. From the 1990s to present day, MPO continues to invite Bulgarian politicians to its conventions, and many of their leaders see us "ethnic Macedonians" as brainwashed by Tito and/or the Serbs.

Here's a few snippets from my book that give some insights into the MPO and MAPL (there's a free pdf copy here: https://www.leagueofmacedonians.org/immigration) Chapters 9 and 10 give overviews of MPO and MAPL.

However, when MPO became incorporated the following week, its Board of Directors had a completely different view than Shkatroff on the Macedonian identity. Shkatroff was of the view that Macedonians were really either Bulgarians, Aromanians, Albanians or Greeks. The incorporation statement of the MPO, however, insisted that the purpose of their organization was “for the mutual assistance and protection of people of the Macedonian race.” The three Board Directors at the time were Theodore Vasiloff, Stanley Georgioff, and Gil Sarbinoff.815 These conflicting statements are a testament to the different beliefs and allegiances among the Macedonian members and leadership within the MPO.

In 1935, MAPL continued its fight against the MPO. During MPO’s 14th convention, MAPL circulated a statement accusing the MPO of misleading the Macedonian people, specifically stating that the MPO’s leaders did not represent “the heroic struggle of the Macedonian people for national liberty.” It further stated that “those Macedonians who are members of the Macedonian Political Organization are being misled; that their leaders are Macedonian fascist agents of Bulgarian imperialism and that two of its leaders, Peter Atseff, general secretary, and L. Dimitroff, editor of the Macedonian Tribune, were imported from fascist Bulgaria.” MAPL appealed to MPO members to “throw out of your ranks the fascist leaders and murderers of your brothers, friends and sisters and unite with us in a joint struggle against the tyrants of Macedonia.” Christo Nazimoff of the MPO, who was the official spokesmen of the organization, denied all charges and dismissed MAPL as a communist organization.

In 1934, a member of MAPL sent an anonymous letter to the editor of the Akron Beacon Journal shredding an anonymous letter sent earlier by a MPO member. The MPO member had written that the MPO and Mihailov’s IMRO were the true defenders of Macedonia and champions against communism. But this MAPL member said that it was IMRO (United) (the left wing IMRO faction) and MAPL that were Macedonians’ true defenders. He stated that the MPO was “neither strong, nor effective in scaring these Fascist governments, and furthermore, the parent organization of the MPO in Europe, the so-called ‘Interior Macedonian Revolutionary Organization’ under the leadership of Evan Mihailoff, is helping the Bulgarian King and his government kill Macedonian progressives … creating a misunderstanding in the Macedonian revolutionary movement.” He further stated that most Macedonians in America would deny that the MPO and Mihailov’s IMRO represent the Macedonians’ wishes, and that “the real fight against the governments and its helpers is undertaken by IMRO (United) in Macedonia itself and the Macedonian People’s League of United States and Canada.”

[vicsinad]

The MPO (or it's leaders) definitely became more Bulgarian after WWII.

Yeah, and there are a few reasons for that. One is that because many of those who viewed themselves as solely ethnic Macedonian left the organization between 1940 and 1960, leaving a higher concentration of Bulgarians and pro-Bulgarians.

Another reason is because of their politics. MPO was associated with Ivan Mihailov, who was in bed with Bulgaria's fascists. On top of that, Macedonians under Yugoslavia were considered communists, and MPO was strongly against communism.


My great-grandfather was with the MAPL in the 1930s and early 1940s and he was adamantly against the MPO because he viewed them, at that time, as a Bulgarian organization. I wish I had the opportunity to know him because I would have so many questions for him, as there is so little out there on the MAPL compared to the MPO.

[Karposh]

Thanks for that background information Vic. It's a real shame about the MPO. This really is a case of one bad apple spoiling the bunch (albeit, a few bad apples spoiled the bunch in this case).

[vicsinad]

It is a shame about the MPO. It's more of a shame that today the MPO hasn't turned toward being Macedonians. In my eyes, they're really no different than the Greek "Pan-Macedonian Association". Lost Macedonians.

[Liberator of Makedonija]

Really interesting stuff thank you.

[Carlin]

Check this out.

M.P.O. in the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and South America - "Macedonian History, Is There A Relationship Between the Macedonians of Alexander the Great and the Modern Bulgarians?" Published in the Macedonian Tribune ("Македонска трибуна"), issue 373, Indianapolis, USA, 1934.

"Старитѣ македонци на Александра велики, следъ като дошли римлянитѣ презъ 148 година преди Христа си останали да живѣятъ въ своитѣ земи. Римлянитѣ не сѫ измѣнили народностниятъ характеръ на старитѣ македонци. Къмъ 6 и 7 вѣкъ, когато сѫ дошли славянитѣ и после българитѣ, всички се слѣли съ мѣстното население. Въвъ връзка съ въпроса дали сегашнитѣ македонски българи иматъ родство съ старитѣ македонци на Александъръ професоръ Кацаровъ, единъ отъ най-добритѣ познавачи на древната македонска история, казва следното:

"Остатъкъ отъ стария македонски народъ се е претопилъ съ новитѣ пришълци, български славяни, загубилъ езика си, обаче частъ отъ неговитѣ телесни и духовни качества продължава да живѣе до днешни дни у неговитѣ потомци. Но ние нѣма да прекрачимъ границата на историческата обективностъ, ако изкажемъ мнението, че и духовнитѣ качества, които отличаватъ днешния македонски българинъ: храбростъ, издържливостъ, несъкрушима енергия, държавнически талантъ, високо развито национално чувство, сѫ отчасти старомакедонско наследство."

Споредъ горнитѣ думи на проф. Кацаровъ значи въ жилитѣ на сегашнитѣ македонски българи тече от части и кръвьта на древнитѣ македонци..."

"The ancient Macedonians of Alexander the Great, after the Romans came in 148 B.C., continued living in their own lands. The Romans did not alter the nationality of the ancient Macedonians. By the 6th and 7th centuries, when the Slavs came, and then the Bulgarians, they all merged with the local population. In connection with the question of whether the present Macedonian Bulgarians have a relationship with the old Macedonians of Alexander Prof. Katsarov, one of the best connoisseurs of ancient Macedonian history, he says:

"The remains of the old Macedonian people amalgmated with the newcomers, Bulgarian Slavs, lost their tongue, but part of their bodily and spiritual qualities continue to live up to the present day in their descendants but we can not cross the boundary of historical objectivity if we speak the opinion that the spiritual qualities that distinguish today's Macedonian Bulgarian: courage, endurance, immeasurable energy, state talent, highly developed national feeling, are parts of the Old Macedonian heritage. "

According to the above words of Prof. Katsarov, in the veins of the present Macedonian Bulgarians flows in part the blood of the ancient Macedonians..."

[Liberator of Makedonija]

You think from that it would have become quite clear to people who the MPO truly were.

[Niko777]

Another reason is because of their politics. MPO was associated with Ivan Mihailov, who was in bed with Bulgaria's fascists. On top of that, Macedonians under Yugoslavia were considered communists, and MPO was strongly against communism.

Yes, but I think Macedonians began to realize this after WWII. During the war he was regarded as an icon among the Macedonian diaspora, as a leader of a new generation of Macedonians that would liberate Macedonia.

Another point worth mentioning is the "Macedono-Bulgarian" label on their churches. One can argue that Macedonians were not satisfied with their churches only carrying the "Bulgarian" name, and by intervening they gained the right to add the prefix "Macedono" in exchange for their loyalty to the Bulgarian synod. I have also seen Canadian newspapers from the 20's (and one from the 60's) where they advertised themselves simply as a "Macedonian Orthodox Church". One has to ask would this not have offended the Bulgarians or pro-Bulgarian parishioners at that time?

[Liberator of Makedonija]

Yes, but I think Macedonians began to realize this after WWII. During the war he was regarded as an icon among the Macedonian diaspora, as a leader of a new generation of Macedonians that would liberate Macedonia.

Another point worth mentioning is the "Macedono-Bulgarian" label on their churches. One can argue that Macedonians were not satisfied with their churches only carrying the "Bulgarian" name, and by intervening they gained the right to add the prefix "Macedono" in exchange for their loyalty to the Bulgarian synod. I have also seen Canadian newspapers from the 20's (and one from the 60's) where they advertised themselves simply as a "Macedonian Orthodox Church". One has to ask would this not have offended the Bulgarians or pro-Bulgarian parishioners at that time?

Reckon you could dig up those articles for us?

[Carlin]

Thanks for that background information Vic. It's a real shame about the MPO. This really is a case of one bad apple spoiling the bunch (albeit, a few bad apples spoiled the bunch in this case).

Maybe unrelated to MPO, but I recently found the following on Macedonian television.

The YouTube URL for the video is here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xsm8IUcrkY0

FORWARD to minute 6:52 and start watching from there (basically from 6:52 until 7:45).

There is a letter/report from Met. Shatorov Sharlo dated May 1941 where he wrote (this is what the Macedonian historian is explaining in the video):

"Edna tretina vo Makedonija ima jasna Makedonska svest, edna tretina e so Bugarska nacionalna svest (i tie se recidivi od Ekzarhijata) ..... Edna tretina se uste ne se opredeleni, megjutoa, pretendiraat na kaj Makedonskoto cuvstvo ..."

("One third in Macedonia have a clear Macedonian identity, one third are with Bulgarian national identity .......... one third are still undecided, but leaning towards the Macedonian identity.")

[Amphipolis]

Another point worth mentioning is the "Macedono-Bulgarian" label on their churches. One can argue that Macedonians were not satisfied with their churches only carrying the "Bulgarian" name, and by intervening they gained the right to add the prefix "Macedono" in exchange for their loyalty to the Bulgarian synod. I have also seen Canadian newspapers from the 20's (and one from the 60's) where they advertised themselves simply as a "Macedonian Orthodox Church". One has to ask would this not have offended the Bulgarians or pro-Bulgarian parishioners at that time?

Bulgarian, Macedono-Bulgarian, Macedonian. Would there be any differences in these Churches except for the name (or the politics behind it)? What is/was the language?

[VMRO]

Well, the Macedonian-American People's League was founded in the US in 1930 specifically to fight against the MPO because they believed MPO was a weapon of Bulgaria (which it was). Many of the leaders of MPO were clearly Bulgarian in mentality and allegiance; however, the early years saw many who viewed Macedonians as simply Macedonian. From the 1990s to present day, MPO continues to invite Bulgarian politicians to its conventions, and many of their leaders see us "ethnic Macedonians" as brainwashed by Tito and/or the Serbs.

Here's a few snippets from my book that give some insights into the MPO and MAPL (there's a free pdf copy here: https://www.leagueofmacedonians.org/immigration) Chapters 9 and 10 give overviews of MPO and MAPL.

Vic is correct, MPO went through three different stages in their history, they became extremely Anti Macedonian during the time of Communist Yugoslavia.