A nice little article in the Herald Times Online.
By Mona Robinson
February 8, 2010
Until it declared independence in 1992, Macedonia was a republic of Yugoslavia. Because of this, you should refer back to information on Yugoslavia in the online column of Sept. 13, 2009.
Macedonia is a small country in southeastern Europe that abuts Greece. Greece has long considered Macedonia to be Greek, although their languages are not the same. In fact, they differ completely. The language of Macedonia is most likely Indo-European. Macedonia was not and never was Greek. Actually, early Greeks considered Macedonians to be barbaric. Slavonic place-names in Macedonia suggest that Slavonic tribes lived in the Peloponnese in early times, and the Macedonians also probably came in early times.
Macedonia actually subjugated the Greeks, although they treated Greeks slightly better than other countries they conquered. Alexander the Great was a Macedonian who revered Greek learning but always called himself Macedonian. Ptolmy I, king of Egypt, also was Macedonian.
Macedonia’s ancient territories included areas of Bulgaria and Greece, and it has always been the victim of warring nations. At various times in its long history it has been under the control of Romans, Byzantines, Goths, Huns, Slavs, Bulgarians and Turks. In more recent times Bulgaria, Greece and Serbia have all laid claim to the Macedonian area.
After the two Balkan wars of 1912 and 1913, the Treaty of Bucharest awarded a small part of Macedonia to Bulgaria and divided the rest between Greece and Yugoslavia, more or less along the present boundary lines. In World War II, Bulgaria occupied all of the Macedonian area, but a peace treaty in 1947 restored the original boundaries between the three countries. The capital city of Macedonia is Skopje.
Religions of Macedonia: Macedonia is mainly Orthodox Christian, but there is also a very large Muslim minority.
Language: Although Macedonia was part of Yugoslavia until recently; the Macedonians do not speak Serbo-Croatian but have their own separate language. There are more than 400,00 Albanians in Macedonia.
The National Archives of Macedonia are in Skopje at Kej Dimitar Vlahov, 91001 Skopje. The addresses of the various historical archives are the following: Moskovska 1, 91000 Skopje; Bulevar 1 maja 55, 97000 Bitola; Mose Pijade 134, 97500 Prilep; 27 Marta 2, 92400 Strumica; Cvetan Dimitrov 1, 91220 Tetovo; Nicola Karev 1, 97300 Ohrid; Sane Georgiev 35, 92400 Stip; Goce Delcdv 25, 91300 Kumanova; and Marsala Tita 53, 91400 Titov Veles.
The country has no central office for vital records. To obtain copies of birth, marriage and death certificates, write to the Civil Registration District Office in the town where the event occurred. Vital records are on file only from 1946. Prior to May 19, 1946, the Orthodox church authorities maintained these records. Only civil marriages have been legal since that date.
The Orthodox church continues to issue birth and marriage certificates, but these are not legal until the event is recorded with the appropriate registrar’s office. Copies of divorce judgments are available from the municipal court that decided the case.
For additional assistance contact Embassy of Macedonia, 2129 Wyoming Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20008.
By Mona Robinson
February 8, 2010
Until it declared independence in 1992, Macedonia was a republic of Yugoslavia. Because of this, you should refer back to information on Yugoslavia in the online column of Sept. 13, 2009.
Macedonia is a small country in southeastern Europe that abuts Greece. Greece has long considered Macedonia to be Greek, although their languages are not the same. In fact, they differ completely. The language of Macedonia is most likely Indo-European. Macedonia was not and never was Greek. Actually, early Greeks considered Macedonians to be barbaric. Slavonic place-names in Macedonia suggest that Slavonic tribes lived in the Peloponnese in early times, and the Macedonians also probably came in early times.
Macedonia actually subjugated the Greeks, although they treated Greeks slightly better than other countries they conquered. Alexander the Great was a Macedonian who revered Greek learning but always called himself Macedonian. Ptolmy I, king of Egypt, also was Macedonian.
Macedonia’s ancient territories included areas of Bulgaria and Greece, and it has always been the victim of warring nations. At various times in its long history it has been under the control of Romans, Byzantines, Goths, Huns, Slavs, Bulgarians and Turks. In more recent times Bulgaria, Greece and Serbia have all laid claim to the Macedonian area.
After the two Balkan wars of 1912 and 1913, the Treaty of Bucharest awarded a small part of Macedonia to Bulgaria and divided the rest between Greece and Yugoslavia, more or less along the present boundary lines. In World War II, Bulgaria occupied all of the Macedonian area, but a peace treaty in 1947 restored the original boundaries between the three countries. The capital city of Macedonia is Skopje.
Religions of Macedonia: Macedonia is mainly Orthodox Christian, but there is also a very large Muslim minority.
Language: Although Macedonia was part of Yugoslavia until recently; the Macedonians do not speak Serbo-Croatian but have their own separate language. There are more than 400,00 Albanians in Macedonia.
The National Archives of Macedonia are in Skopje at Kej Dimitar Vlahov, 91001 Skopje. The addresses of the various historical archives are the following: Moskovska 1, 91000 Skopje; Bulevar 1 maja 55, 97000 Bitola; Mose Pijade 134, 97500 Prilep; 27 Marta 2, 92400 Strumica; Cvetan Dimitrov 1, 91220 Tetovo; Nicola Karev 1, 97300 Ohrid; Sane Georgiev 35, 92400 Stip; Goce Delcdv 25, 91300 Kumanova; and Marsala Tita 53, 91400 Titov Veles.
The country has no central office for vital records. To obtain copies of birth, marriage and death certificates, write to the Civil Registration District Office in the town where the event occurred. Vital records are on file only from 1946. Prior to May 19, 1946, the Orthodox church authorities maintained these records. Only civil marriages have been legal since that date.
The Orthodox church continues to issue birth and marriage certificates, but these are not legal until the event is recorded with the appropriate registrar’s office. Copies of divorce judgments are available from the municipal court that decided the case.
For additional assistance contact Embassy of Macedonia, 2129 Wyoming Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20008.
Comment