The LOMA Weekly Herald Volume 1 Issue 8

The League of Macedonian-Americans
Volume 1, Issue 8
6/14/2015
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
4. Which American author wrote the following in his recent
IN THIS ISSUE:
book on Alexander the Great: The Macedonian nobility
might study Greek philosophy and recite the poetry of
Recap of the Week...............1
Homer, but the common Macedonian solider was proud not
Next Weeks Goals...............1
to be Greek. Philip Freeman
Test Your Knowledge.............1
5. Which duet is known for the song Bratski Da Se Splotime
Did You Know?...................2
(Nie Sme Makedonci)? Selimova-Zelchevski
Crossword.......................2
Explore Macedonia.............2-3
Narodna Song of the Week......4-5
Book Review...................5-6
Book Club.......................6
Weekly Satire.................6-7
Quotes about Macedonia..........7
News from Macedonia.............7
Recap of the Week
Increased membership and online

presence, particularly on Facebook
Added a Book Review section
Began book club initiative
Next Weeks Goals and Projects
Increase online presence

Continue planning and implementing
new initiatives and plans
Advocate for farmers markets and book
club initiatives
Watch news for use of FYROM and Slav
Test Your Knowledge about

Macedonia!
Last weeks answers:
1. I was born in the village Kozica, Macedonia in the year
1870. I died in 1903 in the Illinden Uprising. There are
several songs about me. Who am I? Jordan SiljanovPiperkata
2. Thousands of Macedonians emigrated to this city in
Illinois in the late 1890s and early 1900s, with many living in
the section of the city known as Hungary Hollow. Granite
City
3. What was the name of the court case of 1912 and 1913 in
the state of Minnesota, in which the plaintiff won and the
judge stated the plaintiff was Macedonian? Vaneff v. Great
Northern Railway Company
This weeks questions:

1. What is the name of the historic site, located
just 12 miles southeast of Skopje, where the
Byzantine Emperor Justinian I was born?
2. Why does Radika River in Macedonia have a
strong green color to it?
3. In what country in the 1940s were the
Macedonians not allowed to enter cities in order
to sell their produce or buy produce?
4. What color peppers are the most widely
grown in Macedonia: green, red, or yellow?
5. Bitolchanka is recently composed folksong
by which female Macedonian artist?
You know that LOMA stands for the League of

Macedonian-Americans and that it is based out of the
United States. But did you know that Crna Loma is
the name of a mountain situated 5 miles south of
Skopje just outside of the village Osinchani? The
name of the mountain likely means black fractures
or black ruins and also goes by the name Ilina
Gora. Several historical artifacts around the mountain
have been found -- some of which are nearly 10,000
years old that include ancient Macedonian language
inscriptions and Macedonian symbols, such as the
Macedonian sun.
Interested in joining LOMA? Do you have ideas to share or a project you want to work on? Or do you want
to contribute an article or section to The Loma Weekly Herald? Contact us at
leagueofmacedonians@yahoo.com and visit our website at www.leagueofmacedonians.com.
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Volume 1, Issue 8
6/14/2015
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Explore Macedonia -- Perovo

Macedonian Crossword
Perovo is located in the southwest of
Macedonia. It resides in the region known as
Prespa. In 2011 I was fortunate enough to spend
3 months there. Perovo has two parts, Dolno
and Gorno Perovo. The village also has two
main roads that the residents use. The two
pictures included show the main road going
North and South. The views were outstanding
with mountain ranges surrounding the village.
One of the best views in the village was being
able to see The Cross in Podmocani from the
main road.
1
2
3
7
8
10
Across
3. /povtoruva
6. /omrazen
7. /povekje
8. /seriozna
10. /vkusni
Down
1. /so
2. /pred
4. /mirno
5. /sudbina
9. /ushte
The Alphabet as a Helping Tool

=a
=e
=k
=o
=u
= sh
=b
= zh
=l
=p
=f
=v
=z
= lj
P=r
X=h
=g =d
= dz = I
= m = n
C=s T=t
= ts = ch
= gj
=j
= nj
= kj
=dzh
Coming from urban America to Perovo the

difference was stark, but refreshing. The village
had its own prodavncia from which the local
residents were able to purchase bread, cheese
and other basic foods. In addition to the local
prodavncia, there was a bread and meat
salesman that would come through the village
asking residents who needed what something
that is unheard of in America. Additionally,
many locals had their own farms that they used
for self-sustinence. My family also had an apple
farm, which was outstanding. In conclusion, the
experience of living in the village is something
every American-Macedonian should experience.
It provides a great insight as to how our
relatives live and how our ancestors used to live.
We encourage you to send in your own stories,
pictures and share with us! It doesn't have to be
much, but something that's important to you.
Thanks for reading!
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Volume 1, Issue 8
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Volume 1, Issue 8
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Narodna Song of the Week

This weeks song is Esen Dojde (Autumn Came).
Gjorgji Andreevski and Jordanka Kuculova have
a great version of his feel-good song. The lyrics
in English are as follows:
Autumn came in our city and the soldiers are
leaving with the army; my sweetheart went
with them, far away to some unknown city.
I was left alone to sit and wait until next year;
tears upon tears flowing like a stream, breath
after breath blowing like the howling wind.
Autumn came in our city, the soldiers were
returning from the army; my sweetheart came
with them, from some unknown city far away.
I went to go wait for him, and I welcomed him
and held him tightly; smile after smile the sun
began to shine, kiss after kiss a song emerged.
Book Review
(Note: Our book reviews are reviewed for their
substance on Macedonia and Macedonians.
Therefore, a book that may not be primarily about
Macedonia or Macedonians will still be reviewed, but
mostly for its content relating to Macedonians.)
Our first review is of A Balkan Freebooter: Being the
True Exploits of the Serbian Outlaw and Comitaj
Petko Moritch, Told by Him to the Author and Set
into English written by Jan Gordon in 1915.
This book is set in the late 1800s and is based on the
life of Petko Moritch, and more specifically, about his
Robin Hood adventures in Serbia and Macedonia.
Although most of these events are likely true, it is not
clear if the author sought sources other than the
mouth of Petko (whose real name is kept hidden),
whether to confirm the stories or to fill in blanks.
Some scenes seem exaggerated and far-fetched, and
the book is written utilizing a good versus bad

approach, which is, of course, due to the book being
more about Petkos perception, rather than an
objective analysis, of the events. Still, based on other
books and sources describing the situation of the
Balkans during this period, it is likely that these events
(or versions of them) occurred.
The author mentions Macedonians several times.
There is not much talk about the Macedonians
identity as being anything but Macedonian, except in
one passage where Petko says that certain
Macedonians celebrate the Sava, and because only
Serbs celebrate the Sava, Macedonians must be Serbs.
In another passage, Petko tells the Macedonians they
are not Bulgars and the Macedonians agree. It should
be noted that none of the Macedonians in this book
state that they are Bulgar, Serb, or Greek.
Petko, who hails from northern Serbia, decided to
explore Macedonia because he sought adventure,
hoped to plunder from the rich, and yearned to kill
those Turks that he hated so much. Once he finds his
way into Macedonia (about two-thirds into the book),
there are several descriptive passages about the
Macedonians. Some of these are simple and basic,
with no way to distinguish if Macedonian is being
used to describe the people in a geographical sense or
a national or ethnic sense. Other passages, however,
point toward a clear distinction between Macedonians
and their Balkan neighbors. Here are three following
examples:
At the same time, each of the three comitaji,

Bulgarian, Serbian and Greek, looking with greedy
eyes at the rich country, were endeavoring by money
and other means to induce the Macedonians to throw
in their lot with their respective countries. Page 226
he was a Serb, and with him came another
workman, a Macedonian. Page 168
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Volume 1, Issue 8
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The Macedonians themselves he marked as a saving

race of good workmen, strict in their religion,
observant of fasts and very careful of the morality of
the women; many were of fine physique, though
naturally the most bold had rebelled and were
amongst the Serbian or Bulgarian comitaji. Page 305
In the first quote, we see that Bulgarians, Serbians and
Greeks bands were competing for the allegiance of the
Macedonians. Thus, if these foreigners are fighting for
the loyalty of the Macedonians, it shows that the
Macedonians were not aligned with an identity outside
of Macedonian. In the second quote, we see the term
Serb used instead of Serbian (Serb being a
reference to identity and Serbian a reference to
country of origin). Petko was in Bulgaria at the time
and identified the men as a Serb and a Macedonian.
He did not claim they were both Serbs, or that one
was from Serbia and one from Macedonia.
The author does this several times and also uses a
distinction between Bulgar and Bulgarian. For
example, in one passage, Petko asks why the
Macedonians are in a Bulgarian comitaj when they are
not Bulgars. Clearly, Bulgar is being used in the
ethnic sense and Bulgarian is being used to signify
someone from Bulgaria.
The third quote is probably the most confirming of
Macedonians being a separate ethnic group from
Serbs and Bulgars. He states that the Macedonians are
a saving race. These Macedonians, being racially
different than others, went on to serve in Bulgarian
and Serbian comitaji; that is, they joined armed bands
from Bulgaria or Serbia, or those working in the
interests of Serbian or Bulgaria. These armed bands
were not, however, necessarily completely racially or
ethnically Serb or Bulgar.
Despite the one claim that Macedonians must be
Serbs because they celebrate the Sava, the author, on
several occasions, distinguishes between Macedonians,
Serbs and Bulgars. He also mentions Macedonian no
less than 25 times. This book contains one instance of

a Serb telling Macedonians what they are, but
ultimately the author defers to how the Macedonians
refer to themselves.
Overall, the book is a fun read it emphasizes the
Robin Hood nature of Balkan Christians during the
19 century and gives the reader numerous
descriptions of the conditions during those times. If
youre looking to read about the exciting lives of
outlaws in the Balkans or to discover something about
Macedonian and the Macedonians, youll enjoy this
true story.
th
Have you read this book? Do you want to read it? Do

you have an opinion about our review or want to
comment on the book yourself? Let us know! Also, if
you have a book you want to review, write a review
and send it to us.
Book Club
Our purpose for doing book reviews is two-fold:
first, we want to expose Macedonians to books
about Macedonia and Macedonians; and second,
we want Macedonian-Americans to start book
clubs in their communities. You could meet once
or twice a month, at your cultural center or
house, and talk and discuss books related to
Macedonians or written by Macedonians. Its a
great way to learn about Macedonia and a
reason to meet up with fellow Macedonians.
Give it a try, start a Macedonian Book Club in
your community!
Weekly Satire
Today, the director of the Bulgarian National
Division for Fabricating Historical Documents,
Milomije Fabrikov, refuted Macedonias claim
that the Bulgarian army deported Jews from
Macedonia during World War II. It would have
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Volume 1, Issue 8
6/14/2015
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
been impossible for Bulgaria to have done so,

he stated, because all census figures prior to
World War II show that there were never any
Jews in Macedonia. Shortly afterwards, the
Macedonian Association of Jewish-Americans,
based out of Israel, released video surveillance
showing the head fabricator and other
employees in the fabricating division crossing
out Jews on census documents and replacing
the term with Bulgarians.
A commander of the Albanians for Equal Rights
Army (also known as the Albanian Era)
addressed Macedonian reporters from the steps
of the US Embassy in Skopje regarding last
months violent attack on the Macedonian
country. Were fighting for equal rights,
Commander Klintonaj shouted. We can no
longer live in a Macedonia where we Albanians
have greater rights than everyone else: we can
veto any law we want; we are required to be a
part of the ruling coalition solely based on our
ethnicity; we can use the Albanian flag for
official government business; we dont even
know that there is such a thing as a Macedonian
language; and we dont even get the
opportunity to defend ourselves in court if we
murder someone they release us before we
spend a night in jail! This inequality is unjust
and, personally, I think its quite reminiscent of
how our Albanian ancestors lived privileged
lives in Macedonia under the Turks simply
because we converted to Islam. Well, were here
today to say that were sick of being treated as
superiors. We will continue planning attacks
from Kosovo and this US military base until we
are finally equal.
Quotes about Macedonia

Of course, in Macedonia, as well as all over
Yugoslavia, there is an opposition to the Tito regime.
The leader in Macedonia is Metodi Andonov from the

town of Prilep, who fought with the Partisans as
Cento but who is not a Communist. He now is in
prison. He and his followers are said to desire a
completely independent Macedonia including
Greek and Bulgarian Macedonia with no ties to
Belgrade.
Even the committees in Bulgaria, adds the
correspondent, have little influences with the
Macedonian peasants, who trust their own leaders,
and do not care for the political designs of Bulgaria,
Servia, or Greece. Their moto is Macedonia for the
Macedonians and their aim [is] the abolition of
Turkish rule and the substitution of autonomy.
The New York Times, March 30, 1903
[Old Serbia], thus vacated by the Serbians, was

occupied by Albanians, who, favored by the Turkish
government, have pushed forward their settlements
south of the Shar Mountain into Macedonia. The
policy of having these Albanian settlements planted
among the Christians of Macedonia has been to
overawe and keep in subjection the Christians. These
Albanians, who were practically unmolested by the
provincial authorities in their treatment of the
Christians, have been one of the principal causes of
all the unrest and discontent in Macedonia.
Stephen Panaretoff, Near Eastern Affairs and Conditions,
1922, Pg. 25
News from Macedonia

Macedonian politicians could not manage to
finalize agreements on the political situation in
Macedonia.
---------Around 2,000 ethnic Albanians protested in
Skopje demanding that the ruling Macedonian
government resign and for the government to
treat Albanians as equals to Macedonians.
*News generated from a Google news search
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The LOMA Weekly Herald Volume 1 Issue 8

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The League of Macedonian-Americans

Recap of the Week

Increased membership and online

Next Weeks Goals and Projects

Increase online presence

Test Your Knowledge about

This weeks questions:

You know that LOMA stands for the League of

The League of Macedonian-Americans

Explore Macedonia -- Perovo

The Alphabet as a Helping Tool

Coming from urban America to Perovo the

The League of Macedonian-Americans

The League of Macedonian-Americans

The League of Macedonian-Americans

Narodna Song of the Week

the book is written utilizing a good versus bad

At the same time, each of the three comitaji,

The League of Macedonian-Americans

The Macedonians themselves he marked as a saving

less than 25 times. This book contains one instance of

Have you read this book? Do you want to read it? Do

The League of Macedonian-Americans

been impossible for Bulgaria to have done so,

Quotes about Macedonia

The leader in Macedonia is Metodi Andonov from the

[Old Serbia], thus vacated by the Serbians, was

News from Macedonia

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