Southern Serbs, 1887-Petitions to the Government in Belgrade

[Vasiliye]

PETITION 1.

Georgi Babadžanović and Vasil Teofilić from Ohrid in a letter to Jovan Ristić, President of the Minister's Council:

Mister Minister, it is very-well known to you, how the Bulgarians trough their Exarcho fooled us and promised us mountains of gold, and we hold that you know by whose initiative the Bulgarian propaganda took root in our peaceful and beautiful areas, but what are we going to do under such strong arm, we couldn't have resisted, but when the Bulgarians may do like this, and against us and against their liberators, than also we cannot, neither want to serve to the interests of Bulgaria, and that which we have done, we did it because of ignorance.

Mister Minister, we have nothing in common with Bulgarians, and everything among us, says that we are of Serbian breed and origin, and damned may be hundred times, the one who implies, to mix ourselves with Bulgarians.

Mister Minister, we haven't lost hope yet, it only depends on you, that as soon as possible yo come to the help of the schools and teachers, so that the Bulgariansm in our areas may be broken, and than the Serbian cause is achieved.
We would with all our heart work on this, we would brought our women and children here, so that Serbian dance may flourish within Macedonia..........

That we are exhausted and from decent families, as that we speak the truth, shall be confirmed by ouur compatriot Mr. Kosta A. Šumenković trad(er), loc(al), and we are also known to Milojko Veselinović, a civil servant loc(al) and the editor of the "Serbdom".

22. July 1887. year
Belgrade
Most humble ones,

Georgi Babadžanović
Vasil Teofilović



(Original. AIIS, collection of Jovan Ristić-Zbirka Jovana Ristica 12/541, XII/10)

[Vasiliye]

PETITION 2

The men of the village of Lazaropole, North-Western FYROM, to the Government in Belgrade, 1887.


"Since when the Exarchate has been established all Orthodox Serbs of these areas suffer various discomforts because both the Patriarchate and the Exarchate are trying to keep the local people within its authority grabbing of theirs brings great harm to our people. That is because many of our best men are falling into prisons. Because of that many are renouncing the Patriarchate and do recognize the Exarchate which has won on its side only because of: to the our people it sends teachers for free and all the schooling necessities.


The smart people see that is all that foreign and that the Exarchate has an intention to bulgarize us a;;, but what we are going to do when the people is thirsty to have schools and teachers the Exarchate extended its arms into the county of Debar, and pays to the teachers in Varoš, in our village, in Galičnik and also into some other villages.


The undersigned chieftain of the village of Lazaropole and together with its teacher, know that our language isn't the Bulgarian language, that our customs are not Bulgarian, but Serbian and according to that we wish that our children do learn in Serbian language.

For that from the administration of the Prizren Theological Seminary we asked for and obtained quite a number of Serbian books for our school, but in order that our wish would be fulfilled in its entirety it is very necessary tha our teacher gets a salary, and later also all others, which are now payed by the Exarchate, know that Sima A. Igumanov left his property for the enlightenment of the local parts of our people, we are hopeful that you shall do good to us and provide our teacher a salary and his funds.

We think that we have a right on that, just like the other communities, to shake-off the foreign language, at we were obliged to learn until now.

To the our teacher the annual salary was 65 Turkish liras. We are asking you as soon as possible to report to us through the head of the Prizren Theological Seminary will you receive this our will and request, with such a hope , staying with greatest respect



1887, March 8
In the village of Lazaropole
(Seal:Sv Ve(lk)mch Georgi vo Lazaropole)

To you humble:
Ikonom pop Kosto
Pa(pa) Serafim
Isak Iosifov
Iosif Radević
Teacher Vasil A Ikonomović

(Original AC, MID, PP f. II br 28/1887)

[Vasiliye]

PETITION 3

Request of the Serbs from the village of Bašino, near Veles (central FYROM) to the Dečani Ieromonach Ruvim, 1887.


"To the honorable gentlemen Ruvim the Ieromonach
of the Monastery of Visoki Dečani

The inhabitants of the Bašino village community until ten years ago have instructed their youth in the school of theirs in pure Serbian language, and were distinguished by thath, that they never approached Bulgarian preachers.

But for ten years in the Serbian school of the village of Bašino, the Bulgarian language is taught, not by the will of the inhabitants, but by force from several persons

And that science which is being taught in our school in Bulgarian language is devastating our society, and we cannot get rid of it because, we do not have - as always before ten years- a Serbian teacher.

We decided, to ask Mr. Ruvim, to send us a Slavic teacher, which will teach our youth on the natural Serbian and not unnatural Bulgarian alphabet, which for our speech is worthless, since our words, sveća, đubre etc. cannot be written in the Bulgarian alphabet. In hope that our request will be received, we remain.

28th December 1887, Bašino village

Seen by: Rufim Serafimovic
Monastery V. Dečani (Turksih seal from Dečani)

Humble dwellers of the village community of Bašino:

Ando Dzimat
Manče Pulšor
Petar M Tašov
Andrea Višnić
Kole Panov Diman
Gigo DZimrev
Nikola Micević
Jovan Anević
Joavan Dimanin
Lazo Mincić
Zafir Ranđelović
Risto Paple
Andria Eplun
Tošo Dimković Dushmorović
Sazdo Dimov
Koce Dolev

(Diplomatic Archive-Diplomatski arhiv III, department-odelenje F. I 13/1887)”

[Dikigoros1981]

Hi Vasiliye, just some quick queries for the purposes of my study...

Are you suggesting that the slavic sounding population of the now "FYROM" region were mostly of Serbian stock? I'm not disputing this in any way, just after your opinion here.

The dialects of the North Western prefectures of authentic Macedonia (i.e. Florina/Kastoria etc) to which language groups do these belong to in your opinion. My research suggests Bulgarian (i'm basing this on not only anthropological studies, but also linguistics). Can you clarify?

Could you also elaborate in your opinion and from your studies, providing some relevant sources (if available), the differences between those who were Bulgarians and those who were Serbian who resided in the region of what is today referred to as "FYROM". Did these people speak a similar slavic sounding langauge? When you mention that Bulgarian was forced upon the citizens of that region, what were they speaking at home? The codified Serbian language with 7 cases, or a southern serbian type of dialect?

What were the differences in customs practised? Slava is obviously a difference which would come to mind. What are the others?

Please advise when you can, and keep up the wonderful work. Although I have not had time to post as often as I would like, I have definitely read your posts and they provide fascinating reading.

Hvala

Dikigoros1981

[Jordan Piperkata]

Originally Posted by Dikigoros1981

Hi Vasiliye, just some quick queries for the purposes of my study...

Are you suggesting that the slavic sounding population of the now "FYROM" region were mostly of Serbian stock? I'm not disputing this in any way, just after your opinion here.

The dialects of the North Western prefectures of authentic Macedonia (i.e. Florina/Kastoria etc) to which language groups do these belong to in your opinion. My research suggests Bulgarian (i'm basing this on not only anthropological studies, but also linguistics). Can you clarify?

Could you also elaborate in your opinion and from your studies, providing some relevant sources (if available), the differences between those who were Bulgarians and those who were Serbian who resided in the region of what is today referred to as "FYROM". Did these people speak a similar slavic sounding langauge? When you mention that Bulgarian was forced upon the citizens of that region, what were they speaking at home? The codified Serbian language with 7 cases, or a southern serbian type of dialect?

What were the differences in customs practised? Slava is obviously a difference which would come to mind. What are the others?

Please advise when you can, and keep up the wonderful work. Although I have not had time to post as often as I would like, I have definitely read your posts and they provide fascinating reading.

Hvala

Dikigoros1981

Dikigoros1981 how does your studies develop? I would like to hear what progress you have made lately.