PART OF THE MONOGRAPH “GOJKO JAKOVLEVSKI” BY SLAVE KATIN
Macedonian clubs and associations were established to satisfy their need to mitigate their home sickness, the longing for their families, many of which have been separat ed for a long time, but also the need for so cializing and communicating with each oth er and for the realization of their common needs. Thus, new forms of sports, folklore, cultural, educational and other activities began to emerge, which over time grew into a rich mosaic of activities in many fields, of course, depending on the conditions, needs and opportunities of the Macedonians in new environments in the European Union.
It is worth mentioning that since the 1970s, the number of newly established churches and church municipalities, clubs and other forms of association in European countries was increased. Most Macedonians are members or regular visitors to these nu merous associations, where they organize religious, national, folklore, sports, cultural and other events.
In that way the first sparks appeared, the f irst gatherings and friendships took place. The initiators of those events emphasized the obvious need and intention: Macedoni ans in the then European countries should open their own corners in a mutual correla tion, with the widest possible arrangements and in cooperation with the homeland to activate all their potentials.
These were chances and opportunities to develop vari ous activities, in the most dignified way to affirm the Macedonian name, the Macedo nian state and the Macedonian truth. The establishment of the Macedonian Orthodox Churches and church municipalities, as well as other associations, created conditions for nurturing the native cultural heritage, religion, traditions and customs, as well as preservation of the Macedonian identity and Macedonian truth.
Displacement of migrants from camps in Greece, Italy and Austria, began in 1951, mainly in Australia, New Zealand, and South America (Brazil and Argentina). However, such emigration began in 1957 to Belgium, 1958 and 1961/62 in the Scandinavian coun tries, and in the seventies of the previous century that wave was intensified.
Berlin
It is estimated that over 150,000 Mace donians live and work in the countries of the old continent today. There are also tens of thousands of ethnic Albanians, Turks, Roma and others from the Republic of Mac edonia, who have lived and worked there for more than forty years. Most of them, that is, more than 80,000 are in Germany, more than 20,000 are in Switzerland; there are also tens of thousands who live and work in Sweden, Austria, France, Denmark, Bel gium and other European Union countries. According to unofficial data, there are tens of thousands of Macedonians from Aegean Macedonia and a smaller number from Pirin Macedonia. This number of Macedonians in Europe in recent years has only been in creasing with various oscillations.
Macedonians who work in major centers throughout Europe enjoy, since their arriv al, organized life through organizations, clubs, associations, church municipalities, the printed media and other associations. So far, about 40 clubs and other associa tions have been formed, with Macedonian national features: in Germany about 20, in Sweden about ten, few of them in France, in Denmark, in Austria and so on.
This form of social gathering contributes to the preser vation of the national and cultural identity of the Macedonians and their connection to their native land. Here, with more or less success are organized informational (press, radio), cultural-entertaining, educational, church-educational, sports and other activi ties, which contribute to bringing the Mace donians together in the new environment in the European Union.
Since their arrival to the new environ ments in the post-war period, Macedonians have made efforts to organize themselves in Western European countries. Initially, the initiators were individuals – immigrants who declared themselves in the detention camps to be anti-communists. Those migrants in Greek camps who claimed to be Macedoni ans were subjected to a special regime of torture.
They were mainly members of the Macedonian National Committee (MNC), later renamed the Liberation Committee of Macedonia (OKM), the Movement for the Liberation and Unification of Macedonia (DOOM), the National Liberation Front of Macedonia (NOFM) and other organizations. Macedonians in Western European coun tries, although being organized in political parties, were usually concentrated in groups and they printed informational newsletters expressing their political and national affil iation.
Macedonians in Western European coun tries, following the example of overseas countries, the United States, Canada and Australia, have begun to organize them selves at the church-national level in recent decades. It occurred in the seventies, first in Sweden, then in Denmark, Germany, Swit zerland, Australia, France, Great Britain … As a result of the strong rise in the recent time, about thirty Macedonian Orthodox church municipalities within the European Diocese of the Macedonian Orthodox Church are es tablished or are to be established.
. To be continue
By SLAVE KATIN
