Macedonia decides on snap polls

Fact is that Greece has been portrayed as the "enemy" throughout all this by practically everyone in the former Yugoslav part of geographic Macedonia. This should be sufficient in explaining the Greek veto. Can you afford to be a sport and admit that much? Even your great benefactor George W. Bush warned you not to expect him to turn against an old and traditional ally. But as much effort as you have spent in "proving" that there is not any connection between Greece and Macedonia, you are very tight lipped on your own connection to ancient Macedonia. Perhaps Macedonians were not Greeks, if by that we mean the tribes of lower Hellas, but it is accepted that they were Hellenic if culture has anything to do with ethnic identity. Macedonians/Highlanders to those Athenians, Spartans, Corinthians etc. in their south. Alexander did not conquer Greece, Alexander united the Greeks. What Alexander spread was not the Macedonian civilization, but the Greek civilization and this period in history is termed as Hellenistic, not Macedonian. A Greek plot? I doubt it. To this day they have not managed to be accepted as Hellenes (their constitutional name) and they have to make do with their designation as Greeks.

But where exactly do you fit in the picture in Alexander's Macedonia? What makes the "Star of Vergina" your national symbol? Let us assume that Alexander was neither Greek nor Hellene, but of an entirely separate and pure breed that you claim exclusively for yourselves today. Also let's put aside the big chunk of your population that is having no problem describing themselves as Albanians rather than Macedonians and arguably be happier in being part of a greater Albania than a greater Macedonia. Can you explain this "identity" of yours under Greek threat nevertheless? If not Hellenic, was Alexander a Slav, which would make him your ancestor? You fail, I am afraid, to offer any cultural affinity to an identity you trace back 25 centuries. Complements of Tito all you are left with is a chunk of real estate that once belonged to a great Macedonian, bearing a Greek name, worshipping Greek gods, being tutored by a Greek philosopher, sleeping with Homer's Iliad under his pillow. What part of this great Macedonian do you identify with? what part of your "identity" are those inhabiting the part of "your" country under Greek occupation are trying to deprive you of?

Through history geographical Macedonia was inhabited by numerous "nationalities" and claimed by many nations. Following the Balkan Wars, 51% went to Greece, 38% to Serbia, 9% to Bulgaria and the remaining to others. In the late 40s Tito, a Croat, named the Serbian part "Macedonia" setting his eyes on Greek Macedonia and that's what you inherited. What does Tito's Macedonia, your Macedonia, have to do with Alexander's Macedonia, or Greek Macedonia or Bulgarian Macedonia today? Say "nothing" and tomorrow you are a NATO member.

In Bucharest Greece was not isolated as you wish to believe, unless you believe your own propaganda. So, Turkey was on your side. Congratulations! Later this year you will try the EU. Turkey will not be there. Greece will be.

The so-called "Macedonian" Orthodox Church (or MOC for short) plays a very large, but silent part in the propagation of Skopje's false claims over the Greek province of Makedonia.
Isn't the truth more important and above politics? Do the extremists in Skopje also guide and control the MOC's leadership?
Where are MOC's bishops and priests who should be speaking out against this myth that Alexander the Great, his father Philip and the Macedonian kingdom did not belong to Hellenic civilization?
I also don't think the MOC belongs to the Eastern Orthodox fold.
To which Patriarch does the MOC get its Holy Unction(Oil) from? To be in communion with an Eastern Orthodox Church, such as the Serbian, Greek, Bulgarian or Russian, a church must receive Holy Unction from one of those named above.
And if they do not, then they are schismatics.
I believe our Holy, Apostolic and Catholic faith binds all Orthodox nations and may play a crucial role in finding a solution to this dispute between Hellas and FYROM. The MOC leadership must decide to honor their faith and traditions and speak the truth in their churches even if it's not politically expedient and downright dangerous. The people of Skopje might then with a reasonable voice find a solution so that peace and prosperity will flourish at last.
May God have mercy on us all.
Pavlos

Pavlos

I think you are putting the issue on very shaky hands if you leave it in church's hands.
I personally believe that Church (as an institution) is the mother of many evils that have hit this region (of course there are a lot of good deeds also, but...) and that in the name of faith and Holy whatever, the Church, whatever church, have served their interests very well so far.
I dont believe in it neither i want church to interfere in politics. They have another job to do and they should focus on doing it and leave politicians do their job. What normally church produces is nationalism and this is the last thing this region needs right now.

Fact is that Greece has been portrayed as the "enemy" throughout all this by practically everyone in the former Yugoslav part of geographic Macedonia. This should be sufficient in explaining the Greek veto. Can you afford to be a sport and admit that much? Even your great benefactor George W. Bush warned you not to expect him to turn against an old and traditional ally. But as much effort as you have spent in "proving" that there is not any connection between Greece and Macedonia, you are very tight lipped on your own connection to ancient Macedonia. Perhaps Macedonians were not Greeks, if by that we mean the tribes of lower Hellas, but it is accepted that they were Hellenic if culture has anything to do with ethnic identity. Macedonians/Highlanders to those Athenians, Spartans, Corinthians etc. in their south. Alexander did not conquer Greece, Alexander united the Greeks. What Alexander spread was not the Macedonian civilization, but the Greek civilization and this period in history is termed as Hellenistic, not Macedonian. A Greek plot? I doubt it. To this day they have not managed to be accepted as Hellenes (their constitutional name) and they have to make do with their designation as Greeks.

But where exactly do you fit in the picture in Alexander's Macedonia? What makes the "Star of Vergina" your national symbol? Let us assume that Alexander was neither Greek nor Hellene, but of an entirely separate and pure breed that you claim exclusively for yourselves today. Also let's put aside the big chunk of your population that is having no problem describing themselves as Albanians rather than Macedonians and arguably be happier in being part of a greater Albania than a greater Macedonia. Can you explain this "identity" of yours under Greek threat nevertheless? If not Hellenic, was Alexander a Slav, which would make him your ancestor? You fail, I am afraid, to offer any cultural affinity to an identity you trace back 25 centuries. Complements of Tito all you are left with is a chunk of real estate that once belonged to a great Macedonian, bearing a Greek name, worshipping Greek gods, being tutored by a Greek philosopher, sleeping with Homer's Iliad under his pillow. What part of this great Macedonian do you identify with? what part of your "identity" are those inhabiting the part of "your" country under Greek occupation are trying to deprive you of?

Through history geographical Macedonia was inhabited by numerous "nationalities" and claimed by many nations. Following the Balkan Wars, 51% went to Greece, 38% to Serbia, 9% to Bulgaria and the remaining to others. In the late 40s Tito, a Croat, named the Serbian part "Macedonia" setting his eyes on Greek Macedonia and that's what you inherited. What does Tito's Macedonia, your Macedonia, have to do with Alexander's Macedonia, or Greek Macedonia or Bulgarian Macedonia today? Say "nothing" and tomorrow you are a NATO member.

In Bucharest Greece was not isolated as you wish to believe, unless you believe your own propaganda. So, Turkey was on your side. Congratulations! Later this year you will try the EU. Turkey will not be there. Greece will be.

The so-called "Macedonian" Orthodox Church (or MOC for short) plays a very large, but silent part in the propagation of Skopje's false claims over the Greek province of Makedonia.
Isn't the truth more important and above politics? Do the extremists in Skopje also guide and control the MOC's leadership?
Where are MOC's bishops and priests who should be speaking out against this myth that Alexander the Great, his father Philip and the Macedonian kingdom did not belong to Hellenic civilization?
I also don't think the MOC belongs to the Eastern Orthodox fold.
To which Patriarch does the MOC get its Holy Unction(Oil) from? To be in communion with an Eastern Orthodox Church, such as the Serbian, Greek, Bulgarian or Russian, a church must receive Holy Unction from one of those named above.
And if they do not, then they are schismatics.
I believe our Holy, Apostolic and Catholic faith binds all Orthodox nations and may play a crucial role in finding a solution to this dispute between Hellas and FYROM. The MOC leadership must decide to honor their faith and traditions and speak the truth in their churches even if it's not politically expedient and downright dangerous. The people of Skopje might then with a reasonable voice find a solution so that peace and prosperity will flourish at last.
May God have mercy on us all.
Pavlos

Pavlos

I think you are putting the issue on very shaky hands if you leave it in church's hands.
I personally believe that Church (as an institution) is the mother of many evils that have hit this region (of course there are a lot of good deeds also, but...) and that in the name of faith and Holy whatever, the Church, whatever church, have served their interests very well so far.
I dont believe in it neither i want church to interfere in politics. They have another job to do and they should focus on doing it and leave politicians do their job. What normally church produces is nationalism and this is the last thing this region needs right now.