THE ATTITUDE OF THE BULGARIAN EXARCHATE TO THE “MACEDONIAN ISSUE” (1878-1913)
THE ATTITUDE OF THE BULGARIAN EXARCHATE TO THE “MACEDONIAN ISSUE” (1878-1913)

Summary/Abstract: The establishment of the Bulgarian Exarchate is a very important event in the national Bulgarian history since the Bulgarian nationality was accepted by this act, and the foundations of the spiritual and educational activities were laid. According to the historiography of Skopje, the Bulgarian exarchate was continuously working on hindering national development through educational activity. With its widespread and organized church and school network, through paid Bulgarian priests and teachers, who conducted their preaching and teaching in Bulgarian, they wanted to instill Bulgarian national consciousness. Before the alternative of choosing between the Exarchate and Patriarchate, namely Catholicism or Protestantism, the Orthodox in Macedonia supported a Slavic Exarchate. A full reconciliation was never reached between the Exarchate and Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization (IMRO). The idea of evolution, reflected in the educational-religious activity of the Bulgarian Exarchate, was undoubtedly in opposition to the revolutionary ideas promoted by IMRO. Regarding the number of Orthodox followers under the jurisdiction of the Bulgarian exarchate in the territory of Macedonia, different scholars provide different data. According to Bulgarian authors, in the beginning of the 20th century, there were more than one thousand Bulgarian schools. Apart from ecclesiastical and school activities, the Bulgarian exarchate paid special attention to health and social activities in Macedonia.

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