Beranci

The village is first mentioned as Beranci in 1468, in Ottoman documents. It is believed that the name derives from the personal name, Beran.[1] According to the legend, the first settler was someone named Beran (or Beron) from the village of Vevčani, near Struga, attempting to escape Turkish brutality.[2]

The village is situated in Pelagonia, in the northern part of the Bitola valley, and the western part of the Municipality of Mogila.[3] The village is at an altitude of 640 meters. It is situated 17 km from Bitola.[3]

The surrounding villages are Dolno Srpci, Vašarejca and Mogila.[3]

View of the village from the valley

In Beranci and its surroundings, there are a number of important archeological findings. Gradište is located west of the village, with the locals claiming that it is a mound with valleys. Old money, tiles, large peaks and bricks were found at the site.[4]

The location of Visoi is located where the villages of Beranci, Mogila and Crnobuki meet. A 1954 study unearthed old graves lined up in a circle, with Roman inscriptions being unearthed, and pottery being found inside the tombs.[4]

The church of Saint Athanasius is located in the upper half of the village, in which it is believed that an ancient necropolis is located.[4] The current monastery of Saint John the Baptist, is built on the ruins of the older monastery.[4]

In the 19th century, Beranci was under the Manastir Vilayer of the Ottoman Empire.

The area covers an area of 19 km². It is dominated by arable land with an area of 1,028.3 hectares, with pastures occupying 785.5 hectares, and forests only 15 hectares.[5]

The main function of the village concerns farming and livestock.[5]

According to the 1467-68 Ottoman defter, Beranci appears as being almost exclusively inhabited by a Christian Albanian population. Some families had a mixed Slav-Albanian anthroponomy - usually a Slavic first name and an Albanian last name or last names with Albanian patronyms and Slavic suffixes.

Names of the heads of families: Gjini Arbanas, Pavel son of Gjin, Gjergji son of Dank, Gjergji son of Gjon, Gjergji son of Nino, Stala son of Gjin-ko, Nikolla son of Stale (Gjinko), Tom-i son of Bojo, Tom Siroma (poor), Tan-o son of Niko.[6]

According to the 2002 census, the village had a total of 445 inhabitants.[7] Ethnic groups in the village include:[7]

• Macedonians 445

Archeological findings[8]

• Visoi — iron time tumulus
• Voden Dol — necropolis from Roman times
• Grabečka Reka — settlement from ancient and Roman times
• Gradište — settlement from late-antiquity;
• Ženski Dol — necropolis from late-antiquity
• Ploči — settlement and necropolis from Roman times
• Ristov Kladenec — necropolis from late-antiquity
• Crkvište — necropolis from early-ancient times
• Šukalovec — settlement from Roman times
  

  View of the main church, Saint Athanasius.

Churches[9]

• Church of St. Athanasius — main church
• Church of St. John the Baptist — monasterial church
• Church of St. Constantine and Helena — new church

Monasteries

• Beranci Monastery — an old monastery

Born in Beranci

• Vele Mačkarov — a village voivoda of IMRO, participated in the defence of the Kruševo Republic in the division of Pitu Guli.[10]

Descent from Beranci

• Alexander Volkanovski — a UFC champion. Born in Australia. His father was born in Beranci.

It is known about the following emigrant families from the village: Karovci in Dragožani; Pishmanovci in Ivanjevci; Zajkovci, Minovci and Veljanchevci in Dolno Srpci; Gjakovci and Jazevci in Mogila; Kovačevci in Dobromiri and Nečovci in Kravari.[4]

Over a 1000 people have emigrated from the village. The greater part of them live in Bitola, Prilep and Skopje, with some emigrating to the anglosphere and Europe.[11]