Pirin Macedonia

Pirin Macedonia or Bulgarian Macedonia[Note 1] (Bulgarian: Пиринска Македония; Българска Македония) (Pirinska Makedoniya or Bulgarska Makedoniya) is the third-biggest part of the geographical region of Macedonia, today in southwestern Bulgaria. This region coincides with the borders of the Blagoevgrad Province, as well as the surrounding area of Barakovo from the Kyustendil Province. After World War I, Strumica and the surrounding area were broken away from the region and were ceded to Yugoslavia.

Tevno Vasilashko Lake in Pirin Mountain.

Pirin Macedonia on the map of Bulgaria.

It covers an area of about 6,798 km², which is 10.18% of the geographical region of Macedonia. One of the regional centers is Blagoevgrad. The region is bordering with Kyustendil Province and Sofia Province to the north, Pazardzhik Province and Smolyan Province to the east, Greece to the south and North Macedonia to the west. The population is estimated around 325.000 people.

Etymology

The name of this region comes from the Pirin Mountains which are spread in the central part of Pirin Macedonia. The mountain name Pirin comes from Perun (Bulgarian: Перун), the highest god of the Slavic pantheon and the god of thunder and lightning. In antiquity the range was called Orbelos by the Thracians, meaning "snow-white mountain" in Thracian language.

History

It usually refers to the part of the region of Macedonia attributed to the Kingdom of Bulgaria by the Treaty of Bucharest (1913). Until World War I, the region included the areas of present-day Strumica and Novo Selo Municipality, today in North Macedonia. After World War I, they were broken away from Bulgaria and ceded to the Kingdom of Yugoslavia.

Religion

Saint Nicholas Church, in Melnik (12th Century)

The main religion in the region of Pirin Macedonia is Christianity, with majority of population belonging to the Bulgarian Orthodox Church. During the early centuries of Christianity, this region belonged to the ancient Roman province of Macedonia, and later it was under the jurisdiction of the Archbishopric of Ohrid, up to the 1767. During the period of Ottoman rule, a partial islamization was also recorded. In the middle of the 19th century, Bulgarian national revival was initiated, and newly created Bulgarian Exarchate also included the region of Pirin Macedonia.

Notes

Despite a history of use by Bulgarian nationalists,[1] the terms "Pirin Macedonia" or "Bulgarian Macedonia" are today regarded as offensive by certain Bulgarians,[2] who assert that it is widely used by Macedonists as part of the irredentist concept of United Macedonia. However, many people in the country also think of the name as a purely geographical term, which it has historically been. Its use is, thus, controversial.

References

"VMRO-BND (Bulgarian National Party)" (in Bulgarian). Archived from the original on 28 September 2007. Retrieved 21 July 2006.
"Club for Fundamental Initiatives". КАК СТАВАХ НАЦИОНАЛИСТ (in Bulgarian). Archived from the original on 17 January 2005. Retrieved 21 July 2006.

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[3] Despite a history of use by Bulgarian nationalists,[1] the terms "Pirin Macedonia" or "Bulgarian Macedonia" are today regarded as offensive by certain Bulgarians,[2] who assert that it is widely used by Macedonists as part of the irredentist concept of United Macedonia. However, many people in the country also think of the name as a purely geographical term, which it has historically been. Its use is, thus, controversial.

[VMRO-BND-1] "VMRO-BND (Bulgarian National Party)" (in Bulgarian). Archived from the original on 28 September 2007. Retrieved 21 July 2006.

[2] "Club for Fundamental Initiatives". КАК СТАВАХ НАЦИОНАЛИСТ (in Bulgarian). Archived from the original on 17 January 2005. Retrieved 21 July 2006.