Macedonia pays tribute to Goce Delcev on 110. anniversary of his death

Macedonia paid tribute Saturday to Goce Delcev by appropriate sermon and flower-laying ceremonies at his grave in the  'St. Spas' (Holy Saviour) Church, regarding the 110th anniversary of the death of the ideologist of the Macedonian revolutionary struggle.

Representatives of state institutions, political parties, organizations, associations bearing his name paid their respects, while academician Blaze Ristovski was given the honor to reflect on Delcev's life and achievements.

The commemoration also promoted a project, which aims for the young Macedonians at home and abroad to nourish the memory of Delcev.

Flower-laying ceremonies were also held at Delcev's monuments at "Macedonia" square and City Park.

Visionary Delcev, who saw the world one century ago as a field for cultural contest among nations, was murdered by the Ottoman army in village Banica on 4 May 1893, while on his way to Ser.

The purpose of his last journey was to prevent or postpone the uprising, which was prepared at the Smilevo congress (May 2-7). Delcev believed political conditions were still not ripe for an uprising, which however occurred three months later (Ilinden Uprising).

Goce Delcev was born on 4 February 1872 in Kukus. He finished high school in Solun, then part of Aegean Macedonia and graduated from the Sofia Military Academy. Delcev worked as a teacher in Stip, but at the same time established a network of bases, committees and units of the secret Macedonian revolutionary organization (TMORO). He took part at the 1896 VMRO congress in Solun and served as VMRO's representative in Sofia until 1901.

Delcev says in the letters, which have been preserved until today, of his struggle for free and independent Macedonia, including vast rights for the poor population.

"The struggle's success will come through hard work, convincing all Turks, Greeks, Vlachs, Arnauts that we fight for a progressive-cultural state, based on radical and social principles, resulting in them extending the brotherhood arms, thus jointly resuming our struggle. This is how I see the world - a field for cultural contest among nations", writes Delcev.

138th Anniversary of Goce Delcev's birth observed

The 138th anniversary from the birth Macedonian revolutionary Goce Delcev was marked Thursday with a service held by Macedonian Orthodox Church clergymen at Delcev's grave in church "St.Spas".
Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski, accompanied by Minister of Interior Gordana Jankuloska and Economy Minister Fatmir Besimi, laid flowers at Delcev's tomb, along with delegations from the President's Cabinet, Parliament, Defense Ministry, political parties, municipalities, institutions and associations.
Professor Natasa Kotlar delivered an oration on the ideologist of Macedonian revolutionary struggle by the end of the 19th and beginning of the 20th century.
"Delcev is a revolutionary of the Balkans, organizer, man of ideas, agitator, voivode. He is a representative of the Macedonian national intelligence and avant-garde, whose main task was a moral and political revolution in the concrete time of history", said Kotlar. Flowers will also be laid at Delcev's monument in the City Park, whereas poetry reading dedicated to Delcev will be held in publishing house "Feniks", in the framework of the Festival of Tea and Reading.
The anniversary observance is organized by international event "Goce Days", funded by the culture and defense ministries.
Goce Delcev, a visionary who saw the world as a field for cultural competition among nations a century ago, was born in Kukus in 1872. He was educated at the Thessaloniki high school and the Sofia Military Academy. Delcev worked as teacher in Stip, and as member of the secret Macedonian revolutionary organization was active in the establishment of its network. He was killed by the Turkish army in village Banica on May 4, 1903.