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February 1874

A letter from P.R. Slaveykov to the Bulgarian Exarch:

Your Grace, I arrived in Salonika on the evening of the 14th of last month (January 1874). I immediately went to meet all the important local people and some others from the other Macedonian towns. My aim was to gather information as son as

possible on what was to be necessary for the succes of the mission with which you had entrusted me. I first met Father Averkij Zografski, and the following dayFather Petar Dimitrov as well, the local president of the community. I may info

rm you, Your Grace, that the wind from here, from Salonika, blows and scatters to all sides. These two clergyman, to my mind, are the leaders of the movement for the restoration of the Archbishopric of Ohrid, although one should not neglectOhrid and to certain extent Bitola, Veles and Skopje either. The Uniate movemen

t here is not without roots, as they think in Constantinople, especially His Grace, Count Ignatiev. During the time I have been in Macedonia I have ascertainedthe same we had formerly known and written three years ago. Now, as then or twenty years ago, we are dealing with the Macedonian question. In talks with few Macedonian "patriots" I have understood that this movement, which had been only bar

e words till a few years ago, is now clear and precise thought - "The Macedonians are not Bulgarians" and they persistenly strive, regardless of the price, to obtain a separate church of their own.

They also have the support in their separatism of some high clergyman in Constantinople, especially His Grace Nathaniel Ohridski, Panariot Plovdivski, and Archimandrite Hariton Karpuzov. I have understood this month from reliable sources that there are letters which arrive every day from Constantinople to the Salonikacommunity, and are then sent to the other communities in the provinces. The letters are written in this spirit. One such letter, which the Salonika community sent to the community of Voden, calls upon the inhabitants of Voden to break off all their relations with the Exarchate until the Macedonian Church question is settled, because "now is the moment". Mr. Kuzman Shapkarev from Ohrid, who is well

known to us, has done a great deal to spread the idea of the restoration of theArchbishopric of Ohrid; he consatnly travels between Kukish and Ohrid and v.v.,but at whose expanse, I do not know. Mr. Dimitar Makedonski, "the Macedonian te

xtbook writer", is no less active, reciving salary as a teacher from the Exarchate and from local Lazarists.

Owing to such unreasonable sermons by the Macedonian patriots that the church question has been settled only in favor of the Bulgarians, there is discontent among the people towrds the eparchies of the Danube and Adrianople vilayets as wellas envy because of the earlier awakening of the Bulgarians. One can especially

feel a great resistance against the East Bulgarian variant in literature. A general impression is that the local people think that the Macedonians have been don

e a great harm with the settlement of the church question in favor of the Danubian and Thracian Bulgarians. This discontent has already grown into distrust of the Exarchate and its higher echalons. and there is an attitude formed that the local Macedonian dialect should be declared a literary language and a Macedonianhiearchy established.

Great attention, Your Grace, should be paid to His Grace Nathaniel, who promisedthe local people taht as soon as he comes to his eparchy he will take steps forthe restoration of the Archbishopric of Ohrid. He seems to be connected with th

e Macedonian craftsman in Constantinople, among whom he spreads the news about the agreement with the Patriarchate. For their own part they inform their own people in Macedonia about this. It causes great discontent here. Consequently, separatism has its roots in the secret circle of Constantinople. If you press them t

here, the commotion wil calm down here. Silence the trumpet, there won't be anyecho!

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The question of Father Nil is a highly delicate one, because he has barricaded himself in Kukush and does not want to return. His ambition seems to have made him to this. He stuffed his head with the thought of becoming the Archbishop of Ohrid ar at least Metropolitan of Salonika. As an Exarchate delegate he spreads the news about the agreement with the Patriarchate as the " most informed person".He decribes the Exarchate to the people as indifferent and passive in saving th

e Macedonian population from Greek spiritual slavery. Father Nil, who proved to

be completely immature, seems to be a hireling of the highest Turkish vilayet authorities. However, his disobidiance to his headquarters began at the moment when he was summoned to return to Constantinople. Instead of obeying orders, he remained waiting there. His disobidiance also comes as a result of the suggestionsthat have been arriving from Constatinople. He maintains constant relations withBishop Panaret and Nathaniel especially with the latter, who has suggested he s

tay in Macedonia until he gets an appointment for Ohrid and arrives in Macedonia. I think that Father Nil should be cast out of Macedonia at any cost and sent to Constatinople, because he is dangerous here. He already acts under the protection of the local Lazarists and the French consul.

Thoughts of the restoration of the Archbishop of Ohrid at the moment are most pr

evalent here, in Salonika. Here the schemes are being devised and here the hotheads are gathering. These thoughts of course are not based upon mature foundation, especially since Midhat-Pasha has been dismissed from Salonika. But they are gradually spreading to northern Macedonia, although they are not very clear. Somesay one thing to the people and others say another. There is danger, if steps a

re not taken from spme authoritative place, of creating a general ideal. Then the consequences would be much more serious. The best thing would be if His Grace,Count Ignatiev, were to visit Macedonia, because the population feels a secret

hope thet only Russia could help them.

Tomorrow, with Gos's help, I intend to meet some of the elders from the local community. I shall try to convince them of the groundlessnes of their aspirationsfor a separarte Church when they already have one in the form of the Exarchate.

Certainly the most difficult question will be that of the appointment of bishopsof Macedonian origin and especially that of the cheirotonia of Father Hariton.

I kiss Your Grace's right hand.