Macedonian Patriotic Organization

Macedonian Patriotic Organization
Founded1922
FounderAnastas Stephanoff (first president)
TypeCultural and political
FocusContinue to work for human, civil and economic rights for all Macedonians of the world
Location
Area served
United States
Canada
Members
N/A
Key people
Steve Petroff (President)
Lupka Baloski (Vice President)
Websitemacedonian.org

Macedonian Patriotic Organization (MPO) is a diaspora organization in the United States and Canada.[1] It was founded in Fort Wayne, Indiana, United States, in 1922, by Macedonian Bulgarian immigrants originating mainly from Greek Macedonia. It was originally called the Macedonian Political Organization but changed its name to the current one in 1952.

The initial objective of the MPO was to advocate for a solution to the Macedonian Question in the form of an independent Macedonian state, in which all ethnic groups would enjoy equal human rights and freedoms.[2][non-primary source needed] Over the decades, the MPO has evolved significantly, and today it is a not-for-profit corporation that promotes and preserves the customs, history, and traditions of Macedonian-Americans and Macedonian-Canadians.[3][non-primary source needed] In the past, the organization has generally promoted the view that Macedonian Slavs are Bulgarians,[4][5] but today it claims to unite both Macedonian Bulgarians and ethnic Macedonians.[6][7] The MPO supports the independent Republic of North Macedonia and is involved in pro-Macedonian advocacy within the US and Canada.[8]

Since 1927, MPO has published Macedonian Tribune, the oldest continuously published Macedonian newspaper in the world. Originally published in Bulgarian,[9] the paper gradually began including articles written in English,[10] before finally transitioning into its current, English-only format, in the early 1990s.[11]

  1. ^ Keith Brown (2003). The Past in Question: Modern Macedonia and the Uncertainties of Nation. Princeton University Press. p. 254. ISBN 9780691099958.
  2. ^ "Tumbling Walls Revisited" by Ivan Lebamoff. Macedonian Tribune. February 22, 1990
  3. ^ "MPO History". Archived from the original on December 6, 2018. Retrieved August 13, 2008.
  4. ^ PAGE ONE: Major Events of the 20th Century. Central Committee of the Macedonian Patriotic Organization. Fort Wayne, Indiana. 1999.
  5. ^ The Macedonian Conflict: Ethnic Nationalism in a Transnational World, Page 87 by Loring M. Danforth.
  6. ^ ""MPO – 90 Years of Struggle for a Macedonian State". Dr. Lubomir Todorov. 91th Annual MPO Convention in Fort Wayne, Indiana. September 2, 2012" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on June 23, 2016. Retrieved September 21, 2017.
  7. ^ "New Energy, Old Values". Jordan Lebamoff. Macedonian Tribune, January 8, 2015. Page 2
  8. ^ "Macedonian Patriotic Organization - Media Center - MPO Advocacy". Macedonian.org. Archived from the original on September 21, 2017. Retrieved January 19, 2020.
  9. ^ Pelisterski, Hristo (February 17, 1927). "Our Oath". Macedonian Tribune. 1 (9): 1.
  10. ^ Panov, Lou (November 1, 1991). "Macedonians May Now Speak Out". Macedonian Tribune. 64 (3081): 1.
  11. ^ North Macedonia - the controversy continues (an editorial), Nick (August 2, 2018). "Stefanoff". Macedonian Tribune. 92 (3488): 1.