Islam spread in Macedonia during the Ottoman occupation which lasted for 5 centuries.. not many converted into Islam at that time.. but Islam reached Albania... and more than 80 % of the Albanian population became muslim.. many of these Albanians..during the Ottman Rule.. emmigrated to Macednonia, making a significant minority percentage in the present republic of Macedonia of 33%.
Today, Macedonia.. with its both ethnicities.. and religious groups.. is proud of its heritage of Orthodox Christianity.. and Islam.. and compared to many European countries.. Muslim minority.. enjoy equal rights as muslims in Muslim countries.. of freedom of expressing their faith.. building Mosques.. Eid el Fitr and Al Adha are public Holidays.. and Islamic religion is taught in schools.
Macedonia, is taking another step forward towards coexistance.. between Muslims and Christians.. by promoting the Religious Heritage of Orthdox Christianity and Ottoman Islam and protecting these temples by law.. as national treasure to be protected and taken care of.
For that purpose the Macedonian government made the following clip as part of the series of the "Macedonia timeless" clips.. to promote the temples of Macedonia..
And here are some pictures of some of those Mosques and Churches of Macedonia :
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St. John Kanoe - Ohrid
Aladja Mosque - Skopje
St. Naum - Ohrid
Isak Bey Turbe Mosque - Skopje
St. Pantelemon - Ohrid
Bitolska Djamija - Bitola
Yes, 33% of the people in Macedonia are Muslims, but those include Turks, Muslim Macedonians, Roma and Bosniaks along with the Albanians. The Albanians themselves are 25% of the population.
ReplyDeleteCorrect, i was referring for 33% as Muslims.. not as Albanians. I guess it wasn't very clear.. so thanks for the correction.
ReplyDeletebrilliant architecture of both the Churches and Mosques... thanks for sharing! :)
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome Secratea... :)
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