Ethnic Macedonians of Romania
Encyclopedia
The Macedonians of Romania are a recognised minority with full minority rights. As of the 2002 census, 731 ethnic Macedonians lived in Romania
.
There are concentrations of Macedonians in Bucharest
, Galaţi
and Ploieşti
.
was part of the Ottoman Empire
. For the inhabitants of the region, Romanian
states (Wallachia
and Moldavia
) presented an ideal for political, religious and social freedom, so much of the population emigrated.
In Timiş County
, a village with the name Macedonia, was mentioned in documents in 1332-1337 (as Machedonia). The name of the village comes from the founder, the noble
family Maczedonia, and the name of this family is related to Macedonia.
Another documented instance of the migration from Macedonia was when Nicodim of Prilep came to Valahia from Prilep
and built monasteries
in Tismana
, Vodiţa, Prislop
, Vişina
.
Many Slavs from the region of Macedonia
left for Wallachia, because they had good relations with Aromanians
in Romania
, (who had also migrated from the southern Balkans
)
and other Macedonians in Wallachia.
After the Greek Civil War
thousands of Greek and ethnic Macedonians fled Greece. Many were evacuated to Romania. A large evacuation camp was established in the Romanian town of Tulgheş
. It was here that many of the younger children were reunited with their parents. It is thought that 5,132 children were evacuated to Romania along with 1,981 men and 1,939 women. The group of children evacuated was the largest in Romania. Here in Romania the most provisions were set up for them across the entire Eastern Bloc, excluding Yugoslavia. This group of children would go on to form the recognised minority group of Macedonians in Romania.
: Друштвото на Македонците во Романија, Romanian
: Asociaţia Democratica a Macedonenilor din România) is also from 2000, an ethnic political party. It represents the Macedonian minority in Romania. The party has a seat in the Chamber of Deputies. The current member of the Macedonian minority
in Romania
is Liana Dumitrescu
, who has served since 2004, when she replaced Vasile Ioan Savu, in office from 2000.. Dumitrescu heads the party, which forms part of the parliamentary group of national minorities. At the 2000 elections the group received 8,000 votes, and in 2004, 3 Macedonian political parties from Romania
, lead and participated at election by AMR, obtained more than 25 000 votes. However two other Political Parties, Asociatia Macedonenilor din Romania and Asociaţia Cultura a Macedonenilor din România also polled well with 9595 and 9750 votes respectively. This has prompted many people to estimate the number of Macedonians in Romania at over 20,000.
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
.
There are concentrations of Macedonians in Bucharest
Bucharest
Bucharest is the capital municipality, cultural, industrial, and financial centre of Romania. It is the largest city in Romania, located in the southeast of the country, at , and lies on the banks of the Dâmbovița River....
, Galaţi
Galati
Galați is a city and municipality in Romania, the capital of Galați County. Located in the historical region of Moldavia, in the close vicinity of Brăila, Galați is the largest port and sea port on the Danube River and the second largest Romanian port....
and Ploieşti
Ploiesti
Ploiești is the county seat of Prahova County and lies in the historical region of Wallachia in Romania. The city is located north of Bucharest....
.
Immigration
In the Middle Ages, the region of MacedoniaMacedonia (region)
Macedonia is a geographical and historical region of the Balkan peninsula in southeastern Europe. Its boundaries have changed considerably over time, but nowadays the region is considered to include parts of five Balkan countries: Greece, the Republic of Macedonia, Bulgaria, Albania, Serbia, as...
was part of the Ottoman Empire
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
. For the inhabitants of the region, Romanian
Romanians
The Romanians are an ethnic group native to Romania, who speak Romanian; they are the majority inhabitants of Romania....
states (Wallachia
Wallachia
Wallachia or Walachia is a historical and geographical region of Romania. It is situated north of the Danube and south of the Southern Carpathians...
and Moldavia
Moldavia
Moldavia is a geographic and historical region and former principality in Eastern Europe, corresponding to the territory between the Eastern Carpathians and the Dniester river...
) presented an ideal for political, religious and social freedom, so much of the population emigrated.
In Timiş County
Timis County
Timiș , , Banat Bulgarian: ) is a county of western Romania, in the historical region Banat, with the county seat at Timișoara. It is the largest county in Romania in terms of land area....
, a village with the name Macedonia, was mentioned in documents in 1332-1337 (as Machedonia). The name of the village comes from the founder, the noble
Nobility
Nobility is a social class which possesses more acknowledged privileges or eminence than members of most other classes in a society, membership therein typically being hereditary. The privileges associated with nobility may constitute substantial advantages over or relative to non-nobles, or may be...
family Maczedonia, and the name of this family is related to Macedonia.
Another documented instance of the migration from Macedonia was when Nicodim of Prilep came to Valahia from Prilep
Prilep
Prilep is the fourth largest city in the Republic of Macedonia. It has a population of 66,246 citizens. Prilep is known as "the city under Marko's Towers" because of its proximity to the towers of Prince Marko.-Name:...
and built monasteries
Monastery
Monastery denotes the building, or complex of buildings, that houses a room reserved for prayer as well as the domestic quarters and workplace of monastics, whether monks or nuns, and whether living in community or alone .Monasteries may vary greatly in size – a small dwelling accommodating only...
in Tismana
Timisoara Orthodox Cathedral
The Timişoara Orthodox Cathedral is a Romanian Orthodox cathedral in Timişoara, Romania. It was built between 1937 and 1940. It is dedicated to the Three Holy Hierarchs, Saints Basil the Great, Gregory the Theologian, and John Chrysostom...
, Vodiţa, Prislop
Prislop
-Romania:* Prislop, a village in Cornereva Commune, Caraş-Severin County* Prislop, a village in Dalboşeţ Commune, Caraş-Severin County* Prislop, a village in Boiu Mare Commune, Maramureş County* Prislop, a village in Răşinari Commune, Sibiu County...
, Vişina
Visina
Vişina may refer to several places in Romania:* Vişina, a commune in Dâmboviţa County* Vişina, a commune in Olt County* Vişina Nouă, a commune in Olt County* Vişina, a village in Poiana Commune, Galaţi County...
.
Many Slavs from the region of Macedonia
Macedonia (region)
Macedonia is a geographical and historical region of the Balkan peninsula in southeastern Europe. Its boundaries have changed considerably over time, but nowadays the region is considered to include parts of five Balkan countries: Greece, the Republic of Macedonia, Bulgaria, Albania, Serbia, as...
left for Wallachia, because they had good relations with Aromanians
Aromanians
Aromanians are a Latin people native throughout the southern Balkans, especially in northern Greece, Albania, the Republic of Macedonia, Bulgaria, and as an emigrant community in Serbia and Romania . An older term is Macedo-Romanians...
in Romania
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
, (who had also migrated from the southern Balkans
Balkans
The Balkans is a geopolitical and cultural region of southeastern Europe...
)
and other Macedonians in Wallachia.
After the Greek Civil War
Greek Civil War
The Greek Civil War was fought from 1946 to 1949 between the Greek governmental army, backed by the United Kingdom and United States, and the Democratic Army of Greece , the military branch of the Greek Communist Party , backed by Bulgaria, Yugoslavia and Albania...
thousands of Greek and ethnic Macedonians fled Greece. Many were evacuated to Romania. A large evacuation camp was established in the Romanian town of Tulgheş
Tulghes
Tulgheş is a commune in Harghita County, Romania. It lies in eastern Transylvania. The commune is composed of four villages: Hagota , Pintic , Recea and Tulgheş.- Demography :...
. It was here that many of the younger children were reunited with their parents. It is thought that 5,132 children were evacuated to Romania along with 1,981 men and 1,939 women. The group of children evacuated was the largest in Romania. Here in Romania the most provisions were set up for them across the entire Eastern Bloc, excluding Yugoslavia. This group of children would go on to form the recognised minority group of Macedonians in Romania.
Organisations
The Association of Macedonians in Romania (MacedonianMacedonian language
Macedonian is a South Slavic language spoken as a first language by approximately 2–3 million people principally in the region of Macedonia but also in the Macedonian diaspora...
: Друштвото на Македонците во Романија, Romanian
Romanian language
Romanian Romanian Romanian (or Daco-Romanian; obsolete spellings Rumanian, Roumanian; self-designation: română, limba română ("the Romanian language") or românește (lit. "in Romanian") is a Romance language spoken by around 24 to 28 million people, primarily in Romania and Moldova...
: Asociaţia Democratica a Macedonenilor din România) is also from 2000, an ethnic political party. It represents the Macedonian minority in Romania. The party has a seat in the Chamber of Deputies. The current member of the Macedonian minority
Minority group
A minority is a sociological group within a demographic. The demographic could be based on many factors from ethnicity, gender, wealth, power, etc. The term extends to numerous situations, and civilizations within history, despite the misnomer of minorities associated with a numerical statistic...
in Romania
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
is Liana Dumitrescu
Liana Dumitrescu
Liana Dumitrescu , was a Romanian politician and the leader of the Association of Macedonians in Romania, a political party representing the ethnic Macedonians of Romania. She served in the Chamber of Deputies between 2004 and 2011.-Notes:...
, who has served since 2004, when she replaced Vasile Ioan Savu, in office from 2000.. Dumitrescu heads the party, which forms part of the parliamentary group of national minorities. At the 2000 elections the group received 8,000 votes, and in 2004, 3 Macedonian political parties from Romania
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
, lead and participated at election by AMR, obtained more than 25 000 votes. However two other Political Parties, Asociatia Macedonenilor din Romania and Asociaţia Cultura a Macedonenilor din România also polled well with 9595 and 9750 votes respectively. This has prompted many people to estimate the number of Macedonians in Romania at over 20,000.