Kiryak Shkurtov
Encyclopedia
Kiryak Hristov Shkurtov or Kiriak Shkurtov (1872, Starichani
, present-day Lakkomata, Greece
- 1965, Plovdiv
, Bulgaria
) was a Bulgarian revolutionary
, voivode of Internal Macedonian-Adrianople Revolutionary Organization in the region of Kostur (Kastoria), present-day Greece.
Kiriyak Shkurtov was born in 1872 in the village of Starichani in the region of Macedonia
(today Lakomata in Kastoria Prefecture
, Greece
), at that time part of the Ottoman Empire
. He graduated Greek high school and was a teacher.
Shkurtov was one of the first figures and leaders of IMARO in his village. During the Ilinden–Preobrazhenie Uprising he participated in the battle in the village Visheni, in the capture of Klisura
, in the campaigns of the insurrectional forces in Kolonya
and in other fights. After the uprising, together with his comrades he transferred to Greece, where they were originally arrested, but later were released and are offered to join the Greek Committee. Shkurtov wrote in his memoirs:
In early 1904, despite attempts by the Greek and Turkish authorities to be arrested, Shkurtov returned to the region of Kostur and included in the reconstruction of disorganized IMARO. He was secretary of voyvode Kostando Zhivkov and after his death in December 1904 was appointed a voivode of the region of Kostenariya. He participated in the fights against the Greek andartes - in fighting in defense of the villages Osnicheni (present-day Kastanofito), Ezerets (present-day Petropoulakion), Starichani and others.
Besides his participation in battles, on behalf of the Bulgarian Macedonian revolutionaries Shkurtov was in correspondence with Greek chiefs in which he reproached them for their union with the Ottoman authorities and their actions against IMARO. In January 1905 in a letter to residents of several Greek villages, signed on behalf of deaths already Kostando Zivkov, Shkurtov laid dawn the objective of IMARO as follows:
At the end of March 1907 Shkurtov gone to treatment in Bulgaria
, but after Young Turk Revolution
in 1908 returned to Macedonia
where he remained to First Balkan War
in 1912-1913. In January 1913, after the Greek occupation of South Macedonia during the war, he was arrested by Greek authorities as unreliable person and lied 14 months in the prison Eddie Kulle in Solun (Thessaloniki).
After First World War Shkurtov lived in Plovdiv, Bulgaria where he worked as a clerk. In 1920s he took an active part in one of the organizations of Macedonian refugees - Ilinden organization and cooperated its magazine Illustration Ilinden, in which he published his memoirs.
Orestida
Orestida is a municipality in the Kastoria peripheral unit, Greece. The seat of the municipality is in Argos Orestiko.The town of Argos Orestiko hosts the celebration of the ascension of the Holy Cross, in September...
, present-day Lakkomata, Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
- 1965, Plovdiv
Plovdiv
Plovdiv is the second-largest city in Bulgaria after Sofia with a population of 338,153 inhabitants according to Census 2011. Plovdiv's history spans some 6,000 years, with traces of a Neolithic settlement dating to roughly 4000 BC; it is one of the oldest cities in Europe...
, Bulgaria
Bulgaria
Bulgaria , officially the Republic of Bulgaria , is a parliamentary democracy within a unitary constitutional republic in Southeast Europe. The country borders Romania to the north, Serbia and Macedonia to the west, Greece and Turkey to the south, as well as the Black Sea to the east...
) was a Bulgarian revolutionary
Revolutionary
A revolutionary is a person who either actively participates in, or advocates revolution. Also, when used as an adjective, the term revolutionary refers to something that has a major, sudden impact on society or on some aspect of human endeavor.-Definition:...
, voivode of Internal Macedonian-Adrianople Revolutionary Organization in the region of Kostur (Kastoria), present-day Greece.
Biography
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...
(today Lakomata in Kastoria Prefecture
Kastoria Prefecture
Kastoria is one of the regional units of Greece. It is part of the region of West Macedonia. Its capital is the town of Kastoria.-Geography:...
, Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
), at that time 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...
. He graduated Greek high school and was a teacher.
Shkurtov was one of the first figures and leaders of IMARO in his village. During the Ilinden–Preobrazhenie Uprising he participated in the battle in the village Visheni, in the capture of Klisura
Kleisoura
Kleisoura is a traditionally Aromanian settlement and a former municipality in Kastoria peripheral unit, West Macedonia, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Kastoria, of which it is a municipal unit. Population 576...
, in the campaigns of the insurrectional forces in Kolonya
Kolonjë District
The Kolonjë District , is one of the thirty-six districts of Albania, part of Korçë County. It has a population of 14,318 . The district has an area of 805 km². It is in the south-east of the country, and its capital is Ersekë. Other towns in this district include Leskovik to the south...
and in other fights. After the uprising, together with his comrades he transferred to Greece, where they were originally arrested, but later were released and are offered to join the Greek Committee. Shkurtov wrote in his memoirs:
In early 1904, despite attempts by the Greek and Turkish authorities to be arrested, Shkurtov returned to the region of Kostur and included in the reconstruction of disorganized IMARO. He was secretary of voyvode Kostando Zhivkov and after his death in December 1904 was appointed a voivode of the region of Kostenariya. He participated in the fights against the Greek andartes - in fighting in defense of the villages Osnicheni (present-day Kastanofito), Ezerets (present-day Petropoulakion), Starichani and others.
Besides his participation in battles, on behalf of the Bulgarian Macedonian revolutionaries Shkurtov was in correspondence with Greek chiefs in which he reproached them for their union with the Ottoman authorities and their actions against IMARO. In January 1905 in a letter to residents of several Greek villages, signed on behalf of deaths already Kostando Zivkov, Shkurtov laid dawn the objective of IMARO as follows:
At the end of March 1907 Shkurtov gone to treatment in Bulgaria
Bulgaria
Bulgaria , officially the Republic of Bulgaria , is a parliamentary democracy within a unitary constitutional republic in Southeast Europe. The country borders Romania to the north, Serbia and Macedonia to the west, Greece and Turkey to the south, as well as the Black Sea to the east...
, but after Young Turk Revolution
Young Turk Revolution
The Young Turk Revolution of 1908 reversed the suspension of the Ottoman parliament by Sultan Abdul Hamid II, marking the onset of the Second Constitutional Era...
in 1908 returned to 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...
where he remained to First Balkan War
First Balkan War
The First Balkan War, which lasted from October 1912 to May 1913, pitted the Balkan League against the Ottoman Empire. The combined armies of the Balkan states overcame the numerically inferior and strategically disadvantaged Ottoman armies and achieved rapid success...
in 1912-1913. In January 1913, after the Greek occupation of South Macedonia during the war, he was arrested by Greek authorities as unreliable person and lied 14 months in the prison Eddie Kulle in Solun (Thessaloniki).
After First World War Shkurtov lived in Plovdiv, Bulgaria where he worked as a clerk. In 1920s he took an active part in one of the organizations of Macedonian refugees - Ilinden organization and cooperated its magazine Illustration Ilinden, in which he published his memoirs.