LITERARY EVENTS - CONFERENCES

«Velessa»

The Contribution of the Metropolis of Thessaloniki to the Macedonian Struggle

International Scientific Symposium «Christian Macedonia»

Time: November 5, 6, 7

Venue: Karipeion Melathron

Velessa, a city of Upper Macedonia that belongs to present-day former Yugoslavian Republic of Macedonia, became the bone of contention at the end of the critical period of the 19th century in the dispute between Greek Partriarch supporters and Bulgarian Exarch supporters. The city of Velessa, situated in the frontiers of northern Hellenism, strongly resisted through its local diocese and Greek community against the aspirations and pressure of Exarch supporters; the Greeks fought through their schools, community system and the Ecumenical Patriarchate.

The Symposium will comprise about 12 lectures that will examine the history of Velessa during the 19th and 20 centuries. Lectures will present the community system, the relations between Greeks of Velessa and the Ecumenical Patriarchate, the other communities of Upper Macedonia, their struggle against Bulgarian domination and the way life continued among the residents of the city who moved to Thessaloniki and other Macedonian cities after the Bucharest Treaty in 1913, when the city, as well as almost the whole of Upper Macedonia was unfairly included in the Serbian Kingdom.

There will be twenty participants and two hundred and fifty audience members (three from the former Yugoslavian Republic of Macedonia).

The Symposium will last three days and there will be satellite events, including exhibitions and a concert.