Talk:Lazaropole

1887
PETITION 2

The men of the village of Lazaropole, North-Western FYROM, to the Government in Belgrade, 1887.

"Since when the Exarchate has been established all Orthodox Serbs of these areas suffer various discomforts because both the Patriarchate and the Exarchate are trying to keep the local people within its authority grabbing of theirs brings great harm to our people. That is because many of our best men are falling into prisons. Because of that many are renouncing the Patriarchate and do recognize the Exarchate which has won on its side only because of: to the our people it sends teachers for free and all the schooling necessities.

The smart people see that is all that foreign and that the Exarchate has an intention to bulgarize us a;;, but what we are going to do when the people is thirsty to have schools and teachers the Exarchate extended its arms into the county of Debar, and pays to the teachers in Varoš, in our village, in Galičnik and also into some other villages.

The undersigned chieftain of the village of Lazaropole and together with its teacher, know that our language isn't the Bulgarian language, that our customs are not Bulgarian, but Serbian and according to that we wish that our children do learn in Serbian language.

For that from the administration of the Prizren Theological Seminary we asked for and obtained quite a number of Serbian books for our school, but in order that our wish would be fulfilled in its entirety it is very necessary tha our teacher gets a salary, and later also all others, which are now payed by the Exarchate, know that Sima A. Igumanov left his property for the enlightenment of the local parts of our people, we are hopeful that you shall do good to us and provide our teacher a salary and his funds.

We think that we have a right on that, just like the other communities, to shake-off the foreign language, at we were obliged to learn until now.

To the our teacher the annual salary was 65 Turkish liras. We are asking you as soon as possible to report to us through the head of the Prizren Theological Seminary will you receive this our will and request, with such a hope, staying with greatest respect

1887, March 8 In the village of Lazaropole (Seal:Sv Ve(lk)mch Georgi vo Lazaropole)

To you humble: Ikonom pop Kosto Pa(pa) Serafim Isak Iosifov Iosif Radević Teacher Vasil A Ikonomović

(Original AC, MID, PP f. II br 28/1887)