A new Macedonian call: the birthplace of European Christianity needs the gospel again
Union Mission partner Sasco Georgievski from the Evangelical Church in Northern Macedonia urges us to pray.
Christianity has been present in Macedonia for almost 2000 years.
At the time of Jesus, Macedonia was one of the most important provinces of the Roman Empire. The apostle Paul brought the gospel there with special guidance from the Spirit of Jesus. Rather than go to Asia Minor, a Macedonian appeared to Paul in a night vision and invited him to come to Macedonia and help (see Acts 16: 7-10).
Thus, the territory of Macedonia (Philippi, and then Thessaloniki and Beria) became the first European territory to receive the gospel of Christ. Christianity was spread throughout the whole territory of Macedonia in the first centuries AD. In the 4th century and later, there were important episcopal centres in Macedonia. Several Macedonian representatives attended the great ecumenical councils of the early Church.
With the arrival of the pagan Slavic population in the territory of Macedonia sometime in the 7th century, there was a fresh need for evangelism. Macedonia was once again becoming one of the most important Christian mission centres for the christianisation of the Slavic peoples.
The most important Slavic teachers came from Macedonia. Cyril and Methodius (9th century), the first missionaries for the Slavs, were from Thessaloniki, while their students Clement and Nahum, who created the Cyrillic alphabet and opened the first Slavic language university, performed their missionary service in the Macedonian "Jerusalem," the city of Ohrid, in Macedonia. After the Great Schism of the Church in 1054, Macedonia became an Orthodox country.
Unfortunately, this country with such a rich Christian tradition fell under Ottoman slavery in the 14th century and remained under the domination of this Islamic empire for five and a half centuries. It was a difficult time for the Christian people of Macedonia.
Many Albanians in the Balkans and Macedonia accepted Islam in the time of the Ottoman Empire, but Macedonians mainly remained Orthodox Christian. The Christian population in this period was generally very poor and uneducated. While Western Europe was going through processes of Church Reformation, and enjoying the flourishing of science, art, economy, and so on. Macedonia was sinking into poverty and illiteracy. It was not until the end of the 19th century, when the Ottoman Empire became weakened, that the first American Protestant missionaries arrived in Macedonia and managed to start several Protestant churches and schools in some parts of Macedonia.
At the beginning of the 20th century, Macedonia managed to free itself from Ottoman slavery. However, further difficult years of subjugation were to follow: occupations, then the First and Second World Wars, then the time of communism in the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. These were extremely difficult times for spreading the faith, especially for evangelical Protestant Christians.
Although Macedonia has the oldest tradition of Christianity in Europe, it is now considered one of the least evangelised countries in Europe.
Finally, in 1991, after many centuries of foreign rule and occupation, Macedonia became an independent, democratic country. At last there was a climate that allowed relative freedom for evangelical Protestants to spread the Christian faith. Thus, after many centuries of difficulties for the country, the last 30 years have become the most important for the Christian faith in Macedonia. Today in Macedonia there are about 60 Evangelical Protestant churches. The largest denomination, Evangelical Church in Macedonia, which has existed for over 30 years, has over 30 local churches.
Although Macedonia has the oldest tradition of Christianity in Europe, it is now considered one of the least evangelised countries in Europe. But God is doing wonderful and beautiful things in Macedonia. Although there is a low percentage of believers and a small number of churches, evangelical Christians in Macedonia are active in spreading the Gospel. They are also visible and active in the social sphere, educational events, and humanitarian activities.
The Church in Macedonia longs for God to send a new wave of awakening with the formation of many new churches. Our desire is that in the 21st Century, for a third time Macedonia will experience times of refreshment and blessing from God (as in the time of Paul, and as of Clement and Nahum of Ohrid). But Macedonia still needs help today, much as in Paul's time.
The Church in Macedonia longs for God to send a new wave of awakening with the formation of many new churches.
The Macedonian church depends on the prayers and resources of Christian partners. Can you help answer the call?