Skopje, 23 October 2023 (MIA) – The Republic of North Macedonia observes Monday the Day of the Macedonian Revolutionary Struggle – October 23.

On 23 October 1893, Hristo Tatarchev, Dame Gruev, Petar Pop Arsov, Anton Dimitrov and Hristo Botandzhiev, at the house of Ivan Hadzhi Nikolov in Thessaloniki, formed the Macedonian Revolutionary Committee, which later on became the Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organisation (VMRO) or Internal Macedonian Odrin Revolutionary Organisation (VMORO).

VMRO’s establishment marked the start of an organised struggle of the Macedonian people and other nationalities for the establishment of an independent country. The day symbolises the continuity of Macedonian struggle for independence, which resulted in establishing a modern, sovereign Macedonian state.

On the occasion of the Day of the Macedonian Revolutionary Struggle, the Parliament of North Macedonia will host a ceremony to present the "23 October" state award. The award is presented for lasting achievements in the field of science, culture, education, protection of state interests and promotion of state priorities, values ​​and the cultural and historical heritage of public interest of the Republic of North Macedonia.

A parliament delegation including Darko Kaevski and Velika Stojkova-Serafimovska will lay flowers at the monument of Goce Delchev in the Skopje City Park. 

A government delegation including Robert Alagjozovski, the National Coordinator for interculturalism, one society, development of culture and interagency cooperation, and Dragan Vasilevski, the PM's advisor on defence, will also lay flowers at the monument of Goce Delchev in the Skopje City Park.

The "Goce Delchev" patriotic institute of VMRO-DPMNE will organize an event entitled "A tradition that binds for a future that comes" on the occasion of the Day of the Macedonian Revolutionary Struggle – October 23 and the 130th anniversary of VMRO. VMRO-DPMNE leader Hristijan Mickoski and president of the patriotic institute, Aleksandar Pandov, will address the event.  

Photo: MIA archive