Macedonians in Croatia refers to the group of ethnic Macedonians who reside in Croatia. According to the official census of 2011, there are 4,138 ethnic Macedonians in Croatia.
Macedonians are recognised as an autochthonous national minority, and as such they elect a special representative to the Croatian Parliament, shared with members of four other national minorities.
Migration Macedonians have been migrating to Croatia since the time of the SFR Yugoslavia. Early migration was primarily of Macedonians from a rural background. These migrants have been joined by newer business migrants who have come to Croatia for the opportunities offered. Many settled in the national capital, Zagreb, and the Istria region. Macedonian communities can also be found in larger towns such as Osijek, Pula, and Zadar.
Culture
The main Macedonian cultural association in Croatia is the Macedonian Community in Republic of Croatia (). It was founded in 1992 and it branches over six other smaller organisations from the major cities where Macedonians reside.Makedonci Zagreb-http://makedonci-zagreb.hr/site1/index.php?option=com_frontpage&Itemid=1 The Cultural associations are as follows; KUD-Ohridski Biser from Zagreb, KUD-Makedonija from Split, KUD-Biljana from Zadar, KUD-Brak Miladinov from Osijek, KUD-Ilinden from Rijeka and KUD-Kočo Racin from Pula.
The associations encourage traditional Macedonian folklore and customs from the motherland. They also encourage the upkeep of Macedonian heritage, language and traditions in Croatia.ZUMRH-http://zmurh.hr/cms/index.php//
A lectorate in Macedonian language was established at the University of Rijeka in 2008.
Religion Macedonians in Croatia are predominantly adherents to the Macedonian Orthodox Church . There are four organised church communities which are abbreviated to the MPCO ().MPCO-http://www.mpc-evropa.de/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=5&Itemid=3 The four Communities are St. Zlata Meglenska of Zagreb, St.Naum of Ohrid in Split, St.Joachim of Osogovo of Pula and St.Tsar Constantin and Tsaritsa Elena of Rijeka. Father Kiro Velinski holds liturgy in Zagreb and Split.
The Macedonian Orthodox Church of Saint Zlata of Meglen in Zagreb was dedicated in May 2023.
Media There are several Macedonian language newspapers operating in Croatia. The most prominent is Makedonski glas (, meaning Macedonian voice) which has been in print since the 1990s. It is printed with financial assistance from the Croatian government.Makedonski Glas-http://zmurh.hr/cms/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=27
Macedonians by counties and cities
County Macedonians % City of Zagreb 1,036 0.14% Istria 488 0.25% Primorje-Gorski Kotar 443 0.17% Split-Dalmatia 269 0.06% Osijek-Baranja 230 0.09% Zagreb County 206 0.07% Zadar 98 0.06% Sisak-Moslavina 90 0.06% Dubrovnik-Neretva 89 0.08% Karlovac 86 0.08% Vukovar-Syrmia 69 0.05% Šibenik-Knin 68 0.07% Bjelovar-Bilogora 56 0.05% Požega-Slavonia 48 0.07% Međimurje 47 0.04% Varaždin 43 0.03% Virovitica-Podravina 43 0.06% Koprivnica-Križevci 42 0.04% Krapina-Zagorje 41 0.03% Brod-Posavina 39 0.03% Lika-Senj 24 0.06%
10 most populated cities with MacedoniansNo City Macedonians %1Zagreb1,0360.142Rijeka2400.223Pula2030.394Split1450.095Osijek1390.146Zadar630.097Karlovac620.138Velika Gorica570.099Šibenik460.1110Sisak430.11
Notable Macedonian Croatians Ljupka Dimitrovska - singer Ljiljana Nikolovska - singer Aki Rahimovski - singer Ordan Petlevski - artist Sibila Petlevski - author Goce Sedloski - football manager, former footballer Branko Trajkov - drummer Kostadinka Velkovska - actor
See also
Croatia–North Macedonia relations Macedonian diaspora Ethnic groups in Croatia Croats in North Macedonia St. Zlata Meglenska's Church, Zagreb
References
External links Union of Macedonians in Zagreb Community of Macedonians in Croatia