On the celebration of the 110th.anniversary of Todor Alexandrov's birth, the Chairman of the Macedonian Scientific Institute, Prof. Dr. Peter Shapkarev, declared at the opening of the session that the day assumed particular significance for the Bulgarian people. This session confirmed a truth which, for more than 45 years, had been most brutally suppressed, falsified and concealed. This is the truth about the life and work of the remarkable and inspired organizer of the Macedonian revolution, Todor Alexandrov, of his importance in the national liberation struggles of the Bulgarian people for emancipation and unification and for the preservation of the Bulgarian national identity in Macedonia. The scientific session was designed to add individual strokes to the impressive image of the great Bulgarian, one of the pillars of the cause of the revolution in Macedonia. In compliance with the prepared programme, the session attempted to elucidate the different aspects of the turbulent life of this professional revolutionary and his variegated activities as a universally recognized leader in the struggle for the freedom of the motherland. Each of the speakers were allotted 15-20 minutes for their presentations. (It is planned to publish all the material from this session in the Macedonian Review.)

Before the proceedings commenced, the participants in the session cordially greeted Mrs. Maria Alexandrova-Koeva, Alexandrov's daughter, who was the Guest of Honour. She was presented with flowers.

In his report, Research Associate Decho Dobrinov outlined briefly Todor Alexandrov's life and activities. He was born in the town of Shtip on March 4th, 1881 and was quite young when he joined the revolutionary struggle for the freedom and independence of Macedonia. In 1911 he was elected as a member of the Central Committee of the Internal Macedonian-Adrianpple Revolutionary Organisation. During the First Balkan War, he organised guerrilla detachments to attack the rear of enemy positions and, as a unit commander, conducted reconnaissance and diversion activities. After the First World War, Alexandrov took a most active part in restoring the work of the Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organisation (IMRO). Objectively assessing the alignment of the forces, Alexandrov arrived at the idea of forming an anti-Serbian front of all oppressed nationalities in Yugoslavia. As a result of the efforts in this direction, unity of action was attained between IMRO and the Albanian resistance and the Croat liberation movement. The prestige of IMRO rose rapidly both in enslaved Macedonia and abroad. As a result of the internal strife in the organization Alexandrov was treacherously assinated on August 31st, 1924. Thus having begun his career as a professional revolutionary during the time of Turkish bondage, the name Todor Alexandrov was to be forever associated with the struggle of Macedonian Bulgarians for freedom and independence in the most difficult years after the First World War.

In her report entitled "Yavorov and Todor Alexandrov", Prof. Dr. Ganka Naidenova outlined the warm friendship between the two remarkable revolutionaries. She referred to the letters they exchanged which shed abundant light on both their cordial relationship and their joint endeavours connected with the Macedonian liberation movement. This sincere friendship was abruptly ended by Yavorov's tragic death on October 16th, 1914.

In his report "T.AIexandrov during the 1912-1918 Wars" Prof. D. Gotsev follows up his revolutionary activity in this important period of Bulgarian history. T. Alexandrov was one of the most important leaders of the Macedonian revolutionary organization of the Balkan Wars and the First World War until his death in 1924. His life, work and ideas are yet to be studied in depth.

In the report "The Western Press on Todor Alexandrov", Senior Research Associate Sava Penkov revealed something of the attitude of the Western press concerning Alexandrov's personality and work. In the early 1920's his personality had already attracted the attention of the European public and press. The newspapers in a number of European countries, as well as some in the United States, expressed attitudes and opinions towards the activity of the great revolutionary and patriot. Up to his assassination, numerous reports, articles and profiles appeared in many newspapers and magazines. The Encyclopaedia Britannica (1944) characterizes him as the uncrowned king of the Macedonian Bulgarians (or many years - they almost deified him. He was tall, with a fine figure and black beard. He was as hard-headed as he was brave and, to top it all, he was a man with personal candour and great patriotism. The British Times carried several reports on Alexandrov, sending a special correspondent to Macedonia to meet him. SRA Penkov listed the names of many other foreign newspapers which had carried features, interviews and other information on Alexandrov, presenting him as the universally recognized leader of the revolutionary struggle of the Bulgarians in Macedonia. The memory of him did not fade after his death.

K. Tsurnoushanov's report: "Todor Alexandrov's Contacts with the Salonika Terrorists", followed up Alexandrov's initial steps as a revolutionary in his youth, when his image of a real revolutionary began to take shape - courageous, selfless, intelligent and tactful. Alexandrov's first meeting with the dynamiters of Salonika, also called the Gemidji (Sailors), was with Pavel Shatev, one of the most active members of the group. His further participation in the activities of the Gemidji, namely the blowing up of the Banque Ottomane chiefly amounted to carrying the dynamite they had bought. During this successful transportation, Alexandrov got in touch with other members of thegroup. Acting in a strictly clandestine and coldblooded manner and with tireless vigilance, he demonstrated for the first time his excellent qualities as an organizer.

In "The Struggle for Control of the Liberation Movement of the Macedonian Bulgarians (1919-1923)", Prof. Dr. Vassil A. Vassilev dwelt on an important period of the revolutionary struggles for the independence of Macedonia. Prof. Vassilev followed up the events immediately after the end of the First World War, which were associated with the restoration of the national liberation movement and with its further development. Two main currents were formed then - autonomists and federalists.

One current was represented by the underground IMRO, headed by Alexandrov, which was restored afterthe signing of the Peace Treaty of Neuilly and by the legal Union of Macedonian Charitable Brotherhoods in Bulgaria. The second was represented by the short-lived Macedonian Emigrant Federation. Besides these principle rivals' claims for control of, or at least (or essential influence upon, the liberation movements of the Macedonian Bulgarians, there were others from smaller organizations and political forces. For example, the Bulgarian Communist Party (BCP) set up the Emigrant Communist Union for the propagation of communist ideas among the groups of refugees. This union also failed to evolve into a mass organization. The most militant and selfless young Macedonians, inspired by the purist idealism, were drawn by Alexandrov's organization. There are many reasons for the success of IMRO under Alexandrov, but the principal one was the clear, Bulgarian standpoint of the organization. The IMRO slogans and actions appealed to the nationally oppressed Bulgarians in Vardar Macedonia and corresponded to their will to resist the violations, lootings and the brutal regime of denationalization to which they were subjected. The programme of the organization was particularly attractive for the romantically and patriotically disposed young people and for the intelligentsia, who were inspired by the noble ideal of self-sacrifice in the name of freedom and human rights. Todor Alexandrov's indomitable will, organizational talent, setflessness, determination and fanatical dedication to the liberation struggle of the Macedonian Bulgarians should also be added to the reasons for the success of IMRO at this time. The people revered him as a saint, affectionately calling him the "Old Man".

In the scientific communication, "Who Took the Decision to Assassinate TodorAlexandrov?-according to General lvan Vulkov", Stoyan Boyadjiev related his conversation with the General, who was the war minister after the June 9th, 1923 coup. According to General Vulkov, the decision to assassinate Alexandrov was taken by the Military League, headed by General Ivan Roussev.

In his report "Todor Alexandrov's Life, Work and the Bulgarian Emigrants in the USA and Canada after the First World War", Associate Professor Trendafil Mitev indicated the great importance of Alexandrov's organizing the Bulgarians from Macedonia in America into the Macedonian Patriotic Organization (MPO) and activatingtheir patriotic work. After the First World War, Alexandrov was the first to grasp the significance of the emigrants in the New World for the success of the liberation movements of the Macedonian Bulgarians. Under his influence and instruction, the MPO became a leading external factor in the revolutionary struggle. Today, for Bulgarians in America, the name of Todor Alexandrov continues to be a symbol of unity in the struggle for the liberation of the oppressed motherland.

The session ended with Senior Research Associate lliya Manolov's report Todor Alexandrov and the Revolutionary Folk Song Tradition". As far as folk songs reflecting the revolutionary struggles in Macedonia are concerned, the speaker indicated, one could speak here about a phenomenon without parallel in the world. A prerequisite (or this phenomenon could be found in the total scope of the two components: struggle and song. The emergence of the revolutionary song was neither accidental or episodic, it was the necessary and true companion of a common struggle. An important place in the hierarchy of the songs was occupied by the heroic, rebel songs whose task was to keep up the spirit of the people by reminding them of the old glory of the Bulgarian State and that the powerful enemy was not invulnerable. SRA Manolov then traced the development of a song about Alexandrov himself, now found in several versions. It is indicative of these versions of the song that they do not refer to the death of the hero, leaving us with the memory and bright image of an eternal Todor Alexandrov.

Prof. Dr. Dobrin Michev closed the session with a short concluding speech.