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The Faces of Patrons

Contemporary societies in the Balkans can certainly learn a good lesson from the tradition of patronage and charitablegiving that we need to restore in our turbulent times. In Macedonia, as throughout the Balkans, patronage used to be part of the functioning of each religious and ethnic community. Charity was a universal virtue and an obligation for the wealthy and powerful,who were expected to endow public and religious buildings. They built bridges, public baths, schools, and donated to monasteries, were patrons of churches, mosques and synagogues. In today’s world, the so-called social responsibility is still not up to the historical standard. Read more …