Valley residents are about to get a taste of Macedonia.

Two organizations are hosting events celebrating Macedonian heritage.

The Tempe Historical Museum, 809 E. Southern Ave., will hold Macedonian Day from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday. It will feature food, music and cultural items.

Three days later, organizers of St. Archangel Michael Macedonian Orthodox Church will hold a dinner and dance to raise money for a new church. The event will take place at the Disabled American Veterans Hall, 1510 N. 79th St. in Scottsdale. Admission is $12.

The group forming the church got together for the first time in April 2002. Three months ago, a priest from Los Angeles visited town to assist in the formation of the church, and in May, the group received approval to move forward.

Macedonia is a region in the Balkan area of southeastern Europe, currently divided among the old Yugoslavia, Greece and Bulgaria. Organizers say they have identified about 100 Macedonian families in the area.

Their religion is Eastern Orthodox, the same as practiced in Greek, Serbian and other Orthodox churches.

"God bless them all who helped us in achieving this status," group member Jim Lozanovski said. "God bless us all here in Arizona, as we are a small group of families."



Contact the reporter at mike.clancy@arizonarepublic.com or (602) 444-8550.