Čaška

Čaška (Macedonian: Чашка, Chashka) is a municipality located in Povardarie, west of Veles. The rural municipality has over 7,000 residents spread across 42 villages. The primary area of interest within Čaška Municipality is the historical region of Azot.

Understand
The historical region of Azot, covering the Babuna River valley, lies within the western side of the present Čaška Municipality. Bogomilism, a Christian neo-Gnostic sect, was founded in the First Bulgarian Empire by the priest Bogomil in the 10th century. "Bogomil" means "dear to God", while "Babuni" were followers of Bogomilism. With toponyms retaining these names such as the village of Bogomilia and the Babuna River, it is believed that Bogomilism was very active in Azot.

The region of Azot is traditionally ethnic Macedonian and Orthodox Christian. Čaška Municipality as a whole, however, is more diverse, with Albanians forming 35% of the population and Turks forming 5%. Both of these groups are traditionally Muslim and concentrated in the villages of Dolno Jabolčište, Gorno Jabolčište, Gorno Vranovci, Melnica, and Sogle.

Go next

 * Veles, the major city of the area