Skopje and its Surroundings

Skopje and its Surroundings (Скопље и његова околина) is a historical, ethnographic, and cultural-political study written by Jovan Hadži-Vasiljević and published in Belgrade in 1930. The book serves as the third volume of the author's larger work, Southern Old Serbia (Južna Stara Srbija ). The author's research on the region of Skopje began as early as 1889, with systematic investigations from 1892 to 1900, and continuing up to 1914. Vasiljević notes that prior to his work, no comprehensive description of Skopje had been written, and he highlights the challenges and dangers he and his companions faced while conducting his research under Turkish rule, mentioning the distrust they encountered from both Turkish and Bulgarian officials.

The book provides a detailed overview of the Skopje region, beginning with its physical geography, including its location, borders, rivers, and climate. The author then delves into the city of Skopje itself, describing its layout, population, neighborhoods, and houses, as well as its industry, trade, and important monuments. A significant portion of the book is dedicated to the ethnographic characteristics of the region's inhabitants, covering their national identity, ethnic customs, clothing, way of life, traditional songs, and proverbs. It also covers various customs related to birth, marriage, and death, as well as yearly village celebrations.

A large section of the book is devoted to religious and cultural history, including a description of old churches and monasteries in the area, such as the church of St. Demetrius and the monastery of St. Panteleimon. The author also explores the history of ecclesiastical, school, and cultural-political conditions in Skopje and its surroundings, detailing the metropolitan and diocesan situations, as well as the income of the metropolitans, priests, and churches. The work concludes with an extensive registry or index.