Vratnica community 

   Our community is consisted of few places: Vratnica (center of the community), Beloviste, Staro selo, Rogacevo, Gorno & Dolno Orasje, and Jazince.
  Vratnica community spreads at the north part of the Polog Valley. When we talk about its location in Macedonia, it is in the north-western part. It is a border community.
  Neighboring communities to ours: Tearce at west side, Jegunovce and Kondovo at south, and Serbia & Montenegro state (SCG) at north and east.

  RED ALERT : 
  Please appeal for existence of VRATNICA community at Macedonian state government & agencies !!! 
"Vratnica community - To be or not to be?!  TO BE!"
- Big report by Sase Antic about "How the Macedonian government took the successful community from the hands of Vratnica citizens" (in Vratnica language) -
- read it here -

         
Populated places at Vratnica community / Location of Vratnica community in Macedonia
[ Left map is property of www.MapQuest.com :: Right map © www.Gov.mk ]

*** A few words for the populated places in the community ...

   Beloviste ...
Beloviste is located in the valley of Beloviste river at its descent from Shara Mountain. Vratnica at north-east and Odri at south-west are the neighboring places of Beloviste. Its name probably came from the white-yellow clay which can be seen at one hill above the village (in Macedonian language: belo=white).
  For the first time Beloviste was mentioned in documents from 14th century. Streets in Beloviste (according to the clans): Pejcinovci, Popovci, Markovci, Stepanovci and Grozdanovci. This village is an compact type of populated place.
Some topographic names in the area: Duba, Progun, Rupa, Strancina, Kaldrma, Rakoec, Golina, Gologajca (at south of the village) and Brajkoa Niva, Papradnica, Popoo, Sredorek, Dupka, Bozje, Markoski Nivi, Grujoa Cesma, Bel Kamen, Klage (at north).
  There are living orthodox Macedonians in Beloviste. Their village Slava (Orthodox family feast for its patron saint) is St. Ananasij. Also, St. Atanasij is the name of its church located above the village.
  Today Beloviste is nice place for living. It have all necessary things for that. Here I can mention: few shops, youth club, small sports center, computer's club, hardware store,...

   Vratnica ...
Vratnica is big place in north-east part of the Polog valley, at the foothills of Shara Mountain, at the right side of Vratnica river (Rakita). Its neighboring places are: Beloviste at south-west and Staro Selo at north-east.
  Vratnica is compact type of place with many streets, and orthodox Macedonians living in it. St. Konstantin & Elena (local term is Kostanoan) is their Slava (all citizens holiday). There are many Vratnicans that live out of its native place, in almost every single country at our planet.
  Vratnica was always been an progressive city. Today it have all conditions for peaceful and normal life. Many traditional events during the whole year are happening in this place.
Much more info about Vratnica (center of the community) you can read it at about page of this web site.

   Orasje ...
This village is located in the valley of Vratnica river. Closest settlements: Neraste at south-west, Vratnica at north-west and Staro Selo at north.
  There are two places with this name: Orasje (aka Gorno Orasje) and Dolno Orasje (near to Orasko Gradiste, an old fortress in Zeden gorge of Vardar river). This fortress is located between the lowest parts of Vratnica and Rogacevo river at the place they empties into the Vardar river. Orasko Gradiste is 3-4km far from Orasje.
Some topographic names in the area: Zeden, Kale, Vratnicka Reka, Markov Kamen, Derven, Mlace, Sua Reka, Vardar, Tri Medji, Rid, Stozer (kamen).
  This is an old village. In the beginning it was populated by orthodox Macedonians, but from the end of 18th century there were settled Muslim Albanians that came from some parts of north Albania. Today Orasje is populated only with Albanians.
  There is one main street in Orasje with the houses at the both sides. Some of the buildings in the village: primary school, shops, mosque, modern restaurant,...

   Staro Selo ...
Staro Selo (aka Stare Selo) is located at the slopes of Shara Mountain (Sar Planina) at north-east of Vratnica. A road to Ljuboten pass thru this village.
  The village was founded by the citizens of Orasko Gradiste. The name of Staro Selo probably came from the thinking that it is older from some of the neighboring villages (in Macedonian: staro=old, selo=village).
  Some topographic names in the area: Dubrajca, Rudina, Zebljak, Sred Pole, Lokva, Gaber, Rogacevski Put, Surin, Ograde (at south) and Golema Leska, Dva Kamenja, Seliste, Kosmatica, Krs, Studena Voda, Mala Reka, Sredo Rek, Okres, Ljuboten (at north of the village, at Shara Mountain).
  Orthodox Macedonians live in Staro Selo, and their Slava is Djurdjovden (local name is Djurdjoan). There is primary school in this village, few shops, church of St. Djodjija, sports terrains. Traditional football tournament is organizing by the youth in first weekend of August.
  The mountain house at Ljuboten is connected with Staro selo with good sand road. Usually, chief of the mountain house is someone from this village.

   Rogacevo ...
The village is settled in area rich in limestone. Its neighboring villages are: Jazince at north-east and Staro Selo at south-west.
  Rogacevo is old settlement. There are two main streets: Gorno and Dolno Maalo (Upper and Lower street) and characteristic empty space in the middle of the village called "sredselo" (center of the village). In the area of Rogacevo can be found few springs: Rupica, Kladence, Kusoac, Korito.
  Some topographic names in the district: there are Shara Mountain's slopes at west and north-west of the village with its parts - Trshanovac, Kajcinovac, Debeli Rid, Rudina, Veliki Rid, Jajce, Kremenik, Shishmanovac, Krushevac, Srednjo Brdo, Golema Rupa, Mravjanik. At east and south-east of the village is lowland, which soil is tilled in the bigger part of it. Some of the parts of this lowland: Kutrevica, Ploshnik, Smolnica, Krusha, Nivicista, Stara Crkva, Jatanec, Trska, Progonj, Krs, Koshtan, Gushavac, Surin, Kriva Kobila, Kukudarka, Bazar, Korita.
  Orthodox Macedonians live in Rogacevo. Their Slava is Spasovden (Spasoan). People of Rogacevo have a few churches in its surroundings. The church of St. Spas is the biggest and it is in the center of the village. St. Ilija church is above the village near one rocky spring. At the day of St. Ilija (Ilinden a.k.a. Ilindan, at 2nd of August) the citizens of Rogacevo receive guests from other villages. Some documents says that this church (of St. Ilija) was a monastery in the past.
  Rogacevo is very nice place for living. There are many young people, cheerful citizens. This village have: primary school, first-aid station, small center of culture, few shops, fresh basketball terrain, football terrain, one building of the Macedonian army (army barracks) is in their area.

   Jazince ...
At the end of Polog Valley at north is placed Jazince. In the area of this village is located the border crossing point between Macedonia and Serbia and Montenegro (SCG). Neighboring villages of Jazince are: Rogacevo (at south-west) and Globocica (a.k.a. Dlabocica, in the neighboring country Serbia and Montenegro, at north-east).
  This village is an old settlement. In the beginning it was populated by orthodox Macedonians, but later here came some Muslim Albanians from north Albania (similar to Orasje). Today there live only Albanians.
  Some topographic names around Orasje: Rekin Breg (Breca Rekit), Osoj, Zeleni Livadi (Livade Ljome), Mali Zeden, Suva Livada, Bogljeac, Potok, Pesak, Treska, Javorov Izvor, Kara Bunar, Smonica, Prljak, Stara Bacila, Crni Kamenj, Stani Ramdanit (Ramadanov Stan - Bacilo), Krs Kamenj (Curi Kric), Ljuboten. There are four bigger streets in Jazince.

Besides the different ethnic, religious and cultural characteristics of the citizens that live in this community (Orthodox Macedonians and Muslim Albanians), they live together, and not ones next to the others. The people that exist at this area are smart. They know the real values of together living, of the mankind in general.

Pictures from all the places of Vratnica community you can see in the photo gallery.