The Ellen Stone affair in the context of the history of religions

American Board representative Ellen Maria Stone and her assistant Katerina Cilka were abducted on September 3, 1901, in the village of Bansko in the city of Strumica, in the Thessaloniki sanjak of the Thessaloniki province of Rumelia. He was detained for about five months until February 23, 1902.This kidnapping by IMRO members drew attention as America's first modern hostage crisis. The aim of IMRO was to draw the attention of the USA and Europe to the events in the Rumelian lands of the Ottoman Empire. The price demanded for the hostages was collected with the aid campaign initiated by the American missionaries. It was handed over to the kidnappers by the American authorities in the Ottoman Empire. They used this amount to finance separatist rebellion movements in Rumelia. Neither Ms. Stone nor Katerina made any complaints about their kidnappers. In our study, which consists of three parts, this event is discussed in terms of the History of Religions. In the first chapter, the birth of Ellen M. Stone, her education life and her work under the umbrella of the American Board are discussed. In the second part, the hostage incident is explained in detail. The identity of the kidnappers and the attempts to release Ellen M. Stone were also mentioned. In the third chapter, Stone's activities in the region and in his country after he was released, and the role of the kidnappers in the rebellion are discussed.