Besa-Besën

Besa-Besën (Pledge for a Pledge) was an organization of Albanian emigrants in Boston, Massachusetts.

"Pledge for a Pledge" Society
Albanian: Besa-Besën
Merged intoVatra, the Pan-Albanian Federation of America
Formation6 January 1907 (1907-01-06)
TypePatriotic, cultural, political
HeadquartersBoston, Massachusetts
Region
USA
Official language
Albanian, English
President
Fan Noli (until March 1908)
Kristo Kirka (from March 1908)
Vice President
Goni Katundi
Treasurer
Angelo Stefenson (Katundi)
Key people
Sotir Peçi
Fan Noli
Petro Nini Luarasi[1]

The society was founded on January 6, 1907, in Boston. The elected president was Fan Noli, vice-president Goni Katundi, treasurer Angelo Stefenson, and secretary Nini Fani Katundi. It had an elderly council as advisory body.[2]

The society gave a contribute in establishment of the Albanian Orthodox Church in March 1908, where Fan Noli was ordained priest by Platon, the Russian Mitropolite of New York. The same month Noli gave the first sermon in Albanian language in Knights of Honor Hall of Boston. The church of Saint George was the first Albanian American church, and the first Albanian Orthodox church in overall. Meanwhile, Kristo Kirka became President of the society. The society contributed also in the spread of Albanian education in Ottoman Albania, i.e. the Normal School of Elbasan, the first institution for higher education in Albanian.[3]

On February 15, 1909, the society started the publication of Dielli, which is still published today, being one of the oldest Albanian-language newspapers. Its manager was Fan Noli, until October 22 when Faik Konitza came and took over.

On April 28, 1912, Besa-Besën together with other Albanian-American organizations (Flamuri i Krujes, Keshilli Kombetar, Dallandyshja, and other smaller organizations) merged into Vatra, the Pan-Albanian Federation of America.[4] Dielli was carried over as a Vatra publication, and Kristo Kirka was elected as manager.[5]

References
  1. Fjalor enciklopedik shqiptar [Albanian Encyclopedic dictionary], 3, N - Zh dhe një shtojcë, Tirana: Akademia e Shkencave e Shqipërisë, 2009, p. 2507, ISBN 9789995610326, OCLC 705766082
  2. Fan Noli, Kostandin Chekrezi (1918), Kalendari i Vatrës i motit 1918, Vatra Press, p. 25
  3. Vepror Hasani (2015-08-30), Dossier: Kohë kur shqiptarët jepnin të holla për Arsimin, dhe jo për "diploma false" [Dossier: Time when Albanians contributed in Albanian education, not forged diplomas], Gazeta Tema referring to Gazeta Korca of November 12, 1909, archived from the original on September 28, 2015, retrieved September 28, 2015, Me përpjekjen e shoqërisë “Besa-Besën” n’Amerikë po mblidhen mjaft ndihma për shkollën Normale të Elbasanit, gjer sot pas radhuas që është hapur, janë mbledhur këto ndihma: Shoqëria “Besa-Besën” 20 dollarë, z. Kr. Qirka 5 dollarë, z. N.Tromara 5 dollarë, z. Tale Mihal 3 dollarë. S’kemi përveçse të ngjatjetojmë shoqërinë “Besa-Besën”, edhe ndihmëtarët për veprat e tyre kombiare...
  4. Robert Elsie (2010), Historical Dictionary of Albania, Historical Dictionaries of Europe, 75, Scarecrow Press, pp. 467–468, ISBN 978-0810861886
  5. Fan Noli, Kostandin Chekrezi (1918), Kalendari i Vatrës i motit 1918, Vatra Press, p. 26
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