Orthodox Congress (Albania)

The Orthodox Congress was a meeting held on September 13, 1922, in Berat, Albania among Albanian Orthodox people, which decided the Autocephaly of the Church of Albania. According to the decisions of the Congress, religious services could be held in the Albanian language.[1][2]

History

The initiative for the congress was taken by the mayor of Durrës, Kostë Paftali, who had the goal to unite the Orthodox Albanians and sent telegrams to the Orthodox circles all over the country. Every district elected two delegates. On September 10, 1922 in the main school of Berat the delegate gathered and presented their credentials. A special committee who verified their credentials was headed by Perikli Kone, secretary Vasil Llapushi and members Vangjel Çamçe, Stathi Kondi and Taq Buda. The following were the delegates:[3]

The Congress started its work on September 11, 1922 and Josif Qirici proclaimed the autocephaly of the Albanian Church. On September 13, 1922 a statute was approved by the congress.[4] A temporary synod was elected, headed by Vasil Marku. The synod was composed by four clerics and four laymen, the four clerics being the deputy mitropolites of Korçë, Durrës, Berat and Gjirokastër, and the laymen being Dhosi Havari (Korçë), Simon Shuteriqi (Durrës), Tol Arapi (Berat) Stathi Kondi (Gjirokastër).[5]

Reaction from the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople

Meletius IV of Constantinople sent a Patriarchal exarch to Albania, Father Yerotheou, who arrived in Korçë on November 27, 1922. On December 19, 1922 he sent a letter to the newly created synod, congratulating them for the initiative and expressing his faith that the Ecumenical Patriarchate will, in due time, recognize the Albanian Orthodox Church. Yerotheou wrote a report for Meletius IV and proposed that an Albanian delegation be invited to Istanbul. The delegation, headed by Vasil Marku, went to Istanbul in March 1923, but could not obtain a promise for full recognition, as Patriarch Meletius IV would give only a partial autonomy, and that would have been contrary to the provisions of the statute. On August 23, 1923 Metropolite Kristofor Kisi volunteered to serve the Albanian Orthodox Church.[6]

References
  1. Hilmi Kolgjegja (2010). Perla shqiptare. Toena. Më 13 shtator 1922, Kongresi Ortodoks i Shqipërisë, mbledhur në Berat i përfaqësuar nga 33 delegatë, shpalli Autoqefale Kishën Ortodokse shqiptare dhe vendosi zhvillimin e meshës në gjuhën shqipe.
  2. "Autoqefalia e Kishës Ortodokse të Shqipërisë në marrëdhëniet shqiptaro-greke, 1918-1937 - Ardit Bido, University of Tirana, 2015" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2018-09-07. Retrieved 2018-09-07.
  3. Llukani 2010, pp. 84-86
  4. Llukani 2010, pp. 86-87
  5. Llukani 2010, p. 90
  6. Llukani 2010, pp. 91-92

Literature
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