59 years without Fan Nolin, one of the brightest figures of Albania

2024-03-13 16:45:00, Kulturë CNA

This March 13 marks 59 years without Fan Noli, the poet, translator, priest, politician, historian and former prime minister of Albania.

Noli, one of the brightest figures of our nation, was born in Ibrik Tepe in Edirne, Turkey, where he also finished high school.

Noli studied at Harvard for arts, and then moved to Egypt where he worked as a teacher.

During this time he got to know prominent patriots of the Albanian colony of Egypt and translated Sami Frashëri's work "Albania what it was, what it is and what it will become" into Greek.

In 1907, after his departure to America, he created the "Besa-besa" society in Boston. On February 9, 1908, Fan Noli was ordained a deacon, and in March 1908, the Orthodox archpriest of New York ordained him an Orthodox priest.

59 years without Fan Nolin, one of the brightest figures of Albania

A few days later, Noli held liturgy in Albanian for the first time in Boston.

Fan Noli visited Albania for the first time in 1913, and was a great supporter of Ismail Qemali and his government. In July 1919, Noli was elected Bishop of the Albanian Orthodox Church in America.

Noli's efforts for an Albanian national church were fulfilled in 1937, when the Istanbul Patriarchate officially recognized the Autocephalous Albanian Orthodox Church.

59 years without Fan Nolin, one of the brightest figures of Albania

Noli's first work was the three-act play The Israelites and the Philistines, published in Boston in 1907. This play was written as early as 1902, based on the story of Samson and Delilah in the Old Testament.

Noli's most extensive contribution was actually that of a designer, as can be seen from his translations. Together with Faik Konica, he can be considered as one of the greatest designers of the Toska dialect. The knowledge he had with foreign languages, Greek, English and French, enabled him to make Albanian a sophisticated and elegant language, although a little folkloric.

59 years without Fan Nolin, one of the brightest figures of Albania

Noli translated many American and European authors of the century. XIX, using his musical ear, was able to reflect the style and rhythmic colors of the original. Although he did not write much in the field of literature, he remains a great writer.

Fan Noli was the deputy of the Colony of America in the second legislature (April 21, 1921 – September 30, 1923), as well as the fiercest political opponent of Ahmet Zogut. The latter called the king "joker of progress". Ahmet Zogu and Fan Noli sentenced each other to death after the uprising of 1924 when Noli came to power and in December of that year when Zogu came to power again.

He passed away in Florida in the United States of America in 1965, at the age of 83, leaving behind a story that makes people proud./ CNA

59 years without Fan Nolin, one of the brightest figures of Albania