Republic of Korça, 109 years of history/ The city honors the figure of Themistoklis Germenji

2025-12-10 13:38:00, Qyteti im CNA

Republic of Korça, 109 years of history/ The city honors the figure of

Today, numerous activities were held in Korça to commemorate the 109th anniversary of the proclamation of the Self-Governing Republic of Korça, a historical moment that marked an important chapter in the process of Albanian state formation during World War I.

Republic of Korça, 109 years of history/ The city honors the figure of

On this commemorative day, local institutions, historians, researchers, citizens and school students joined in solemn ceremonies and cultural activities dedicated to the figure of Themistoklis Germenji and his associates. In his speech to the media, the president of the Korça District Council, Petrika Tollkuçi, underlined the importance of this date for the historical identity of the area and for the collective memory of Albanians.

"Today is a special day for the entire Korça Region, because it coincides with the 109th anniversary of the proclamation of the Self-Governing Republic of Korça by Themistokli Gërmenji and many others, on December 10, 1916. It is a special day because, in a moment of danger, the people of Korça and Albanians knew how to come together and preserve their territorial integrity. Within the framework of this day, we have organized several activities. In the first activity, we distributed 17 certificates of gratitude to many artists, singers, and dancers from the Korça Region. Then we continued with the solemn ceremony in honor of the figure of Themistokli Gërmenji near his monumental grave. We have also organized an exhibition with historian Niko Kotherja and another exhibitor, Lirika Pojani, with historical and traditional costumes of our area. Today we also improvised the raising of the flag for the first time in the city of Korça," said Tollkuçi.

Republic of Korça, 109 years of history/ The city honors the figure of

The official ceremonies took place near the monumental tomb of Themistokli Germenji, where wreaths were laid and a minute of silence was held in his honor. Young people and veterans participated in the homage, while historians and representatives of institutions spoke about Germenji's role as one of the key figures of the patriotic movement in the southeast of the country.

One of the most important points of the day was the opening of the special historical exhibition, organized by historian Niko Kotherja, which includes rare documents, original orders, banknotes and postage stamps from the period 1916–1918. The exhibition sheds light on the administration of the territories of Korça during the time when the city was declared a Self-Governing Republic under the supervision of the French mission.

"It is important that the proclamation of the Republic of Korça be an event that is remembered every year. We are coming to its 109th anniversary and on this important historical day, we are presenting an exhibition with many original materials to show an Albanian-French journey of Korça in the midst of World War I, from December 1916 to February 1918. The exhibition includes elements starting from the first orders issued by the Administrative Council of Korça, to the banknotes that were in three series used in Korça. We also have postage stamps that were issued at that time on the occasion of the opening of the post office. It is an extraordinary contribution not only of Themistoklis Germenji, but also of his collaborators, who were part of this spirit of shaping an Albanian government. Today we are not only paying homage to the figure of Themistoklis Germenji and his collaborators who were sacrificed their lives, but also for those who later became veterans, including my great-grandfather, who was Themistokli Germenji's secretary for the functioning of the Albanian government. A good part of the documents that are on display today are part of his personal archive and have been a supply for researchers, historians and publications in Albania", said Kotherja.

Republic of Korça, 109 years of history/ The city honors the figure of

The exhibited materials reflect institutional life in Korça during the years of world conflict, showing the efforts of local intellectuals and patriots to organize the administration, maintain order, and preserve national identity. Visitors had the opportunity to see documents that are rarely exhibited to the public, including parts of the Kotherja family archive.

On the same day, a second exhibition of historical and traditional costumes of the area, curated by Lirika Pojani, was reopened, bringing elements of Korça's cultural heritage to the public. The two exhibitions were attended by many citizens, researchers and young people interested in the city's history, while the activities organized by local institutions aim to turn this date into an annual tradition, to keep alive the memory of an important period for Korça and Albania./CNA