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The exhibition "Orthodox Churches" opens in Korça/ A journey through history and faith through the centuries

2026-02-25 16:23:00, Aktualitet CNA

The exhibition "Orthodox Churches" opens in Korça/ A journey

In the context of the beginning of Orthodox Lent, the exhibition "Orthodox Churches in Korça" has opened in the city of Korça, a special collection that sheds light on the history, tradition and spiritual heritage of the area.

Collector Mirgen Shamblli says that the realization of this exhibition has been a long-standing desire, carried over for nearly ten years.

According to him, the selection of materials was done carefully, including rare photographs, original documents, and postcards that reflect religious life over the years.

The exhibition "Orthodox Churches" opens in Korça/ A journey

"Today's exhibition is about the Orthodox churches in the Korça area. On the occasion of the beginning of Orthodox Lent, I thought of opening this exhibition with this very special collection and it took me about 10 years to realize it."

The exhibition begins with the Church of Saint George and the cemetery of Saint Mary, where through photographs and documentary materials the three fundamental rituals of human life are presented: birth, baptism, and death.

A special space is also dedicated to the churches of the villages of the Korça district, including about 80 percent of them.

The exhibition "Orthodox Churches" opens in Korça/ A journey

Voskopoja is also in focus, with two original documents from its renowned printing house, as well as materials that testify to the electoral processes for the selection of epitropes before the 1900s.

"We start with the Church of St. George, with the cemetery of St. Mary, where we include the three rituals of humanity: birth, baptism and death. We present this with photos and various materials, as documentaries. We also have the churches of the villages of the entire Korça district, about 80 percent of it. We have presented Voskopoja with two original documents from the Voskopoja printing house, as well as the elections that were made before 1900 for the election of epitropes in these churches. There is a variety of materials in this exhibition."

A significant part of the collection consists of photographs preserved over the years in Korça families, as well as materials obtained through exchanges with other collectors. Among them, the “Life-Giving Source” Cathedral stands out, dating back to 1727, on which the Metropolitan Church was later built, which is today being restored to its historical identity.

"Most of them are photographs that people had in their homes. I have also exchanged materials with various collectors. A good part of them are postcards with images from old churches. I mention here the "Life-Giving Source" Cathedral, which dates back to 1727, and the Metropolitan Church was built on top of this church, which is today returning to its identity."

The exhibition "Orthodox Churches" opens in Korça/ A journey

Shamblli emphasizes that the people of Korça are familiar with this heritage, especially the philanthropists who have contributed their wealth to the churches and the Orthodox community. He singles out the figure of Jovan Banka, who, according to him, left all his wealth at the service of the Albanian Orthodox community.

"The people of Korça are certainly familiar with these materials, especially the philanthropists, who have donated their wealth to churches and the Orthodox community. I single out Jovan Banka, who left all his wealth to the Albanian Orthodox community."

Through this exhibition, the message conveyed is that of peace and love for all, in a period of reflection and spiritual devotion such as Lent.

"My message is peace and love for all people. It is Lent, so that people who believe in God may be forgiven."

The exhibition "Orthodox Churches" opens in Korça/ A journey

The exhibition "Orthodox Churches in Korça" remains a living testament to faith, history, and civic contribution across generations.

Through documents, photographs, and rare materials, it brings to mind the spiritual roots of Korça and the role that the church has played in the social and cultural life of the community.

On the eve of Lent, this exhibition serves not only as a journey into the past, but also as a call for reflection, peace, and love among people./ CNA