The Church of Saint Prokop in Tirana/ Its uniqueness, from its construction to the present day

2025-07-07 19:28:00, Kulturë CNA

The Church of Saint Prokop in Tirana/ Its uniqueness, from its construction to

The Church of Saint Prokop was built in 1780 in honor of the patron saint of Tirana, Saint Prokop, whose feast day is celebrated on July 8.

The old church

This Church originated about 2 centuries ago and was built near Lana. The church was built where the Presidency courtyard is today, in an area full of water. It was a low building, respecting the canons allowed by the Ottoman administration, and in order to reach the required height inside it, the floor of the central hall was lowered a few steps below the level of the porch with pillars on the outside.

The Church of Saint Prokop in Tirana/ Its uniqueness, from its construction to

The old church

The huge wooden trussed roof, a reflection of the churches of Voskopoja, which housed frescoed arches, was covered with local tiles, while the entrance to the dark hall full of paintings was through two gates. The greenery nearby, also fed by the waters of the Prroit' Verbët, created the right freshness for the surroundings outside where the believers who came from the straight road that connected to Tirana and passed through the field rested.

The church, with dimensions of approximately 22×13 m, and the cemetery area to its right, were located around a low enclosure in the shape of an irregular pentagon.

Design of the new church

Kristo Luarasi's son, Skënder, who had completed his architecture studies in Vienna, where he had been formed in the same environment as prominent Albanian students such as Lasgush Poradeci, Qemal Butka, Eqrem Çabej, Rrok Geraj or Selman Riza, had quickly caught the eye with his harmonious and modern projects in Tirana and Korça. Luarasi enthusiastically accepted the task of designing the church dedicated to Prokop and undoubtedly realized one of the most beautiful projects for the Orthodox community of Albania.

Skënder Luarasi during the design

Distinction in Architecture

It is a typical conception based on the spatial tradition of post-Byzantine churches of the Southwestern Balkans, according to the so-called domed cross typology.

The church was elegantly displayed with its northern porch, the roof of which the architect, through a reductive analysis, had abstracted into a play of triangles that accompanied the arches of the intercolumniations.

The main facade also combined a sought-after and achieved monumentality. Here, the architect reflected the essence of the church's interior volumes through a symmetrical triptych.

New design, 1945

The Church during communism

In 1967, the church of Saint Prokop also suffered the fate of all other religious buildings. It was mutilated, with the arched parts removed. In its place, the cafe-restaurant “Liqeni” was built. What remained of the church of Saint Prokop was returned to its previous function only after almost 30 years, in 1993.

Part of the film 'Skënderbeg'

Part of the film about Skanderbeg

The history of the church of Saint Prokop also includes Skanderbeg (1953). In the premises surrounding the church, the event of the Lezha Assembly, the meeting with the Venetian envoy and the departure from life of Skanderbeg have been staged. /CNA