The Sina family memorial in Voskopoja/ Ilia V. Ballauri brings the rare testimony and the words of Baron Simon

2025-11-26 09:09:00, Kulturë CNA

The Sina family memorial in Voskopoja/ Ilia V. Ballauri brings the rare

Another important step in preserving the Voskopoja heritage has been made with the establishment of a memorial dedicated to the Sina family in Voskopoja, an initiative carried out with the support of the Hungarian Embassy and Hungarian philanthropists. On this occasion, the renowned scholar Ilia V. Ballauri has also brought to the public the translation of Baron Simon Sina's speech, delivered at the Hungarian Academy of Sciences.

Ballauri recalled that for those who wish to delve deeper into the history of the Sina family, a detailed monograph of about 60 pages is found within his monumental work "Voskopoja - Encyclopedic Thesaurus", published in June 2022. The work of over 900 pages in large A4 format (corresponding to about 1800–2000 pages of standard format) is a result of 50 years of research work, collection of documents, notes and in-depth research on the former city of Voskopoja.

The Sina family memorial in Voskopoja/ Ilia V. Ballauri brings the rare

This encyclopedic opus deals in detail with data spanning centuries, including: family history, genealogy, prosopography, diaspora, culture, faith, education, literature, science, art, music, urban planning, economy, trade, crafts, architecture, iconography, medicine, philosophy, agriculture, livestock and many other fields that make up the rich mosaic of the former city.

In total, about 630 Voskopoje families are mentioned, of which 130 are presented in detail, while the rest are based on available information. A special asset of the work are approximately 100 genealogy fragments presented in over 130 family trees, some of which go back to the 16th century and follow the development of the families until the beginning of the 20th century. Also documented are the families that have acquired titles of nobility in Europe and their heraldry.

The Sina family memorial in Voskopoja/ Ilia V. Ballauri brings the rare

From this work, on page 672, Ballauri brings to the public the speech of Baron Simon Sina, an important figure and descendant of the famous Sina dynasty, which has left deep traces in the history of southeastern Europe. This speech, delivered at the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, comes for the first time in Albanian as a rare testimony of the connection between Voskopoja and Hungary.

The inauguration of the memorial and the publication of this speech are considered an important historical, cultural and identity act, which brings attention back to one of the most prominent Voskopoja families and to the rich heritage of the once glorious city of Voskopoja.

The Sina family memorial in Voskopoja/ Ilia V. Ballauri brings the rare

Albanianization of Baron Simon Sina's speech at the Hungarian Academy of Sciences

"Dear members of the Hungarian Association of Scientists.

Knowledge is a force, a force from which, on the one hand, thanks to research and successes, ever greater achievements spring, on the non-spiritual World of Nature, grasping here, the ways of its construction and functioning, and on the other hand, knowledge, slowly melting like an illuminating fire even the darkness of ignorance and prejudice, in the spiritual and moral World, will bring as a result, the development of thought and the ennoblement of the heart and at the same time, will bring understanding and love of the Truth, thus healing the fears from which the shortcomings of society suffer, thus raising man, the nation but also human nature, to perfection and prosperity, these fruits which the generous Creator, considered to bestow upon his beings with intellect on earth, if they can and want, to use wisely, the abilities that He, granted them.

The Sina family memorial in Voskopoja/ Ilia V. Ballauri brings the rare

This is also the reason why civilized nations have considered and always consider the entities and institutions that open and pave the way for sciences to be of special attention and care. This also includes the Hungarian Academy, which was founded with the consensus and contribution of the nation's benefactors, honorable patriots and wise boyars, the written act of which the Emperor was kind enough to approve with great interest.

"Wishing to contribute to the enrichment of this noble institution and with the aim that the Academy has its own shelter as it deserves, I offer eighty thousand florins with the conditions mentioned in the attached founding act. I wish that this contribution be accepted with pleasure by our enlightened Association, with my fervent desire that the works of this scientific institution turn into the greatest successes, into the prosperity of the nation."

The Sina family memorial in Voskopoja/ Ilia V. Ballauri brings the rare

Vienna, August 14, 1858.

To our distinguished companion, the diligent servant,

Baron Simon Sina

(Bibliography: Kerenyi B. Eszeter, "Baro Sina Simon a magyar...")

Note: After the settlement and victory of 895 and the creation of the Hungarian state in 1000, several key moments can be distinguished in the history of the Hungarian people, such as medieval Hungary, (11th – 14th) Austrian Hungary, the Century of Reforms, (first half of the 19th century) the Revolution of 1848 and the fight for freedom, the dualist state of the 1870s, World War I, World War II, the anti-communist revolution of 1956 and today, post-communism.

During the century of reforms (the first half of the 19th century), the Hungarian national awakening took place, which sadly faced the miserable state of the country. There was an urgent need for emancipation, progress and the gathering of the nation's forces. The following are considered as landmarks of the recovery in this period: the establishment of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, the National Museum, the construction of the Budapest-Vac railway line and the construction of the Suspension Bridge that connected Buda with Pest.

All four of these works are closely linked to the undeniable and noble contribution of the Voskopoja diaspora in the Danubian areas, led by the Sina baron family, who at this time still maintained spiritual and kinship ties with Voskopoja and Korça.

They still owned, as a reminder of their connection to these places, a plot of land in Voskopoja, a shop in Korça and a mill somewhere, towards Dishnica.

In Voskopoja they also left their family connections with the old families of Voskopoja that was burned in 1769, mainly Ballauri and Çipi, via - femina, connections with great-grandmothers, see the genealogies in the work in question.

Dr. Ilia V. Ballauri

Illustrations:

1. Baron Simon Sina;

2. Letter to the Austrian Academy of Sciences;

3. The Budapest Suspension Bridge, built mainly with the contribution of the Barons of the Sina family, honored with the placement of the Sina family coat of arms to the right of the entrance from Pest to Buda, a coat of arms that was also placed on the memorial erected these days in Voskopoja./ CNA