St. Mary's Church, Elbasan
St. Mary's Church | |
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Native name Albanian: Kisha e Shën Mërisë | |
Location | Elbasan |
Built | 1556 |
The St. Mary's Church (Albanian: Kisha e Shën Mërisë) is an Eastern Orthodox church and monastery in Elbasan, Albania. It became a Cultural Monument of Albania in 1963.[1]
The church's building started in 1483, but it ended almost a century later: the church had its first religious services only in 1556. It was built entirely in stone in a completely particular way, with stones carved in the shape of a cross, which can still be seen today.[2] The church was frescoed by Onufri and restaured by David Selenica. In the 18th century it was entirely burned by a fire, so it was rebuilt in the beginning of the 19th century.[3] Some of the most famous preachers in the church have been Fan Noli and Visarion Xhuvani.[4]
In the 1990s the church became the seat of a split fraction of the Orthodox Autocephalous Church of Albania.[5]
In 2008 the Albanian government financed reconstruction of the church.[6]
References
- ↑ "Religious buildings with the "Culture Monument" status". Republic of Albania National Committee for Cult. Retrieved October 28, 2010.
- ↑ Kisha e Shën Marisë: ndërtimi dhe rindërtimi dibran 28 October2008
- ↑ Kisha e Shën Marisë: ndërtimi dhe rindërtimi dibran 28 October2008
- ↑ Kisha e Shën Marisë: ndërtimi dhe rindërtimi dibran 28 October2008
- ↑ AT NIKOLLE MARKU, GARDIAN I SHQIPTARIZMES from Prof. Eqrem Zenelaj
- ↑ Kisha rebele e Elbasanit, rikthim në identitet 2008-10-19
Coordinates: 41°06′56″N 20°04′49″E / 41.1155°N 20.0804°E