Religion of Albania

In the antique period the Illyrians had a polytheistic mythology. At the very beginning their religions were aconic but in time they accepted an iconographic presentation. Illyrians created an original heathen mythological system. The main figures of Illyrian mythology were the God of War called Medaur and the God of the Sea called Redon, as well as a number of local gods. In contact with the Greek and Roman mythology, under the name of Greek and Roman gods, Illyrians adapted their own local gods. Later on, since the 1st century of our era, Christianity spread in Illyria. Early Christianity was preached by St. Paul himself. The cradle of this Christianity was the town of Durres. Up till late antiquity in the 6th century Christianity underwent great development with majestic basilicas decorated with brilliant artistic mosaics. Later on, with the division of the world-wide Roman Empire into that of the West and East, Albania remained under the frame of Eastern Christianity, but the influence of Western Christianity has been permanent. In the 15th century, Ottoman occupation marks the beginning of the spread of Islamic religion. But Albanians also practiced secret Christianity, crypto-Christianity, under the Islamic guise. Now the largest part of the population in Albania is Muslim. Of importance in this religion is the sect of Bektashi. Albanians believe in the Orthodox and Catholic churches as well. In 1967 the communist regime banned religious practices and closed religious institutions. Religious freedom and institutions were re-established only following the collapse of the totalitarian regime. Albanian Christianity has produced the greatest figure of all times, Mother Theresa, known also as Theresa of Calcutta, a Nobel Prize winner, who was of Albanian origin. Tolerance and a culture of exemplary understanding have characterized this religious plurality in Albania. ALBANIA BETWEEN THE MYTH AND THE FUTURE Albania is a small country with a rich landscape. It is bound by two seas, the Adriatic and Ionian, and has numerous rivers and three large lakes. The peaks of the Alps intertwine with the coastal lowlands, plains full of forest in the North and resembling the Riviera in the South, the kaleidoscope of marvelous ethnographic areas and costumes and folklore. Albanians owe their origin to the ancient Illyrians of the Continent, with significant vestiges still surviving to this day. The archaeological cities of Buthrintus (sung by Virgil in Eneida as a second Troy), Apollonia (where the Roman Emperor Augustus studied Philosophy) Bulisus and Durres (with its giant amphitheater and temples originally crossed by the Via Egnatia leading to Constantinople) are all examples of this heritage. The Middle Ages were marked by the figure of George Castriot Scanderbeg, the so-called "Athlete of Christ", a strategist and humanist and founder of Albania national unity. The stories of his achievements and heroism, written by Martin Barleti have, since the XVI century, been translated into countless languages including Portuguese. The Albania of today is symbolized by another figure, that of Mother Teresa of Calcutta. Albania history is marked by its struggle for independence against a totalitarian state. With its age-old links to the sea, the Albanian civilization is full of maritime metaphors, symbols and legends. One of these symbols is the century-old Iembe, a ship invented by the ancient Illyrians.
Category:	Culture in Albania
Clicks:	2
Listing added:	Feb 15, 2009
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