International Journal of Research (IJR) e-ISSN: 2348-6848, p- ISSN: 2348-795X Volume 2, Issue 2, Feb. 2015 Available at http://internationaljournalofresearch.org

Religious tolerance in the eye of foreign travelers Prof.As.Dr. Rudina MITA “Aleksandër Xhuvani” University, , [email protected] Msc. Besnik BAJRAMI [email protected]

Abstract: For religious diversity and religious tolerance “As they continuously stand together, many as unique phenomenon, fellow inherent in the Christians learn a lot of stuff from the infidels history of the Albanian people have written not (Muslims-author) example how to celebrate on only travelers, politicians, Albanologists, but Friday, which is the main feast of the Turks also representatives of different religions. (Muslims) and other infinite superstitions. Turks Details of his toric documents constitute proof (Muslims-author), as descendents of Christians, of the existences after tolerance and coexistence preserve many of the Christian’s customs; of Albanians smoothly different faiths. This is regarding to feasts, they invite each others in clearly evidenced in many writings and death ceremonies, among celebrations and historical documents, but in accordance with the weddings. Many of these Christians by giving contents of the topic will focus on foreign and taking, believe that they are redeemed travelers and their opinions about this (getting healthy), if they perform some bad phenomenon. It is clear from Mazreku Petër ...” Catholic missionaries in a report of its own sent (So writes Peter the Holy See of Romein1633, in which clearly Mazreku a Catholic missionary in expresses this phenomenon. a report of his Byron stayed in the court of Ali Pasha in Ioannina, found that not all Albanians were own sent the Holy See of Rome in 1633) Muslims, some tribes were Christian, but religion did not change their behavior and Many personalities at any times and from habits. Said the same thing 30 years Grisebach different countries have talked about in the nineteenth century: "The Albanians are a religious tolerance unique phenomenon of population that cannot stand the appearance the Albanian people A lot of scriptures have than many Muslims and Christian are". Not that been published not from foreign travelers Albanians did not knoë ordid not practice curios about this unknown or little known religion, but they had proper respect for each country, either by the Western and Eastern other on issues of common religiousones life. civilization or Balkan politicians, With the spread of Islamin Albanian areas, Albanologists, ambassadors of foreign deepened religious diversity. Like Christianity and Islam among Albanians generally remained countries, representatives of religious a popular religion away doctrinal into lerance beliefs. The curiosity of these personalities and bigotry. stood not only in the recognition of nature, traditions, social customs, Albanian outer Key Words: features but also in the existence of these religious tolerance; religious Diversity; people who had resisted time by surviving. Christianity ; Islam; historical This survival was achieved thanks to their documentation centurial efforts by putting national interests above everything. The existence of those

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International Journal of Research (IJR) e-ISSN: 2348-6848, p- ISSN: 2348-795X Volume 2, Issue 2, Feb. 2015 Available at http://internationaljournalofresearch.org four religious beliefs became an obstacle in present Orthodox and Catholic delegates achieving the ultimate goal in the creation of (referring to the delegates of the First the Albanian state in 1912. Congress of Elbasan). One of these Beylers The historical documentation summarized told me in a jargon half French, half in the monograph or interesting data Turkish: “He is Catholic, he is Orthodox, summarized in personal diaries of foreign and I am Muslims, but we are all travelers constitute the clearest evidence for Albanians”. (Gabriel Louis-Yaray, Unknown the existence of tolerance and of a smooth Albania, 2006:148-149) coexistence between Albanians of different Gabrie Luis Yarai during his memoirs religions. In accordance to the scope of the mentioned also the fact that the Albanians topic which we have chosen to present today regardless of what faith they belonged to, in this scientific conference we will try to when it came to the state national symbols present evidence of some foreign travelers they were responsive and unique in their who have set foot on the Albanian land. opinions, because for them this was the most The existence of religious beliefs in important and primary thing for their own Albania and the religious affiliation of the existence as a nation. „What has survived in Albanians regardless of their choice, didn‟t the spirit of people from all over the ancient become and obstacle when the country and past of this old breed, it is Epic of nation were risk, and we can say strongly Skanderbeg. The Independent Albania has confirm that they all came together in found precisely his flag, which was once solving the duties and taking decisions when waving in his the capital Kruje, a red flag it was the right the moment under the motto with a black double-headed eagle. Ismail that They were all Albanians. Regarding this Qemali didn‟t leave a cross on the flag, feature of the Albanians Gabriel Louis- while Esat Pashe Toptani put the half-moon Yaray mentions that “The religious issue above the Eagle, but each one of them called bothers the upper layers (Beylers) less than this flag a living symbol of the reborn the political difficulties. I think that I am nation.”( Ibid:148-149) presenting the situation in Albania truthfully Nationalism was primary for the and faithfully, when I say that Albanian Albanians and according to the author all the Beylers try to coordinate their adjuration for others were inconsiderable. He mentions the Muslim religion with a sincere tolerance that: “.... of all the “nationalism” that have towards the Catholic and the Orthodox survived during the Turkish invasion which th faith..... I saw the Imams surrounded by a were reinspired in 19 century by the special respect. I felt all the respect that the immeasurable strength of ideas, the Beylers had for Albanian Muslim order of was the most Bektashi sects. I also noticed that those prominent one. All of them can be know by Beylers really intend to make the Muslim a single feature, that is neither the language religion a kind of state religion, but they nor tradition, history, religion, but the frankly want, apparently, to provide a national consciousness”.(Ibid:203) – The complete and true freedom to Orthodox and author further states that: “.... the only nation Catholic Albanians, for the clergy and their in Europe and Turkey, which withstood and religious institutions. I heard them showing didn‟t dissolve, was the Albanian nation. remorse for religious divisions, condemning Some of the Albanians were Christian, while all of them who promoted these, welcoming most of them converted to Islam. But unlike with an open heart and with respect all the the others the Albanian Muslims always

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International Journal of Research (IJR) e-ISSN: 2348-6848, p- ISSN: 2348-795X Volume 2, Issue 2, Feb. 2015 Available at http://internationaljournalofresearch.org remained an Albanian...... an excellent (Bayram).”(Justin Godart, Albanians diary, 1921- example of the depth and strength of the 1951, 2008:36-37) Albanian national feeling”.(Ibid:204) regarding the the faith had to national According to Hugo Adolf Bernatzik in his unity, what Godarti had observed was that in book "Albania the country of Albanians”, Albania: “Nothing can stop or hinder this another foreign traveler, who had traveled in union and especially religious issues. All our country like many others, hadn‟t missed people are concerned about this unity and noticing the phenomenon of tolerance they claim that this unity stands above all among Albanians. He says: "Patience of religious beliefs, which have no fanatical Albanian, apart from a matter of money or followers (Ibid:47) …national unity is not marriage, is attributed also to religious afraid of the impact of the matters. Catholics, Orthodox Christians and religions…”(Ibid:49) Muslims live in peace in this small country, During his visit in the city of Korca, and often live together even villages. Godarti was assured by the local authorities Religious wars are unknown and that: “…in Albania now you couldn‟t notice inconceivable for the Albanian. In Saint- at all any religious issue. Albania is a Anne, a small mountain village with a country of free thought, where everyone chapel, which is built on the ashes of St. worships and loves his neighbor, no matter Anthony, I saw a church celebration in of what religion he is. Even here Christians which hundreds of people attended ...... but and Muslims make mutual visits for Easter more than half of these were Muslims. and Fitr (Bayram)”(Ibid:75). However, they were treated with a special "Whenever you are called by their affection. Gifts, small memories, biblical Motherland, the Albanians of all religions quotes, etc., were originally given to have unanimously come together and fought them…”( Hugo Adolf Bernatzik, Albania, side by side" - had noticed the prominent Albanian‟s country, 2003:154, 163) French scholar Justin Godard. The perception of the French politician "In different testimonies of these centuries Justin Godart regarding the unique (XVI-XVIII) it is indicated that they are phenomenon observed in Albania, the very shallow in their Christian cult, they religious tolerance, expressed in his latest were said to have Christian name, but no book “Albanian Savants March 1921- faith. (Cherub)”. (Mark Tirta. Mthology among December 1951”, is similar to the idea of Albanians, 2004:39) The most serious scholars Father Gjergj Fishta that between Christians who knew those people well, the oldest in and Muslims in Albania there is peace and the Balkans, who had eaten with them in harmony. Quoting the words of Fishta, their dining tables and enjoyed the sweetest Godarti in his book mentions that: “When , tales and epic verses, we were discussing about religious explained this phenomenon, not due to the tolerance, Fishta told me that in some lack of religion, but due to the primary villages in Eastern, Muslims go in front of commitment towards the nation and their the Church and await for the Catholics to go clan, and then to spiritual faith. out of the church and then they celebrate Edith Durham in her book “Balkan together. This graceful behavior was sorrow” expressed that the Albanian had returned to them by the Catholics, even with embraced religion or different religions in the rifle shootings in the air, when Muslims order to reach their final goal, the struggle were leaving the mosque for Fiter for survival and not falling under the rule of

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International Journal of Research (IJR) e-ISSN: 2348-6848, p- ISSN: 2348-795X Volume 2, Issue 2, Feb. 2015 Available at http://internationaljournalofresearch.org foreigners. According to this, Durham “Albanian people are above all Albanians”- quotes this information collected by said Edith Durham (Ibid:221). She relied to Albanians put at the service of the Ottoman the testimonies of the locals in order to reach Empire. According to their testimony: this conclusion and she noticed: “…We Albanians, have some special ideas. "Kajmekani, a young Albanian that spoke We must have freedom; we are ready to take good French, came twice to meet me and up whatever religion that can be served us expressed some liberal views. All religions provided that it allows us to keep a rifle. Just for him, led on the same path; in order to go for this we are today a population of Muslim to a place we must follow a path; go through majority. The goal of each chairman was to the path of the church or the mosque this keep his position and expand his lands. Few makes no difference. God is always the people in the older provinces remain same. When I have to go somewhere, I go to Christians, most of them embraced Islamism the mosque, but what we must remember is and after a few time of this Turkish that we are all Albanians.”(Ibid:234) “invasion” the Albanian power Later in her book Durham concludes: “... spread”.(Edith Durham, Balkan‟s sorrow, , Tiranë Albanian people ...... don‟t seem to submit 2009:50:51) to the circumstances, they force the Durham in her writings mentioned also circumstances to submit to them more. They another characteristic of the Albanians, that have embraced Christianity and of being primarily an Albanian regardless of Mohammedanism superficially, and religion, while the wars that he has fought apparently this made no effect ... I spent were mainly among the Beys opponents. many days in a row, in the company of There was no war between Christians and Muslim and Christian boys and I saw no Muslims in Albania but: “... an Albanian sign that they pray ...Under the membrane of Christian pursues a Slavic Christian Slavic the Albanian Mohammedanism there is a and this due to centuries of racial hatred ... thin layer of Christianity. In many Muslim Albanian Muslims and Christians, join villages there are still shared red Easter eggs forces in front of a common enemy. Some and I have seen those making pilgrimages to nations are shaped differently due to Christian chapels. I have been told that some religion. Albanians as a race don‟t want to swear even today to the Virgin Mary. know about them. Mohammedanism and Within a family there are often Christians Christianity are not so important to them, and Muslims... In the foundation of all these and indeed in his heart the fierce Albanian lies a rigid prehistoric pagan bed, which is, highlander was guided more by unwritten perhaps more influential in their lives than beliefs that have derived from the beginning all of these.... (Ibid:222) Albanians honor the of the world”(Ibid:219:220) religious objects of each other. In countries According to Durham, despite their which are mainly populated by people you regions and religions Albanians remained can encounters old crosses placed on the unique in the ideas and purposes. "In the side of the road, with a cash box next to it.” north matters were different; the northern (Ibid:325) tribes that didn‟t convert to Islam have According to Durham during her visit in always been loyal to Rome. Therefore they the city of Elbasan, the most important thing had the possibility to be more independent. she noticed was that “the nationalism in this But neither in north nor in the south did the country is fiery, more than the religious religion affect the Albanians...”(Ibid:221) doctrines”.(Ibid:299) The phenomenon of

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International Journal of Research (IJR) e-ISSN: 2348-6848, p- ISSN: 2348-795X Volume 2, Issue 2, Feb. 2015 Available at http://internationaljournalofresearch.org differentiation or crypto Christianize or two they are asked about What they are, they beliefs was typical according to Durham in respond that they are Albanians and non- the mountainous areas of Albania. One of Muslims or Christians. It is traditionally this phenomenon she notices in the Shpati known, that religion has no deep roots region: "The Turks call me Suleiman, but I among Albanians... Marriages between am baptized Constantine ..... All had two different religions have been and are normal names and used them when even nowadays.”(Ibid:42) needed”.(Ibid:310) Lord Bayron that stayed in Ali Pasha‟s According to Lord Broughton in his book court in Ioannina, found out that not all “Travels in Albania and in other provinces Albanians were Muslims, some tribes were of Turkey”, the author in the status of a Christians, but religion did not change their foreign traveller who visited Albania noted behavior and habits. The same thing also that: “... as long as I can recall Albanians was also mentioned by Grisebach in the have never been noted as fanatics years 30s of the nineteenth century: Mohammedan or have never been regarded “Albanians aren‟t people who are clearly as true Mohammedans”. Furthermore, this distinguished by their appearances if they traveler in his memoirs writes that: “Just like are Muslims or Christians”. Not that the the Mohammedans even the Christians Albanians did not know or did not practice drank wine made out of grape and a kind of religion, but they had proper respect for each strong drink made by themselves which they other in matter of religion and those of called “raki” but not “whiskey”(Ibid:38). Still ordinary life. this author further cites Mrs. Montague Margaret Haslluk another foreign scholar (This thing was also noticed by a foreign and traveler who had the opportunity to stay observer in Istanbul, who in 1717 would in Albania, has written a lot about the write about Albanians), that talking about diversity and religious tolerance. These Albanians and their behavior says: “These phenomena were subjected of treatment by people who live in between Islamism and many of her various writings and printed Christianity, proclaim that they are material, which later would be published. It completely unable to judge which religion is was the "Brotherhood" that she found better, so they often choose to pursue both. among these people, whether they were They together go to the mosque on Fridays Christians or Muslims. Margaret concluded and to church on Sundays giving as reasons that: Albanians in general were known for that on the judgment day they will have the their tolerance and religious harmony, which protection of the true prophet; But they are according to her was one of the main causes not able to determine in this world who this of the survival of these ancient and noble true prophet is going to be.”(Ibid:42) people, who had endured throughout their Through this the author shows the tolerant history, lots of extermination waves from spirit of the Albanians, and appreciates such various invaders. For this reason, this place as thing, as a true value of these people. often became object of recognition and Albanian people according to the author: “... attracted the attention of many researchers immensely love their place and when it and foreign travelers. comes to independence they minimize In her research which were made in religious differences which is not the case in Elbasani region of Elbasan. Margaret clearly many countries which hold themselves as noted a specific phenomenon, which more civilized than the Albanians. When appeared in some parts of Albania,

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International Journal of Research (IJR) e-ISSN: 2348-6848, p- ISSN: 2348-795X Volume 2, Issue 2, Feb. 2015 Available at http://internationaljournalofresearch.org especially in the area of Shpati in Elbasan. states that: “Time to time, they called an Precisely it is about the phenomenon of orthodox priest from Elbasan at night -- who crypto Christianism or the phenomenon of came into a dark barn in order to put a the two beliefs. According to Ms. Haslluk in wreath to young couples according to Albania each of the family members had its Christian Rite and baptized the name defined mainly by the respective newborns”.(Ibid:43) religion. According Hasluck the religious persecution According to Hasllukut: “Sometimes it ended when Albania gained happened that Catholics put Muslim first independence.(Ibid:43) names to their children,”( Margaret Hasluck, From what we have introduced above, we Kanun unwritten Albanian law, 2005:43) and this can conclude that religious tolerance among because of personal whims. This might have Albanians as an evident phenomenon in also happened because of friendships or centuries invariably continues even today. sympathies that these people might have had This phenomenon was evidenced during the for other people. This proves that the spirit visit of the Holy Father Pope Francis, in the or religious bigotry was not fundamental in capital of Albania, Tirana. Once he touched the psychology and soul of the Albanians, the Albanian soil, the Holy Father was but was dictated by the circumstances in greeted with the words of the Albanians which they were located. inherited today from centuries: “Our house The Phenomenon that sparked (Albania) is the place of God and friend” a Hazllukut‟s interest, as mentioned above, so very significant phrase very significant in a crypto christianism, was noticed by her in population where there are four religious forty-three Orthodox villages in Shpati near beliefs. Elbasan, where elders had two names, one Muslim which they used in public and Bibliography another Orthodox, which they used in the family environment. [1.] Gabriel Louis-Yaray, Unknown Albania, According Hasluck, which referred even Dituria, 2006:148-149;148-149;203;204. [2.] Hugo Adolf Bernatzik, Albania the country to history, this phenomenon was observed of Albanians, Eugen 2003:154;163. several decades before Albania was [3.] Justin Godar, Albanian Diaries 1921-1951, liberated from the Ottoman rule. These Dituria 2008:36-37;47;49;75. villages under the pressure of the Elbasani‟s [4.] Mark Tirta. Mythology among Albanians. Muslims were forced to abandon their Prishtina, 2004:39 Edith Durham, Balkan‟s sorrow, Tirane Christian faith in order to save their life and 2009:50- religion, converting to Islam and performing 51;219;220;221;234;222;325;299;310. all the rituals of Islam. Here we can mention [5.] Vilma Tafani, Albania and Elbasan in the fasting for Ramadan, etc., But not eyes of foreign travelers, Sejko performing the rite of circumcising. 2003:30;38;42;42. [6.] Margaret Hasluck, Kanuni, unwritten According to Hasluck, this was only done Albanian law, Lisitan 2005;43. on the surface, because in their family life, they practiced other religious rites. Hasluck

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