Elbasan Gospel Manuscript
Encyclopedia
The Elbasan Gospel Manuscript is a collection of translations from the New Testament
into the Albanian language
. Although it is also known as the Anonyomous of Elbasan , it is widely thought to be the work of Gregory of Durrës
The work is presumed to be the oldest work of Albanian Orthodox literature and the first Bible translation into Albanian. The manuscript was created in 1761, soon before Gregory became the Metropolitan (archbishop) of the Archdiocese of Durrës (1762 - 1772). The archdiocese's see was then in the St. Jovan Vladimir's Church, in Shijon near Elbasan
, central Albania
.
The manuscript is composed of 30 unnumbered folios, 59 pages of biblic translations and has 10 x 7 cm format. The script used is the Elbasan script
, which consists of forty letters, most of them completely original, and unrelated to neither language sorrounding the Albanian one. However, according to Dhimitër Shuteriqi
and Mahir Domi
, there is some Slavic
and Greek
influence in the remainder of the letters. The Elbasan Gospel Manuscript is the only document where the Elbasan script has been retrieved so far.
The manuscript was purchased little before or around World War II by politician Lef Nosi
, who was the owner of a remarkable personal library, and a notable collector. It was confiscated from him by the communist regime in 1945. It is now preserved in the National Archives of Albania
. The albanologist and translator Injac Zamputi (1910 – 1998) transcribed the manuscript, after which the Elbasan Gospel was published in standard Albanian for the first time.
New Testament
The New Testament is the second major division of the Christian biblical canon, the first such division being the much longer Old Testament....
into the Albanian language
Albanian language
Albanian is an Indo-European language spoken by approximately 7.6 million people, primarily in Albania and Kosovo but also in other areas of the Balkans in which there is an Albanian population, including western Macedonia, southern Montenegro, southern Serbia and northwestern Greece...
. Although it is also known as the Anonyomous of Elbasan , it is widely thought to be the work of Gregory of Durrës
The work is presumed to be the oldest work of Albanian Orthodox literature and the first Bible translation into Albanian. The manuscript was created in 1761, soon before Gregory became the Metropolitan (archbishop) of the Archdiocese of Durrës (1762 - 1772). The archdiocese's see was then in the St. Jovan Vladimir's Church, in Shijon near Elbasan
Elbasan
Elbasan is a city in central Albania. It is located on the Shkumbin River in the District of Elbasan and the County of Elbasan, at...
, central Albania
Albania
Albania , officially known as the Republic of Albania , is a country in Southeastern Europe, in the Balkans region. It is bordered by Montenegro to the northwest, Kosovo to the northeast, the Republic of Macedonia to the east and Greece to the south and southeast. It has a coast on the Adriatic Sea...
.
The manuscript is composed of 30 unnumbered folios, 59 pages of biblic translations and has 10 x 7 cm format. The script used is the Elbasan script
Elbasan script
The Elbasan script is a mid 18th-century alphabetic script used for the Albanian language. It was named after the city of Elbasan where it was invented...
, which consists of forty letters, most of them completely original, and unrelated to neither language sorrounding the Albanian one. However, according to Dhimitër Shuteriqi
Dhimitër Shuteriqi
Dhimitër Shuteriqi was an Albanian writer, historian and critic. During the 1946-1973 period he was the president of the Albanian League of Writers and Artists.-References:...
and Mahir Domi
Mahir Domi
Mahir Domi was an Albanian linguist. He was a member of the commission responsible for the orthography of the Standard Albanian language....
, there is some Slavic
Slavic languages
The Slavic languages , a group of closely related languages of the Slavic peoples and a subgroup of Indo-European languages, have speakers in most of Eastern Europe, in much of the Balkans, in parts of Central Europe, and in the northern part of Asia.-Branches:Scholars traditionally divide Slavic...
and Greek
Greek language
Greek is an independent branch of the Indo-European family of languages. Native to the southern Balkans, it has the longest documented history of any Indo-European language, spanning 34 centuries of written records. Its writing system has been the Greek alphabet for the majority of its history;...
influence in the remainder of the letters. The Elbasan Gospel Manuscript is the only document where the Elbasan script has been retrieved so far.
The manuscript was purchased little before or around World War II by politician Lef Nosi
Lef Nosi
Lef Nosi was an Albanian politician and collaborationist during the Second World War. He was one of the signatories of Albanian Declaration of Independence. Nosi was the first Minister of Post and Telegraphs of Albania...
, who was the owner of a remarkable personal library, and a notable collector. It was confiscated from him by the communist regime in 1945. It is now preserved in the National Archives of Albania
National Archives of Albania
The National Archives of Albania is the national archive of the Republic of Albania, located in Tirana.The Archive was created in 1949 with a decree from the Government of Albania dated 6/8/1949, as a centralized state organ. The documentary content withheld in the A.Q.SH...
. The albanologist and translator Injac Zamputi (1910 – 1998) transcribed the manuscript, after which the Elbasan Gospel was published in standard Albanian for the first time.