Zographeion College
Encyclopedia
Zographeion College was a Greek
educational institution that operated from 1873 to 1891 in the village of Qestorat
, Ottoman Empire
, in modern southern Albania
. It was named after its sponsor Christakis Zografos
. In the 18 years of its existence, it provided 400 teachers to the Greek schools of Epirus
as well as to the rest of the Greek world.
, Christakis Zografos
. Zografos was at that time a distinguished businesman in the Ottoman capital, Istanbul
, and sponsored the erection of various cultural and educational institutions of the local Greek communities, such as the Zographeion Lyceum in the Ottoman capital. In 1869 he founded a primary Greek school in his hometown.
in Ioannina
and the Phanar Greek Orthodox College
in Istanbul
(Constantinople).
The main goal of the institution was to provide national and religious education to the personnel that would teach to the Greek schools of the region. Moreover, Zografos provided on annual base scholarships to 60 assiduous students, 30 females and 30 males, with complete coverage of their living costs.
, founder and supporter of the area's Greek character and the spread of Greek education and on the other hand, Koto Hoxhi
, figure of the Albanian National Awakening. The latter, due to his activities to close the Zographeion and to promote teaching of Albanian, clashed with the local Greek consulate and was excommunicated by the Orthodox Bishop of Gjirokaster
. Finally the College closed in 1891, due to bitter conflict, while the death of Zografos in 1897 marked the definite end of this initiative.
Until the collapse of the Socialist Republic of Albania (1945–1989), Zografos was the subject of negative propaganda in Albanian historiography, presented as enemy of the Albania nation, while people that bore the name Zografos were persecuted by the Socialist regime. However, today this situation has changed and the College facilities have been renovated and reopened as a museum.
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;...
educational institution that operated from 1873 to 1891 in the village of Qestorat
Qestorat
Qestorat is a community of Lunxhëri municipality in the district of Gjirokastër, southern Albania.From 1874 to 1891 the village was home to the Zographeion College, educational facilities that included primary and secondary male, female schools and a teacher's academy and operated with the personal...
, Ottoman Empire
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
, in modern southern 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...
. It was named after its sponsor Christakis Zografos
Christakis Zografos
Christakis Zografos - 1896, Paris, France) was a Greek banker holding Ottoman citizenship, benefactor and one of the distinguished personalities of the Greek community of Constantinople .-Early years-Career:...
. In the 18 years of its existence, it provided 400 teachers to the Greek schools of Epirus
Epirus
The name Epirus, from the Greek "Ήπειρος" meaning continent may refer to:-Geographical:* Epirus - a historical and geographical region of the southwestern Balkans, straddling modern Greece and Albania...
as well as to the rest of the Greek world.
Background
The initiative was undertaken by the benefactor and native of QestoratQestorat
Qestorat is a community of Lunxhëri municipality in the district of Gjirokastër, southern Albania.From 1874 to 1891 the village was home to the Zographeion College, educational facilities that included primary and secondary male, female schools and a teacher's academy and operated with the personal...
, Christakis Zografos
Christakis Zografos
Christakis Zografos - 1896, Paris, France) was a Greek banker holding Ottoman citizenship, benefactor and one of the distinguished personalities of the Greek community of Constantinople .-Early years-Career:...
. Zografos was at that time a distinguished businesman in the Ottoman capital, Istanbul
Istanbul
Istanbul , historically known as Byzantium and Constantinople , is the largest city of Turkey. Istanbul metropolitan province had 13.26 million people living in it as of December, 2010, which is 18% of Turkey's population and the 3rd largest metropolitan area in Europe after London and...
, and sponsored the erection of various cultural and educational institutions of the local Greek communities, such as the Zographeion Lyceum in the Ottoman capital. In 1869 he founded a primary Greek school in his hometown.
Institutions
The Zographeion College was established at 1873 and aimed at training teachers for the Greek schools of the wider region. The teacher's school was built next to the existing kindergarten, primary, secondary and female schools, which formed altogether an imposing structure. Most of the teachers of the Zographeion were graduates of notable Greek shools, like the Zosimaia SchoolZosimaia School
The Zosimaia School of Ioannina has been one of the most significant Greek middle-level educational institutions during the last period of Ottoman rule in the region...
in Ioannina
Ioannina
Ioannina , often called Jannena within Greece, is the largest city of Epirus, north-western Greece, with a population of 70,203 . It lies at an elevation of approximately 500 meters above sea level, on the western shore of lake Pamvotis . It is located within the Ioannina municipality, and is the...
and the Phanar Greek Orthodox College
Phanar Greek Orthodox College
-See also:*Fener*Greeks in Turkey*Zografeion Lyceum*List of schools in Istanbul*Ottoman Greeks...
in Istanbul
Istanbul
Istanbul , historically known as Byzantium and Constantinople , is the largest city of Turkey. Istanbul metropolitan province had 13.26 million people living in it as of December, 2010, which is 18% of Turkey's population and the 3rd largest metropolitan area in Europe after London and...
(Constantinople).
The main goal of the institution was to provide national and religious education to the personnel that would teach to the Greek schools of the region. Moreover, Zografos provided on annual base scholarships to 60 assiduous students, 30 females and 30 males, with complete coverage of their living costs.
Cultural conflict
The College was a field of Greek-Albanian cultural conflict: on the one hand, Christakis ZografosChristakis Zografos
Christakis Zografos - 1896, Paris, France) was a Greek banker holding Ottoman citizenship, benefactor and one of the distinguished personalities of the Greek community of Constantinople .-Early years-Career:...
, founder and supporter of the area's Greek character and the spread of Greek education and on the other hand, Koto Hoxhi
Koto Hoxhi
Koto Hoxhi was an advocate of the Albanian language. He taught this language secretly to his students in Qestorat in Southern Albania. He was imprisoned and died in prison for his beliefs.-Biography:...
, figure of the Albanian National Awakening. The latter, due to his activities to close the Zographeion and to promote teaching of Albanian, clashed with the local Greek consulate and was excommunicated by the Orthodox Bishop of Gjirokaster
Gjirokastër
Gjirokastër is a city in southern Albania with a population of 43,000. Lying in the historical region of Epirus, it is the capital of both the Gjirokastër District and the larger Gjirokastër County...
. Finally the College closed in 1891, due to bitter conflict, while the death of Zografos in 1897 marked the definite end of this initiative.
Until the collapse of the Socialist Republic of Albania (1945–1989), Zografos was the subject of negative propaganda in Albanian historiography, presented as enemy of the Albania nation, while people that bore the name Zografos were persecuted by the Socialist regime. However, today this situation has changed and the College facilities have been renovated and reopened as a museum.