Written by Petrit Latifi”

THE CONDITION OF CHRISTIANS IN THE MOUNTAIN SIDE IN 1736

In this report, starting from Shkodra to Ulcinj, the Bishop of Shkodra Anton Vladanji describes the condition of Christians in the villages of Anësmal. In addition to the churches, which are now mostly ruined, the decline in the number of Catholic houses and residents in Anë i Malit is noticeable, but there are still some Catholic houses in some villages, such as in Millë, Sumë, Selitë, Fraskanjel, Shas, Pistull, Pulaj, Pentar and others, while villages like Brejsha to Kravar are not mentioned, probably already Islamized

Below is the translated report:

Juban, August 25, 1736. Report of the Bishop of Shkodra Antonio Vladagni.

Praise God always. August 23, 1736.
A true and real report of the Church of Shkodra in Albania.

The Cathedral Church of Shkodra, entitled S. Stefano Protomartire, has been made an ancient mosque by the infidel Turks. The people of Shkodra, like Teplana, which consists of 83 Catholic houses, 524 souls, and Erncagni, an adherent of 13 Catholic houses, 101 souls. On the holy days of preaching and Sundays, they hear mass at Ermagni in a cemetery, where they still bury the dead, entitled S. Nicolò, completely ruined, but the remains are visible, assisted by Dom Paolo Cambesi, a former student at Loreto.

Alybegh Mahalla Cazena beyond Buna, which is almost the Borgo (village) of Shkodra, 53 Catholic houses, 365 souls. Chissagni Catholic houses 29, souls 229. The large Catholic houses Sciroco and Labre Grande on the shore of the lake Catholic houses 99, souls 681, opposite the city have a church called S. Veneranda and not S. Anna as some have wanted, ruined, there they bury the dead and on some more solemn days they hear mass there, on other holidays they hear it in a cemetery between the mentioned villages, where they mainly bury their dead now.

These people are helped in the spiritual field by two priests, a student already in office by the name of Don Paolo Cambesi, and another young priest, the latter is in Sciroco, and the former in Chissagni, and although the aforementioned villages, and Borghi are in fact all part of the territory of Shkodra, and the three priests have divided the offerings as much as they could, what the poor Catholics do as devout alms, which the Sacred Congregation of Propaganda sends to help, and the offerings consist of a small thing of money, they do not own or possess, neither the vineyards, nor the fruit trees, nor the barren lands, because everything has been usurped by the infidels..

Then there is the square in front of S. Maria Madalena which is not completely ruined, but it is a headache to run it, and celebrate; because in vain God has shown many miracles, those hoxhallars, the priests of the Turks have tried many times to make that mosque. Below Shkodra on this side of the Buna is Obbotti and Seriechi, composed of 21 Catholic houses and 150 souls. Their church, entitled S. Rocco Martire, is in ruins.

They are spiritually assisted by D. Nicolò Sciatini, who also helps the people of Samrisci, composed of 9 Catholic houses, and 92 souls, of Gorizia, and Lissena 12 Catholic houses, 124 souls. In Gorizia is the church of S. Nuntiata, uncovered, only the portico covered. Two hours from Gorizia is Svazio or Sciazia, a town ruined by the tyrants, where you can see the exposed walls of the church of the Dormition of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Nativity of St. John the Baptist and Santa Veneranda, and many other churches, and in the ruins of the first, and the second church, the people of Bria and Klezena bury their dead, spiritually served by D. Giovani Mescalla.

These villages are composed of 30 houses, 198 souls. The curate lives in Bria, where there is a parish house, a vineyard and nothing else. In the mountains at Mida there is a Catholic house and an oratory of St. Nicholas, which cannot stand for long because it is threatened with ruin, where they bury their dead Summa, which has only one Catholic house, and Sellitta, which is also a Catholic house, 60 souls in all, and here this diocese is divided with that of Antivar to the west. The same priest also serves 2 houses in Borgo di Dolcigno where the wretched captives are also found, these houses having 16 souls.

The ruined church of S. Giorgio Martire on the banks of the Buna gives its name to the village with 9 houses and 39 souls. It is three hours away from Dolcigno, and an hour and a half from Pistoli, where there are 7 Catholic houses, 39 souls.

These have a church, though ruined, called Visitatione della Madona, where they bury their dead. On holy days of celebration they hear mass at S. Giorgio, which has other small villages under its jurisdiction, where they bury their dead and which are near and connected with the same church, namely Frascanielli of 4 souls 38, Penditari with 10 Catholic houses, souls 53, Chirrochi lower of Catholic houses 8, 41 souls, Recci a little further below, from 16 Catholic houses, 105 souls.

The above-mentioned church which serves these people is served by Don Giovanni Samrysci. He does not have a parish house, but resides in a private house in Recci, enjoys some property and on feast days celebrates mass in the ruins of the above-mentioned church.
Three hours away is the church of S. Nicolò il Magno, discovered and fallen, which gives its name to the village consisting of 10 houses, 60 souls.

Roezzo is nearby with 6 houses, 29 souls, Pulagni on this side of the Buna river opposite the same church with 13 Catholic houses, 55 souls, directed and spiritually served by Don Andrea Deddi, enjoys some possessions and is usually called S. Nicolò on the road Maris ends, and borders on the west with Ulcinj. Above these churches, and villages stands upright, and grateful to God, yet standing S. Nicolò il Magno, on the hills of Daici consisting of 18 Catholic houses, 170 souls, Gramsci in 5 Catholic houses, 36 souls, Musciandi 125 Catholic houses.

These three villas bury their dead in the said church, which owns some properties, assisted and staffed by Father Giacomo Porati. To be able, covered with a portico (veranda) in the heart of the Diocese. On Holy Thursday I mainly perform the usual functions here, or even in S. Sergio Martire, a little higher and a little further.

This church was an Abbey of the Benedictine Fathers, had some properties, most of which are now usurped by infidels. It is discovered with only the walls standing, and that it was so large, and beautiful, it opens its eyes wide with compassion for the others so badly ruined. There until now the bishops of this diocese have been buried there, and here they are also connected…

…on the bank of the Buna River and a little away from the square of Shkodra (Piazza di Scutari) and near it there are 5 Catholic houses, 29 souls, a little higher up in a small village called Derraghiati there are also 5 Catholic houses, 29 souls.

Upper Trumsci and Lower Trumsci enjoy the same place, where after death they are buried; So, let us leave a part of Trumsci consisting of 53 Catholic houses, 375 souls, let us leave the other part of 30 Catholic houses, 277 souls. Trumsci lower Catholic houses 19, souls 115. Two priests work, namely Don Nicolo Carruzzi and Don Giorgio Ermani, the first who has already been a student of Loreto, and since it is not a parish house they live in private houses, and they still have a shared care.

The Berdizza villa is half a day near the same city of Shkodra, consisting of 50 Catholic houses and 320 souls. It has its own church called S. Ellia which is completely destroyed. In this village this year I welcomed a priest named Don Antonio Macci managing to go and hear at the same time on a feast day very difficult mass in Beltogna, where D. Angelo Logorezzi is parish priest in the parish house, and this consists of 31 Catholic houses, 195 souls.

The village mentioned buries its dead in the ruined and decorated church of S. Giorgio Martire, an hour’s walk away in Melgusci, where there are only two Catholic houses, 14 souls. Buzigiarpeni also has 7 Catholic houses, 77 souls. The above-mentioned church also belongs to this church, those composed of 39 Catholic houses, 157 souls.
S. Verendana Vergine e Martire, and not Sant’Anna as they want according to the true Albanian dialect, a half-exposed and half-covered church that is threatened with demolition, located in Gagnollo, has under it the following villages: Jubani composed of 53 Catholic houses, 418 souls. Gagnola itself of 7 Catholic houses, 40 souls. Gavocci of 15 Catholic houses…