Prepared by Albert Gjoni. Authored by Petrit Latifi.

Don Mikel Tarabulluzi was born on April 5, 1868 in Prizren. He completed his philosophical and theological studies at the Pontifical College of Shkodra and was ordained a priest in 1890 by the archbishop, Monsignor Andrea Logoreci.

He initially served as a parish priest in Peja, in the parish of “Saint Catherine”, and then, in early 1894, he was appointed parish priest in the parish of “Our Lady of Letnica”, where he served for over 30 years, taking care not only of Letnica, but also of the surrounding villages. He was not only a servant of God, but also a devoted shepherd for all believers, regardless of nationality.

Contribution to Education and Culture

Letnica had an educational tradition that began in 1584, which was further enriched by Don Mikeli’s predecessor, Dom Bartolome Fantella – an excellent connoisseur of the Albanian language and a dedicated teacher. The inheritance of this spirit pushed Don Mikeli to further develop education and culture, striving for the spiritual and cultural improvement of the inhabitants of Letnica and the surrounding villages.

As a peerless patriot, at a time when being Albanian was considered a crime, on March 1, 1905, he officially founded the Albanian School in Stublëll. This school, which had been operating secretly since 1896 as a parallel to the one in Letnica, was an extraordinary achievement. In addition to his role as a priest, Don Mikeli also served as a teacher for Albanian children, ensuring that the light of knowledge illuminated the paths of the younger generations.

Persecution and Sacrifice

His devotion to the Albanians brought him great suffering, including frequent arrests and torture by the Serbo-Montenegrin Kingdom and later by the Serbo-Croatian-Slovenian Kingdom. Despite these challenges, he never gave up and continued to support his people with faith and sacrifice.

Don Mikel Tarabulluzi is known as the creator of the parish of Stublë and as a key figure in Albanian education in Kosovo – a beacon of hope for Albanians in difficult times. On February 22, 1933, he passed away and was buried in Letnica, near the shrine, where his remains also rest, marking the end of a life dedicated to the service of God and the people.

On October 6, 2023, at the request of all the residents of Letnica that his grave have the status of cultural heritage, the Prime Minister of the Republic of Kosovo, Mr. Albin Kurti, through a post on Facebook, announced the decision that the grave of Don Mikel Tarabulluz has been added to the list of Cultural Heritage. Thus, he continues to be remembered with honor and gratitude by the community and all of Kosovo, serving as the first documented Albanian teacher from Letnica in all of Kosovo.

References

Schmitt, Oliver Jens; Frantz, Eva Anne, red. (2020). “Politik und Gesellschaft im Vilayet Kosovo und im serbisch beherrschten Kosovo 1870–1914: Berichte der österreichisch-ungarischen Konsuln aus dem zentralen Balkan” (PDF). austriaca.at (German). p. 362.

Sedaj, Engjëll (30 maj 2005). “Shkolla e parë shqipe dhe mësuesi i saj Dom Mikel Tarabulluzi”. shkoder.net.