Anton Harapi

Anton Harapi was a priest, writer, and activist of the Albanian National Revival. He was born as Kristo Harallambi in the village of Shirokë, near Shkodër, in the Ottoman Empire. His father was a merchant and a patriot who sent him to study in Athens. After his father's death, he worked as a teacher in Greek schools and later emigrated to Romania, where he learned to write in Albanian. He returned to his native village in 1897 and became a priest and a teacher. He taught Albanian language and literature to children and adults and published several works in Albanian, such as fables, poems, and religious texts. He also performed mass in Albanian, which was a revolutionary act at the time, as the Orthodox Church was dominated by Greek clergy. He opposed the Greek propaganda and advocated for the unity of Albanians against foreign oppression. He was killed by communist guerillas in 1946, along with his brother and three other villagers. His death sparked a nationalist reaction and inspired other Albanian priests to follow his example. He is considered a martyr and a hero of the Albanian cause. [1](^1^) [2](^2^) [3](^3^)