KOLA – THE PILLAR OF SKOPJE’S BOJAXHIU FAMILY

NGA GONXHE BOJAXHIU DERI TE NËNË TEREZA FROM GONXHE BOJAXHIU TO MOTHER THERESA

VII. To the patriotic roots of the famous Skopje family

Dr. Nora Maliqi Zylali

Bojaxhiu family, after the death of the head of the head of the family Kole Bojaxhiu, has had the misfortune to experience various traumas. So far very little is known about the fate of this family, given the circumstances when she was forced to shrink in the shell of self-defense, as a result of inhuman treatment by the Albanian communist state. All these vicissitudes now come to light thanks to an archival and documentary disclosure by the researcher and one of the most credible collaborators of ISCHA, dr. Albert Ramaj, who has used an unparalleled pedantry in systematizing data in the form of letters, photographs, documents and facsimiles on the Bojaxhiu family. n all this research inevitably emerges the insistence of this researcher to quench the curiosity about some light and shadows in the life full of vicissitudes of the Bojaxhiu family, but also of the life path of Mother Teresa herself, where the tendency to testify and argue the unknown sides of all tracks that had not been beaten at all by other scholars and researchers. One of those tracks is the correspondence of Mother Teresa with members of her family (with her sister, brother and mother), where for the first time before us comes an unknown profile of this great woman, who all the time has held somewhere deep in the soul the inexhaustible stone of Albanian letters. The letters she sends to her family in Albania reveal a fluent Albanian language that Mother Teresa uses in written communication with her family. She was the missionary of all mankind and her language was the language of love and understanding, but she was also a rare plant that, no matter how far away the waves of life threw her,

still did not forget the roots that gave her the power to maintain human balance with unwavering dignity. Even in the conditions when the weight of the goods for the family encouraged her to take the pen in her hand and line up the beautiful Albanian letters, like the scattered beads that are made together to form a rare ornament.

Kole Bojaxhiu, Gonxhe’s father

NGA GONXHE BOJAXHIU DERI TE NËNË TEREZA FROM GONXHE BOJAXHIU TO MOTHER THERESA

VII.I. Profile of the father of world humanist

KOLE BOJAXHIU – ON THE OCCASION OF THE 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF HIS DEATH

Albert Ramaj, Zurich

For this anniversary of Kola's death, I am the "guilty" one. It should be said so, because years ago, while researching the history of the Bojaxhiu family, I encountered difficulties with the year of Kole Bojaxhiu's death, marked in some cases as 1917, 1918, 1919 and 1920, even in 1921. Neither the date nor the year of his death was correct

Later, I researched and found not only the year, but also the day of his burial in a writing / correspondence of a scholar in German language, which marked the day of Kole Bojaxhiu's burial and it was August 2nd, 1919. According to the Catholic tradition of the time, if anyone dies, his burial is taking place one day later, for this reason the day of his death must be August 1st, 1919, and I published this for the first time in the newspaper "Shekulli", on August 1st or 2nd, 2008 in Tirana, and then other media also took it.

We have little biographical information about the life of Kole Bojaxhiu. In all likelihood, Kole Bojaxhiu was born in 1878 in Prizren. There are many years marked as the year of his birth, this is another thing that should be researched, but I hope that we will clarify this. Fortunately, we have some information about Kole Bojaxhiu while he was in Prizren.

Ecclesiastical societies were established in many parishes of the Bishopric. Thus, in Prizren we also found formed some church companies. In the register of the Company of the "Holy Cross", in 1875, we also find Lazer of Mark Bojaxhija (ordinal number 17). In the records of this company, we also find Lazer in the years 1882, 1892 and then in the records of the Company of "St. Joseph" we find him in 1900. Nrek Bojaxhiu, who is the brother of Lazer Bojaxhiu, we find him in the activities of the Company of

"St. John" in 1900, 1901 then also in 1906, while in 1909 in these records the evidence is reported on the name of Tome Bojaxhia (son of Ndreka).

Lazer Bojaxhia, Mark Bojaxhis' son was Mother Teresa's grandfather. Mark Bojaxhia (Kole Bojaxhiu's grandfather) had two sons: one was called Nrek (or Nrece), while the other was Lazer. Lazri had a son, Kola (Mother Teresa's father), while Nreka also had a son and his name was Tome Bojaxhiu.

NGA GONXHE BOJAXHIU DERI TE NËNË TEREZA FROM GONXHE BOJAXHIU TO MOTHER THERESA

A few years ago, Dom Nikson Shabani had an interview with Katarina Marku (Gonxhe Bojaxhiu's cousin) who later died and this interview is still unpublished to this day. Katarina Marku was from Skopje, known as "Aunt Pina", among other things she says: "the Bojaxhiu couple was married in Skopje", a fact that has not been mentioned yet.

To prove the fact that Drane's family was from Skopje, testifies Gonxhe Bojaxhiu’s mother’s cousin Roza Kukaj, who lives in Australia, and her maiden name is Çuni, who was also born in Skopje, and she says very clearly: "Our whole family is from Skopje". According to the documents that are here and the testimony of Roza Kukaj, it is confirmed that Drane Bojaxhiu's family is from Skopje. A few days ago I talked on the phone with Roza Kukaj who lives in Australia and asked her about it, and she quickly confirmed it to me again.

Kole Bojaxhiu had moved from Prizren to Skopje, where he was married to Drane. The year of emigration is not known, it must have been before 1903, because in a photograph taken on the occasion of the consecration of the Cathedral of the Heart of Christ in Skopje, in 1903, Kole Bojaxhiu is also seen.

NGA GONXHE BOJAXHIU DERI TE NËNË TEREZA FROM GONXHE BOJAXHIU TO MOTHER THERESA

The Cathedral of the Heart of Christ in Skopje was built during the time of Archbishop Pashk Trokshi, with the help of the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy. The neighborhood where the Bojaxhiu family lived in Skopje was close to the Skopje Catholic Church. Most of the Catholic families of that time lived not far from their church, as Lazër Bojaxhiu emphasizes: "We lived near the Albanian Catholic Church in Skopje".

Lorenc Antoni also testifies about himself and Gonxhe Bojaxhiu, he says that "we all grew up in the churchyard". The House of Bojaxhiu’s was located near the town square in Skopje, where today there is a memorial plaque and where Mother Teresa herself planted a pine tree in 1980, on the occasion of her visit to Skopje, when she was declared an HONORARY CITIZEN.

The earthquake of 1963 had destroyed the Catholic Cathedral in Skopje. The new cathedral was built on another site.

All the children of Kole and Drane Bojaxhiu were born in Skopje, but the Bojaxhiu family did not have only 3 children as it is often written, but they were 5, two had died very early, while Lazer, Age and Gonxhe were born and raised in Skopje.

NGA GONXHE BOJAXHIU DERI TE NËNË TEREZA FROM GONXHE BOJAXHIU TO MOTHER THERESA

In the interview he gave to Eugen Vogti (preserved in the state archive in Lucerne), Lazer Bojaxhiu says that his father had also been in prison (but this must be confirmed), he says the following about his father: “By profession my father was a builder, respectively architect, and together with a colleague, an Italian engineer, had a construction firm in Skopje. My father was a very big political activist. When my father was killed in prison, the Italian colleague appropriated the firm, without compensating the Bojaxhiu family. After that, my mother opened a handmade boutique, where she sold things to Yugoslav women. Age (my sister) helped my mother. That's how she supported her family, enabling us (children) to attend high schools. ”

NGA GONXHE BOJAXHIU DERI TE NËNË TEREZA FROM GONXHE BOJAXHIU TO MOTHER THERESA

Lazer Bojaxhiu in Palermo, on 1.5.1980

NGA GONXHE BOJAXHIU DERI TE NËNË TEREZA FROM GONXHE BOJAXHIU TO MOTHER THERESA

NGA GONXHE BOJAXHIU DERI TE NËNË TEREZA FROM GONXHE BOJAXHIU TO MOTHER THERESA

NGA GONXHE BOJAXHIU DERI TE NËNË TEREZA FROM GONXHE BOJAXHIU TO MOTHER THERESA

NGA GONXHE BOJAXHIU DERI TE NËNË TEREZA FROM GONXHE BOJAXHIU TO MOTHER THERESA

In the Austrian State Archive are kept some documents on the figure of Kole Bojaxhiu. Here we are highlighting some of the documents we possess: On July 26th, 1911, the Austro-Hungarian consulate in Skopje, namely Deputy Consul Lejhanec, wrote to his government, among other things: "As the others are informing , parish prist Dom Zef Ramaj, and the Jesuit

father Genovizzi, and some other Catholics here - led by Luigj Naraci and Kole Bojaxhiu, who are known as friends of the Italians - have recently addressed a request to the Italian consulate, where they are asking to build a special ItalianAlbanian school. As a reason, they emphasize that the parish school (near the Catholic Church) due to the lack of teaching staff is insufficiently functioning and can not provide students with the necessary education ... " (HHStA F27/K 135 – Missionen Üskub 1871-1911, Üskub I,1,1a, p.140.)

The document further states that these two (Luigji and Kola) will collect signatures from the local Catholic population. Relying on the source in question, except that Kole Bojaxhiu wanted to set up a special school, a school that would be funded by the (then) Italian government, not the Austro-Hungarian one (like the one near the parish of Skopje) , it is confirmed that Kole Bojaxhiu was a Catholic and at the same time very committed to the education of the Albanian population in Skopje.

NGA GONXHE BOJAXHIU DERI TE NËNË TEREZA FROM GONXHE BOJAXHIU TO MOTHER THERESA

NGA GONXHE BOJAXHIU DERI TE NËNË TEREZA FROM GONXHE BOJAXHIU TO MOTHER THERESA

The death of Kole Bojaxhiu was not a murder as some authors claim and write. If we present today as murder without any evidence, there is a possibility for prejudice, anger and maybe even hatred towards someone else and all this unnecessarily and unjustly.

In my opinion, it was natural death or some disease, but it needs to be investigated.

VII.2. Excerpts from writings about Mother Teresa during her visit to Skopje (1980)

Mother Teresa's Conversation with Skopje’s Television, part published at the newspaper “Drita”, on 1980

NGA GONXHE BOJAXHIU DERI TE NËNË TEREZA FROM GONXHE BOJAXHIU TO MOTHER THERESA

Mother Teresa visits the Mayor of Skopje, part published in the newspaper “Drita”

Mother Teresa in a meeting with the Vice President of SRM, Mr. Vasil Tugjarov

NGA GONXHE BOJAXHIU DERI TE NËNË TEREZA FROM GONXHE BOJAXHIU TO MOTHER THERESA

Mother Teresa in a meeting with the Vice President of SRM, Mr. Vasil Tugjarov

Mother Teresa's meeting with journalists from Skopje

NGA GONXHE BOJAXHIU DERI TE NËNË TEREZA FROM GONXHE BOJAXHIU TO MOTHER THERESA

The Mass with Mother Teresa in Skopje

Mother Teresa at the Parish office in Skopje

NGA GONXHE BOJAXHIU DERI TE NËNË TEREZA FROM GONXHE BOJAXHIU TO MOTHER THERESA

Mother Teresa during the Mass in Skopje

Excerpts from Mother Teresa's speeches in Skopje

NGA GONXHE BOJAXHIU DERI TE NËNË TEREZA FROM GONXHE BOJAXHIU TO MOTHER THERESA

Mother Teresa during her visit to Skopje, in the office of the Mayor of Skopje Metodi Antov

Here we are bringing an almost unknown photo, where Drane Bojaxhiu is seen with her children at a funeral. In all likelihood in this picture is also Mother Teresa, when she was little. This could be the funeral of Kole Bojaxhiu.

This photo was first published for the first time in the book: “Die Albaner in der Republik Makedonien - Fakten, Analysen, Meinungen zur interethnischen Koexistenz“ Thede Kahl, Izer Maksuti Albert Ramaj (Hg), 2003, Berlin-MünsterLondon-Wien-Zürich.

NGA GONXHE BOJAXHIU DERI TE NËNË TEREZA FROM GONXHE BOJAXHIU TO MOTHER THERESA

VII.4. Gonxhe Bojaxhiu's letter (Croatian) sent to the sisters' superior:

«Dear Honest Mother!

Have the kindness to testify to my sincere desire.

I want to join your ranks, to one day become a missionary sister, to work for Christ who has done for all of us (many v.j).

I completed five real high school classes. From the languages I know Albanian, which is my mother tongue, and Serbian, I know a little French, I do not know anything in English, but I hope in dear God that I will learn as much as I need and I will immediately practice it these days.

I do not have any special requests, I just want to be on a mission, and everything else, I surrender to the beloved God ".

Skopje, on 28.6.1928 Gonxhe Bojaxhiu

Gonxhe Bojaxhiu always wanted to dedicate her youth and life to the humanity and to places where they need it. Her mother, Drane Bojaxhiu, had to sign a document that she agrees that Gonxhe Bajaxhiu can go on a missions and give her the freedom to take this step, so Drane Bojaxhiu signed a letter / document on August 11th 1928, for hes daughter, partly in Italian and partly in Croatian. And then it will be seen that this letter was prophetic, if we analyze the life and activity of Mother Teresa:

« Letter of evidence with which Gonxhe's mother allows her to enter the assembly

Signed Dranja, the widow of Kole Bojaxhiu, I knew that my daughter Gonxhja, has a call from God to go as a missionary. I do not want to oppose the will of God. With this I give her complete freedom to follow the call of God. I do not ask her for any help other than to pray for me. In particular I let her go to India, where she has chosen. Here I command her superiors, to preserve her, that I may once see her contented and happy with the Lord in heaven.

Skopje, on 11th of July, 1928.

Drania of Kola

She wrote this permission at the parish office, in front of me. Skopje, 11. VII. 1928

Father Anton Buković, associate in the parish "

NGA GONXHE BOJAXHIU DERI TE NËNË TEREZA FROM GONXHE BOJAXHIU TO MOTHER THERESA

On August 12, 1928, Gonxhe wrote a letter with this short content: "

Skopje 12. 9. 28, Beloved Aunt Sus! I am leaving Skopje on the 26th of this month. I can not stay without writting you two or three lines before I leave you. Farewell, I wish God gives you everything that your heart wants. Wait for my heartfelt greetings Ganxhe”

NGA GONXHE BOJAXHIU DERI TE NËNË TEREZA FROM GONXHE BOJAXHIU TO MOTHER THERESA

NGA GONXHE BOJAXHIU DERI TE NËNË TEREZA FROM GONXHE BOJAXHIU TO MOTHER THERESA

VII.5. Gonxhe Bojaxhiu's data file stored in Calcutta:

This was the last moment of her life that she saw all the family members and she never saw them again in her life, except for her brother Lazer, whom she saw after 30 years. Mother Drane and sister Age went to Albania, before the Second World War. Official Albania did not accept them, but deported, mistreated, despised and destroyed them. I do not know if it is certain, but according to some authors it is said that mother Drane and sister Age were in exile, even though they had gone for a better life in the homeland of the first. But it turned out that in this lonely homeland they died, nor did even let hes daughter and sister to come to their mother's funeral. Their pain must have been immense, because she knew she had his mother and sister in the "homeland", but the "homeland" refused to visit them. Even worse; even ridiculed and despised her.

By blood I am Albanian. My citizenship is Indian. I am a catholic nun. As to my calling, I belong to the world. As to my heart, I belong entirely to the heart of Jesus”.

For the death of Drane Bojaxhiu we have some letters written in Albanian language, which were sent to her cousin Roza Kukaj, the maiden name Çuni. In these letters it is very clear that Mother Teresa wrote very well in the Albanian language of that time.

NGA GONXHE BOJAXHIU DERI TE NËNË TEREZA FROM GONXHE BOJAXHIU TO MOTHER THERESA

NGA GONXHE BOJAXHIU DERI TE NËNË TEREZA FROM GONXHE BOJAXHIU TO MOTHER THERESA

NGA GONXHE BOJAXHIU DERI TE NËNË TEREZA FROM GONXHE BOJAXHIU TO MOTHER THERESA

A photo showing the location of her uncle's house in Skopje

NGA GONXHE BOJAXHIU DERI TE NËNË TEREZA FROM GONXHE BOJAXHIU TO MOTHER THERESA

The fact that how much was Mother Teresa spiritually with her people, is seen in a letter she wrote in Albanian and sent to Bishop Nikë Prela in 1990

NGA GONXHE BOJAXHIU DERI TE NËNË TEREZA FROM GONXHE BOJAXHIU TO MOTHER THERESA

Bishop Nike Prela, Lazer Bojaxhiu with his family, Dom Lush Gjergji, Mother Teresa in Oslo, on the occasion of receiving the Nobel Prize

NGA GONXHE BOJAXHIU DERI TE NËNË TEREZA FROM GONXHE BOJAXHIU TO MOTHER THERESA

VII.V. Notes and sketches from Mother Teresa's notebook when she was at school:

NGA GONXHE BOJAXHIU DERI TE NËNË TEREZA FROM GONXHE BOJAXHIU TO MOTHER THERESA

NGA GONXHE BOJAXHIU DERI TE NËNË TEREZA FROM GONXHE BOJAXHIU TO MOTHER THERESA

NGA GONXHE BOJAXHIU DERI TE NËNË TEREZA FROM GONXHE BOJAXHIU TO MOTHER THERESA

NGA GONXHE BOJAXHIU DERI TE NËNË TEREZA FROM GONXHE BOJAXHIU TO MOTHER THERESA

VII.6. In the spirit of Mother Teresa

FOUR INSTITUTIONS SIGNED MEMORANDUM OF COOPERATION IN SWITZERLAND

A memorandum of cooperation was signed in Lucerne, Switzerland (September 27, 2019) between the Institute for Spiritual and Cultural Heritage of the Albanians - Skopje, represented by the director, Prof.dr. Skender Asani, State Archives of the Canton of Lucerne - represented by the director, Dr. Jürg Schmutz , Mother Teresa Memorial House - Skopje, represented by the director, Arjan Asllanaj, and the Albanian Institute in St. Gallen in Switzerland - represented by the director, dr. Albert Ramaj.

This cooperation protocol will enable thousands of documents related to the life and activity of Mother Teresa to be obtained from the Department of Heritage of Mother Teresa, which has just been established by the ISCHA.

The Lucerne Archive - through this memorandum - has donated to the Memorial House of Mother Teresa some original documents, written by her hand, which will remain as permanent property of the museum house in Skopje.

We are emphasizing that this archive is among the richest in Europe, while it may be the only one that has collected so many facts related to Mother Teresa. Therefore, the signing of this memorandum opens a new page in its recognition and a great opportunity to know details that the Albanian scientific opinion will read for the first time.

NGA GONXHE BOJAXHIU DERI TE NËNË TEREZA FROM GONXHE BOJAXHIU TO MOTHER THERESA

The Director of ISCHA, Prof.dr. Skender Asani, the director of the Memorial House "Mother Teresa" Arian Asllanaj and the author of the book Albert Ramaj

INSTITUTI I TRASHËGIMISË SHPIRTËRORE E KULTURORE TË SHQIPTARËVE-SHKUP INSTITUTE FOR SPIRITUAL AND CULTURAL HERITAGE OF THE ALBANIANS-SKOPJE

Skender Asani ~ Nora Maliqi Zylali ~ Albert Ramaj

NGA GONXHE BOJAXHIU DERI TE NËNË TEREZA – Një sagë për jetën e shqiptarëve katolikë të Shkupit –

FROM GONXHE BOJAXHIU TO MOTHER THERESA –A saga about the life of Albanian Catholics from Skopje –|||

Përkthimi shqip-anglisht / Translation Albanian-English: Nora Maliqi Zylali Redaktor gjuhësor i botimit shqip: Ahmet Selmani Redaktor teknik / Technical editor: Naser Fera Përgjegjës i botimit / Responsible for publications: Sevdail Demiri Shtypi / Printing: Focus Print – Shkup/ Skopje Tirazhi / Circulation: 500 copies

Ky libër botohet me vendimin e Këshillit të ITSHKSH−Shkup, nr. 0201-95/4, të datës 19.02.2020, si pjesë e programit të punës së Institutit për vitin 2020.

This book is published by the decision of the Council of ISCHA – Skopje, no. 0201-95/4, of the date 19.02.2020, as part of the work programe of the Institute for the year 2020.

CIP - Каталогизација во публикација Национална и универзитетска библиотека "Св. Климент Охридски 266.3-056Мајка Тереза 2-762-051

ASANI, Skender Nga Gonxhe Bojaxhiu deri te Nënë Tereza : Një sagë për jetën e shqiptarëve katolikë të Shkupit = From Gonxhe Bojaxhiu to Mother Theresa : A saga about the life of Albanian Catholics from Skopje / Skender Asani , Nora Maliqi Zylali , Albert Ramaj. - Shkup : Instituti i Trashëgimisë Shpirtërore e Kulturore të Shqiptarëve-Shkup ; Skopje : Institute for Spiritual and Cultural Heritage of the Albanians-Skopje, 2020. - 460 стр. : илустр. ; 25 см. - (Biblioteka Histori = Library History)

Текст и на англ. јазик

ISBN 978-608-4897-19-4

1. Напор. ств. насл. 2. Maliqi Zylali, Nora [автор] 3. Ramaj, Albert [автор] а) Мајка Тереза, 1910-1997 -- Споменици

COBISS.MK-ID 51763205