In Shkodër, the first Albanian cardinal Mikel Koliqi passed away. He was born in Shkodër. He finished the high school in Bari (1925). He completed higher studies in theology and philosophy in Milan (1928 – 1930). Was ordained a priest in the Jesuit Church in Shkodër (1931). He was appointed vicar of Shkodra in 1936. Mikel Koliqi composed about 40 pieces to be sung in the choir with religious subjects and three melodramas with a patriotic emphasis: “Rozafa”, “Rrethimi i Shkodrës” (“The surrounding of Shkodra”) and “Ruba e Kuqe” (“The Red Robe”), written by dom Ndre Zadeja. He spent 37 years in communist prisons. On November 26, 1994, Pope John Paul II named him a cardinal. He was decorated with the Orders “Torch of Democracy” (1992) and “Honour of the Nation” (1996). (In the photo: Mikel Koliqi)
Text: Albanian encyclopedic dictionary – Vol. 2 , Academy of Sciences of Albania, “Kristalina-KH”, Tirana, 2008, page 1212-1213.
Photo: © https://sq.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mikel_Koliqi
Graphic processing: AHCF
