Vinçens Prenushi (baptismal name: Kolë, 1885-1949), poet, folklorist, publicist, translator, theologian, senior cleric, dies of the most inhumane tortures in Durrës prison. He was born in Shkodër. In 1908, he completed his higher studies in philosophy and theology in Innsbruck (Austria) and was ordained a priest. After returning to his homeland, he worked as a teacher and then director of the Franciscan College (1920). He participated in the Albanian Literary Commission of Shkodra. In 1918-1929 he directed the magazine “Zani i Shna Ndout”, while in 1921-1924, “Hylli i Dritës”. Vinçens Prenushi has been one of the main Catholic dignitaries in Albania: in 1936, he was appointed bishop of the Diocese of Sapa; in 1940, archbishop of Durrës and Tirana; after 1944, he stayed in the village of Delbnisht in Laç; during 1946, he headed the Albanian Catholic Church. Vinçens Prenushi was one of the founding members of the League of Writers (1945). In 1947 he was arrested and sentenced to 20 years of forced labor. He died in Durrës prison. The most important work of Vinçens Prenushi is the collection of lyrical, patriotic and soulful poems “Gjeth e lule” (“Leaves and flowers”) (1924, 1931), which became very popular. Vinçens Prenushi has provided valuable assistance in the field of folklore. In 1911, he published the volume “Kangë popullore gegnishte” (“Folk songs from the Gheg dialect”) in Sarajevo. From 1916 to 1944, Vinçens Prenushi published 26 religious books. (In the photo: Vinçens Prenushi)
Text: Albanian encyclopedic dictionary – Vol. 3 , Academy of Sciences of Albania, “Kristalina-KH”, Tirana, 2009, page 2081.
Photo: © https://sq.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vin%C3%A7ens_Prennushi
Graphic processing: AHCF
