Pristina, 26 August 2023
The Prime Minister of the Republic of Kosovo, Albin Kurti, participated today in the solemn opening of the third edition of the traditional cultural-scientific manifestation “Drita e Gonxhe (The Light of Gonxhe)”, and at the same time paid tribute at the statue of “Mother Teresa” erected in “Mother Teresa” square in Prishtina.
The 26th of August this year brought us together here in the center of Prishtina in the Mother Teresa Square, indeed next to the statute of Mother Teresa, so we can begin our activities of cultural and scientific manifestation “Drita e Gonxhes (The Light of Gonxhe)”, was the start of Prime Minister Kurti’s speech before the attendees.
Prime Minister Kurti said that the 26th of August is her date of birth, while the 27th of August is the date of her baptism by Don Zef Ramaj.
Anjeze Gonxhe Bojaxhiu was born this day, exactly 113 years ago, in 1910 in Skopje, then the capital of the Kosovo Vilayet. She was the daughter of Nikola Bojaxhiu, born in Prizren in a family descended from Fani of Mirdita and mother Drane Barnaj from Novosella of Gjakova. An Albanian daughter of a patriot, who was born in the Ottoman period and who was a child when her country was invaded by neighbors, during the First Balkan War and the First World War. After the death of her father Kola when she was almost 9 years old, Anjeze Bojaxhi was raised by her grandmother Drane, as well as her brother and sister, Lazer and Agen.
After talking about her biography and journey, the Prime Minister said that the person, Anjeze Gonxhe Bojaxhiu, died at the age of 87, on September 5, 1997, but the figure of Mother Teresa as Teresa of Calcutta and as Saint Teresa continues to inspire millions of people around the world, as her words her have already become guiding principles for human behavior.
Wishing for the activities of this event to go well both here in Prishtina and also in Skopje and Tirana, the Prime Minister expressed hope that “Drita e Gonxhes” will spread light from the example that Gonxhe Bojaxhiu, Mother Teresa, set with her life for the humanity of each one of us.
Prime Minister Kurti’s full speech:
Dear Mr. Skender Hasani, Director of the Institute of Spiritual and Cultural Heritage of Albanians,
Dear Ms. Teuta Shala, Director of “Ali Hadri” Institute of History,
Dear Reverend Dom Lush Gjergji,
Ladies and gentleman,
Sisters and brothers,
Honorable attendees,
The 26th of August this year brought us together here in the center of Prishtina in the Mother Teresa Square, indeed next to the statute of Mother Teresa, so we can begin our activities of cultural and scientific manifestation “Drita e Gonxhes (The Light of Gonxhe)”.
The 26th of August is her date of birth, while the 27th of August is the date of her baptism by Don Zef Ramaj. Anjeze Gonxhe Bojaxhiu was born this day, exactly 113 years ago, in 1910 in Skopje, then the capital of the Kosovo Vilayet. She was the daughter of Nikola Bojaxhiu, born in Prizren in a family descended from Fani of Mirdita and mother Drane Barnaj from Novosella of Gjakova. An Albanian daughter of a patriot, who was born in the Ottoman period and who was a child when her country was invaded by neighbors, during the First Balkan War and the First World War. After the death of her father Kola when she was almost 9 years old, Anjeze Bojaxhi was raised by her grandmother Drane, as well as her brother and sister, Lazer and Agen.
Devout since a young age to her faith, Gonxhja left home in 1928 and joined the Sisters of Loreto in Ireland, where English became her language of communication. A year later she went to India where she would focus her activity. In 1950, she founded the Missionaries of Charity religious community, through which she managed over the years to spread a whole network of institutions and charitable activities for the poor, or as she said, for the poorest of the poor. Thus, this sister, Sister Gonxhe Bojaxhiu, became a mother, Mother Teresa, or as she was known Teresa of Calcutta. In her lifetime, she was honored by almost the whole world. In 1979, she was awarded the “Nobel” Peace Prize, while in 1985, American President Ronald Reagan awarded her the Presidential Medal of Freedom, in addition to many diplomas and honorary titles that were awarded to her by many countries around the world. Despite difficult times, she managed to find opportunities to visit Kosovo and Albania, her birthplace and the land of her ancestors. After her death, she was canonized by the Roman Catholic Church and so Teresa of Calcutta became Saint Teresa. Gonxhja had preserved her childhood Albanian, which perhaps was the language of her most personal and deepest prayers to God.
I have taken this somewhat lengthy journey through Mother Teresa’s biographical details, only to arrive at the core of my brief speech – the example we set with our actions and our lives each day, to one another and all. The person, Anjeze Gonxhe Bojaxhiu, died at the age of 87, on September 5, 1997, but the figure of Mother Teresa as Teresa of Calcutta and as Saint Teresa continues to inspire millions of people around the world, as her words her have already become guiding principles for human behavior.
Wishing for the activities of this event to go well both here in Prishtina and also in Skopje and Tirana, I hope that “Drita e Gonxhes” will spread light from the example that Gonxhe Bojaxhiu, Mother Teresa, set with her life for the humanity in each of us.
Thank you.
Last modified: August 28, 2023