Fan Noli facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Theofan Stilian Noli
13th Prime Minister of Albania
In office 16 June 1924 – 23 December 1924
Preceded by	Ilias Vrioni
Succeeded by	Ilias Vrioni
Albanian Orthodox Bishop of Korça and Metropolitan of Durrës
Personal details
Born	(1882-01-06)6 January 1882 Ibrik Tepe, Vilayet of Adrianople, Ottoman Empire
Died	13 March 1965(1965-03-13) (aged 83) Fort Lauderdale, Florida, United States
Political party	Independent (Albanian nationalist)
Alma mater	Harvard, Boston University
Occupation	Writer, Bishop, Translator, Composer, Politician
Profession	Priest and Politician
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Theofan Stilian Noli, known as Fan Noli (born January 6, 1882 – died March 13, 1965), was an important figure in Albania. He was a writer, scholar, diplomat, and politician. He also became an Archbishop and helped create the Albanian Orthodox Church and the Albanian Orthodox Archdiocese in America. In 1924, he served as the Prime Minister of Albania during a time of big changes called the June Revolution.

Fan Noli is highly respected in Albania. People see him as a champion of literature, history, and diplomacy. He played a key role in making Albanian the official language of Albania. He did this by translating many famous books from around the world into Albanian. He also wrote many books in English. These included works about Skanderbeg, Shakespeare, and Beethoven. In 1961, he published his own English translation of the New Testament.

Noli studied at Harvard (1912), the New England Conservatory of Music (1938), and earned his Ph.D. from Boston University (1945). He became a priest in 1908. This helped establish the Albanian Church and allowed the Albanian language to be used in church services. After World War I, Noli worked hard to reunite Albania. He even got support from US President Woodrow Wilson. He also helped Albania join the League of Nations, an international organization similar to today's United Nations.

Fan Noli was known for speaking out against corruption in the Albanian government. Because of this, he was asked to lead the 1924 June Revolution. He became prime minister, but his government was soon overthrown by Ahmet Zogu. Noli then went into exile in Italy. He later moved to the United States in the 1930s, becoming a US citizen. He spent the rest of his life as a scholar, religious leader, and writer.

Early Life and Travels

Fan Noli was born Theofanis Stylianos Mavromatis in 1882. He was from a small village called İbriktepe in the Ottoman Empire. His family were Orthodox Christian Albanians. They had moved there from southern Albania. As a young boy, Noli went to Greek schools.

When he was older, Noli traveled a lot. He lived in Athens, Greece, Alexandria, Egypt, and Odessa, Russia. He worked as an actor and translator to support himself. Besides Albanian, he could speak many languages, including Greek, English, French, Turkish, and Arabic. In 1903, he went to Egypt and worked as a teacher. He became very interested in the Albanian nationalist movement. In 1906, he moved to the United States. He first worked in a lumber mill in Buffalo, New York. Later, he moved to Boston, Massachusetts, and worked in a factory.

The Hudson Incident

Early Albanian immigrants in Boston were part of the Greek Orthodox Church. However, the leaders of this church did not support the Albanian nationalist cause. A young factory worker named Kristaq Dishnica died. He was an Orthodox Christian who identified as Albanian. Because of this, the Greek Orthodox Church refused to bury him.

This event, known as the Hudson Incident, was very important. Fan Noli and other Albanian immigrants decided to create their own independent Albanian Orthodox Church. In 1908, Noli became a priest. He was ordained by the Russian Church in the United States. Noli wanted to make sure Orthodox Christian Albanians could practice their faith in their own language. He also wanted to separate religion from the government in Albania.

Political and Religious Work

Portrait of a young Fan Noli.

In 1908, Noli started studying at Harvard University. He finished his degree in 1912. In April 1912, a group called Vatra was founded in America. This group of Albanian Americans worked for Albania's independence. Noli and Faik Konica were its leaders. Noli then went back to Europe to help Albania become independent. He visited Albania for the first time in 1913.

During World War I, Noli returned to the United States. He became the head of the Vatra organization. This made him a leader for Albanians living outside their home country. His diplomatic efforts helped Albania gain support from US President Woodrow Wilson. In 1920, Albania became a member of the League of Nations. This was very important because it gave Albania the international recognition it needed.

In 1921, Noli became a member of the Albanian Parliament. He represented the "People's Party," a liberal group. In 1922, a meeting was held to officially create the Albanian Orthodox Church. Fan Noli was made the Bishop of Korçë and the head of the church in Albania. This was seen as important for keeping Albanians united.

Noli also served briefly as the Foreign Minister. This was a time of great unrest in Albania between liberal and conservative groups. After some political violence, Noli gave a powerful speech at a funeral. This led to liberal supporters rising up and forcing Ahmet Zogu, a conservative leader, to leave the country in March 1924. Noli was then named prime minister and regent on July 17, 1924.

Overthrow and Life in Exile

Bishop Fan Noli, founder of the Orthodox Autocephalous Church of Albania (1939).

Fan Noli tried to make many changes in Albania. However, his plans were not popular with everyone. His government was overthrown by groups loyal to Ahmet Zogu on Christmas Eve of that year. Zogu returned to Albania, and Noli had to flee to Italy.

Noli later moved back to the United States in 1932. He continued his education, studying and teaching Byzantine music. He also kept working to develop the independent Albanian Orthodox Church he had helped create. In 1945, he earned his Ph.D. in history from Boston University. His main topic was Skanderbeg, a famous Albanian hero. He also wrote a book about Ludwig van Beethoven. In 1947, he even composed a symphony called Scanderbeg.

Towards the end of his life, Noli lived in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. He passed away in 1965. He is buried in Forest Hills Cemetery in Boston.

Today, the Albanian Orthodox Archdiocese in America that Noli founded is part of the Orthodox Church in America. Fan Noli is also honored in Albania. His picture was on the 100 lekë banknote issued in 1996.

Poems

The following poems were written by Fan Noli:

See also

• History of Albania
• Religion in Albania
• Solomon Goldstein