On the facade of the church of Apollonia, on April 6, 1260, the family portrait of Mihal Paleologu, a rare fresco of the Emperor with great artistic and historical value, was painted. The fresco is one of the first works of medieval art in Albania.

On April 6, 1925, Sami Repishti was born, a patriot, professor and Albanian researcher. In 1946, a high school student in Shkodër, he was imprisoned on the charge of “Western ideas” and was sentenced to 15 years in prison. In 1956 he escaped to Yugoslavia and then a year later he went to Italy from where he emigrated to the US. He is one of the founders of the Albanian-American Civic League and its executive director until 1992.

On April 6, 1937, the government passed the replacement law of foreign names used by some cities, villages, neighborhoods and rivers.

On April 6, 1911, during the Uprising of the Malësia e Madhe against the Ottoman occupation, the fighters of Hoti took the top of Bratila near Deçiqi and placed the red and black Albanian flag. The raising of the flag was also the clearest indication that the purpose of the Highland Uprising of 1911 was a fight for freedom, the Albanian nation and state. For this, the leaders of the 7 Bajraks of the Highlands, Hot, Gruda, Kastrat, Kelmend, Shkrel, Triesh, Kojja, but also other clans outside the Great Highlands, had sworn.

On April 6, 1938, Ramiz Varvarica, one of the Albanian internationalist fighters, fell heroically in Spain, within the Garibaldi Brigade. He was born in 1900, in the family of Fejzullah Varvarica. He was among the volunteers from Albania and the Albanian territories of Kosova and Macedonia occupied by the despotic and monarchical Yugoslavia. Other Albanians that also participated in the Spanish war, among the internationalist brigades were: Xhemal Kada, Asim Vokshi, Mehmet Shehu, Petro Marko, Zef Hoti, Urfi Agolli, Daut Muço Podgorani, Skënder Luarasi, Dhimitër Kosta, Emrush Myftari, Faik Dardha, Hulusi Spahiu, Ibrahim Kurani, lljaz Pashai, Justina Shkupi Costa Colombo, Mane Nishova, Musa Fratari, Petro Marko, Qamil Sherifi, Stefan Duni, Stevens Thanasi, Shaban Basha, Teni Konomi, Thimjo Gogozoto, Veli Dedi, Xhafer Miraka, Imer Puka, Zef Prela, Zihni Muço, Emin Agolli, Feim Muço, Hamdi Kolonja, Thoma Rushano, and many others.

On April 6, 1956, Ilia Dashi was born in Vlora. He was groomed by his family with a strong sense of patriotism. In 1976, he joined the military and was assigned to the Navy in Durrës. On a difficult night, Ilia happens to be a guard on a tanker in the port of Durrës. But suddenly, after midnight, when the sailors were sleeping, the ship caught fire in the engine. He spotted the fire and heroically fought the dangerous flames alone and succeeded in saving the ship and his comrades. The flames were extinguished, but they had ignited Ilias’ clothes. Then he quickly jumps into the sea to put out the flames, but they had deeply burned his young body. It was August 25, 1976, and Ilia Kici Dashi went on combat duty to never be forgotten for his heroic act of sacrifice.

/a.p./