TIRANA, March 20 – Gjon Buzuku began writing the “Missal” on March 20, 1554, creating the first known book printed in the Albanian language. The liturgical work marks a foundational moment in the written tradition of Albanian.

The only known copy surfaced by chance in the Vatican Library in 1740. It remains the most complete testimony of early Albanian. The book originally contained 110 sheets, or 220 pages. Today, 94 sheets, or 188 pages, survive.

Buzuku adapted the Latin alphabet to fit the phonetic nature of Albanian. He added five special letters and showed strong linguistic awareness in the sixteenth century. He completed the work within one year.

In the text, Buzuku wrote that he aimed to shed light and support understanding through the written word. In 1929, Franciscan scholar At Justin Rrota brought three photographic reproductions of the book from the Vatican Apostolic Library to Albania, helping preserve its legacy.

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