The Church “Burimi Jetëdhënës” [The Life-giving Source] or as it is otherwise known the Metropolia of Korça, is being reborn and with its completion a precious historical, cultural and architectural value will be restored to the city, writes Albanian News Agency.

Mitropolia is one of the most emblematic buildings of Korça. It began to be built in 1927 and was completed in 1936 as a basilica-type cathedral, according to the project drawn up by engineer Nastas Pilina.

This church is built on the site of the old cathedral church. The people of Korça and philanthropists like Thoma Turtulli, but also donors from the diaspora, the Thomai, Kostandiniu families, etc., contributed to the completion and completion of the church at that time.

The remaining values of the old cathedral, such as the wonderful iconostasis, the episcopal throne pulpit, the icons of the talented brothers Konstandin and Athanas Zografi, were placed and adapted in the newly built cathedral.

The painting of the walls, domes and part of the icons was carried by the Zengo sisters, their father Vangjel and the other painter Dallta.

This church was so magnificent that it was considered the largest and most beautiful Orthodox church in Albania, for which the people of Korca were rightly proud.

In 1967, the doors of this church were closed, after the communist regime banned and fiercely fought religious beliefs. After that with the intervention of the highly respected researcher Theofan Popa, it turned into a savior for the collection of icons that remain unburnt, and after the 1970s it would be adopted into the museum of medieval art.

The restoration project as well as the complete reconstruction of the Church of “The Life-giving Source” was designed in 2019 by engineer Dhimitri Kondakçi, who is also the implementer of the works. His career also marked the restoration of 36 other churches.

/a.p./