TIRANA, 20 February – The St. Peter and Paul Monastery in Vithkuq has recently been restored. It is both a cultural monument and a pilgrimage site for Orthodox believers.

The restoration included the monastery roof, excavations in the guesthouse, repairs to the cemetery and portico, and improvements around the building. Workers restored the cobblestone paths, strengthened the walls, built a wooden staircase, repaired the frescoes, and installed a new lighting system.

The monastery stands on a high, scenic hill in Vithkuq. It was built in the eighteenth century, around 1764–1773. The site is historically, culturally, and religiously significant.

The church is covered with about 2,000 frescoes. It also has a unique iconostasis crafted by two masters from Opar. Historically, the monastery included 50 rooms, 400–500 sheep, 100 hectares of land, the village of Leshnja as a farm, 25 shops in Korça, and other assets. Locals donated land and shops when they left the village.

Every year on 29 June, the monastery hosts pilgrims to honor St. Peter and St. Paul. The day also celebrates those named after the saints.

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