Metropolitan Theophan (Noli)

Metropolitan Theophan (Noli) (1882-1965)

Theophan may be spelt Fan, Feofan, Teofan, Theofan.

Ancestors

Fan Noli's ancestors long served the Sultan of the Ottoman Empire, and they had settled in the vicinity of Constantinople, in Thrace. His uncle was at one time captured by the Russians, and he asked to be able to worship. When they asked how he, an Orthodox Christian, could serve the Muslims, he answered : "Religion is religion, and a profession is a profession".

An Albanian family with history so far to the west in the region often called Epirus (modern Albania, ancient Illyria) could have settled so far to the east because it was within the borderless Ottoman Empire.

In fact, it was considered that (as with other Albanian families in East Thrace), the family of Theophan Noli had retained and perpetuated their history, and also the language, customs and traditions of the ancients. They considered that their particular tribe was originally from the city and county of Kolonjë (one of the 36 counties of Albania), in the Korça Province

Early life of Theophan Noli

On 6 January, 1882, Theofanos Stylianos Mavromatis Noli was an Albanian who was born in the village of Ibrik Tepe (in Albanian, Qyteza) which is south of Edirne (Adrianople) in Eastern Thrace, in European Turkey (in the Ottoman Empire). He was the second of 13 children, 9 of whom died in infancy.

He was known usually by the shortened name “Fan”.

His father, Stylianos Noli, was a cantor in the Orthodox Christian Church in his native village. His mother, Marie Gollaqi, was a housewife. The family lived on the land they owned. As a child, Theofanos contracted a serious illness. Thus, he started school late.

He inherited from his father a love for church music as well as for the worship of heroes, especially the cult of Napoleon. Through his father, Theofanos learned the music of the Orthodox Church's Romano-Constantinopolitan tradition. He received his early education in the Greek secondary school in Edirne.

At one time, he was the main cantor at the Greek cathedral in Adrianople. At that time, the Orthodox Christians in the present-day Albania belonged to the Greek Orthodox Church. Worship was in ecclesiastical Greek. The presence and activity of Albanians was problematic for the Church of Greece, since the Greek language was directly related to their own development of national identity following its independence from the Ottoman Empire in 1832.

In 1899, Saint Prokopios Lazaridis became Metropolitan Bishop of Durrës. He served until 1906. During the time of his service, he developed significant activity amongst the local Orthodox communities of Albanians.

Theofanos may be said to have been a participant in the "Albanian National Awakening", which had begun in the 19th century.

Life-experience

In 1900, Theofanos moved to Athens, Greece, but he fell ill on the way, in Constantinople. He remained there for treatment, and for a while, he worked in a confectionery.

In 1901, he continued on to Athens. His acquaintances found him a position as a clerk in a Belgian company, which had a horse-drawn carriage concession in the city. He also enrolled at the Faculty of Philosophy in the Greek capital.

Because he had a talent for acting, he worked as a copy-writer, prompter and actor with a theatre troupe. He travelled with them around Greece for almost 2 years. While travelling with the troupe, Theofanos wrote the drama "To ksipnima" ("Awakening"), which was played by the troupe in Pirgos in the Peloponnese. At that time he began to write the basic outline of the drama "Israelites and Philistines".

In March, 1903, Theofanos travelled to Egypt (as the troupe was visiting various cities in the Mediterranean Basin, as well as in Odessa, Russia). In Alexandria, he left the theatre troupe. He began translating Albanian literature into Greek. He found work as a mobile Greek teacher and in the same year he translated into Greek the treatise of Sami Frashëri, “Shqipëria - Ç’ka qënë, ç’është e ç’do të bëhetë ?” (“What was it, what is it and what will become of it ?”). It was there that he began to come in contact with National Renaissance activists in the Albanian colony of Egypt, amongst whom Thanos Tashko (1863-1915) and Jani Vruho (1863-1931) helped publish the translation. They also associated him with Spiro Dine (1846-1922), Nikola Naçon, Shahin Kolonjë and Kristo Luarasi.

From March, 1905, to April, 1906, he was in Shibîn el Khôm and in El Faiyûm where another small Albanian colony had settled. In addition to improving his knowledge of Greek, he was also a parish cantor in the Orthodox Christian Temples there. In Faiyûm, he wrote several articles in Greek, and some of these works were published at the Albanian press in Sofia, Bulgaria. It was in Egypt that he was also introduced to the Albanian political world through some Albanian nationalist leaders. Spiro Dine, Jani Vruho and Athanas Tashko encouraged him to emigrate to America (the USA) where he could make better use of his talents. With Messrs. A Tashko and J Vruho, he prepared the publication of the temporary "Shkopi", which was published in Cairo.

Through his teacher, Monk Nilos, Theofanos learned more about the traditions of Romano-Constantinople chant (calle "Byzantine chant" in the west) and music, and his fascination grew such that he resolved to become an Orthodox Christian priest.

As well as his native Albanian, he came to be able to speak in many languages such as Greek, English, French, Turkish, and Arabic.

North America, 1906

In April, 1906, with a second-class steamship ticket which was paid for by Spiro Dine, Fan Noli set off via Naples, Italy, for the "New World". He arrived in New York City on 10 May, 1906.

After 3 months in Buffalo, New York, where he worked in a lumber mill, Fan Noli arrived in Boston, where he first worked as an operator on a machine which stamped labels on cans. There, the publisher Sotir Peci (1873-1932) gave him a job at a minimal salary as an editor of the Boston newspaper "Kombi" ("The Nation"), the first Albanian-language newspaper in the USA.

In 1906, he was promoted to Associate Editor of the newspaper, where he worked until May, 1907. During this time, he published articles and editorials under the pseudonym Ali Baba Qyteza. These were financially and personally difficult months for Fan Noli, who did not feel at all at home in America. He seriously considered emigrating to Bucharest in Romania. Gradually, however, he found his roots in the Albanian community and on 6 January, 1907, he co-founded the "Besa-Besën" ("The Pledge") society in Boston.

The "Hudson Incident", 1907

In Boston, some Albanian Christians were part of the Greek Orthodox Church, which was vehemently opposed to the Albanian nationalist cause. At that time, the Greek Orthodox Church was involved in the care for Greek Orthodox Christians in North America. As time passed, tensions grew. In 1907, a Greek Orthodox priest refused to officiate at the burial of Kristaq Dishnica, a member of the Albanian community from Hudson, Massachusetts, who had died from influenza. The priest did so, since he had taken the position that as a nationalist, the deceased had excommunicated himself. This position, however, was taken on a political foundation, rather than a canonical foundation. This situation became known as "the Hudson Incident".

This could happen because, despite the fact that modern Albania is adjacent to Greece, the people do not speak Greek. Rather, they speak a very different language – Albanian – which is not related to Greek. There are disputes about what parts of Epirus belong to Greece, and what to Albania. In 2019, there were still disputes about whether Kosovo belongs to Serbia or not. Modern Albania overlaps both Greek-speaking and Slavic-speaking territories. The core of ancient Albania is considered to be ancient Illyria.

As a consequence of this situation, the body of Kristaq Dishnica was laid to rest in a Worcester cemetery without any religious service. The incident aroused the indignation and ire of the Albanians in Massachusetts, and Fan Noli recognised his calling as an opportunity to serve the spiritual needs of his own community and to champion the cause for religious and political freedom in Albania. Theophan convoked a meeting of Albanian Orthodox people throughout New England. At the meeting, the delegates resolved to establish a separate, autonomous Albanian Orthodox Church. Fan Noli was selected to be its first clergyman.

In New York, Fan Noli met with Archbishop Platon (Rozhdestvensky) of New York and Father Alexander Hotovitzky, who conducted an investigation of the Albanian community. After being satisfied, Archbishop Platon agreed to ordain Fan Noli.

Ordinations, 1908

On 9 February, 1908, Archbishop Platon (Rozhdestvensky) ordained Theophan Noli to the Holy Diaconate, at Saint Nicholas Cathedral in New York City.

On 18 March, 1908, Archbishop Platon ordained Deacon Theophan Noli to the Holy Priesthood at Saint Nicholas Cathedral in New York City.

Pastoral service

On 22 March, 1908, the young Priest Theophan Noli celebrated the first Divine Liturgy in Albanian in the Knights of Honour Hall in Boston, using translations he had prepared. This ordination laid the foundation for the development of a specifically Albanian Orthodox mission within the North American and Aleutian Diocese of the Church of Russia.

Father Theophan also served in other localities nearby, and for the next several years, he nurtured the Albanian Orthodox community.

Priest Theophan Noli, 1908

At Marlboro, 1908

At Framingham, 1908

In parallel with his life of service in the Orthodox Church, Father Theophan was active in Albanian politics. From February, 1909, until July, 1911, he was the Chief-editor of the the newspaper "Dielli" ("The Sun"). This is a publication of the Boston "Besa-Besën" Albanian community.

Before and after his ordination, Father Noli had recognised the need for liturgical texts in Albanian, and he set about translating Orthodox services and Divine Liturgies, which were published in 2 volumes : "Librë e shërbesave të shënta të kishës orthodoxe" ("Book of Holy Services of the Orthodox Church", Boston, 1909), and the 315-page "Libre é te krémtevé te medha te kishes orthodoxe" ("Book of Great Ceremonies of the Orthodox Church", Boston, 1911). Other religious translations followed, in an elegant and solemn language befitting such venerable "Byzantine" traditions. Father Noli indeed considered these translations to be his most rewarding achievement.

Beginning in August, 1911, Father Theophan toured the Albanian communities throughout Europe for 4 months, where he offered church services in Albanian in Kishinev, Odessa, Bucharest, and Sofia.

In 1912, Albania gained its official independence from the Ottoman Empire.

Political activities

On 28 April, 1912, Father Theophan founded the Pan-Albanian "Vatra" ("The Hearth") Federation of America with Faik bey Konitsa. He had become the recognised leader of the Albanian Orthodox community, as well as having established himself as the writer and journalist of the nationalist movement. After graduating from Harvard University with a Bachelor of Arts degree, Father Noli straightaway travelled to Europe to attend the Albanian Congress of Trieste in March, 1913, since Albania had been declared independent by Ismail Qemal bey Vlora in November, 1912.

In July, 1913, Father Theophan visited Albania.

On 10 March, 1914, he held the country’s first Orthodox church service in the Albanian language, in the presence of Prince Wilhelm zu Wied, who had arrived in Durrës only 3 days earlier aboard an Austro-Hungarian vessel. Later, in August, 1914, Father Noli was in Vienna, Austria-Hungary ; however, as World War I began and intensified, he returned to the USA in May, 1915.

Father Noli again assumed the editorship of the "Boston Dielli", now a daily newspaper. Then, as the war generated conditions in Albania which caused a more chaotic situation with an attendant political vacuum, the Vatra Federation in the USA began considering itself as a quasi-Albanian government in exile. Father Noli, after his return, became its president in 1917, and he continued organising the Albanian Orthodox community.

Administrator of the Albanian Orthodox community in the USA, 1918

On 25 March, 1918, he was assigned to serve as the administrator of the Albanian Orthodox community in the USA by Archbishop Alexander (Nemolovsky).

In early July of 1918, he attended a conference on oppressed peoples in Mount Vernon, Virginia, where he met President Woodrow Wilson (1856-1924), champion of minority rights in Europe.

In September, 1918, Father Noli founded the English-language monthly "Adriatic Review" which was financed by the "Vatra" Federation to spread information about Albania and its cause. He edited the journal for the first 6 months, after which he was succeeded in 1919 by Constantine Chekrezi (1892-1959). With Vatra funds collected under Father Noli’s direction, Albanian-American delegates were sent to Paris, London and Washington in order to promote international recognition of Albanian independence.

Monastic tonsure, 1918

On 17 November, 1918, Priest Fan Noli was tonsured to be a monk, and he was given the name Theophan.

At the same time, Hieromonk Theophan (Noli) was elevated to the dignity of archimandrite, with the right to wear a mitre.

League of Nations delegation

In November, 1919, Archimandrite Theophan (Noli) was elected by the General Council of the Albanian Church to become the bishop of the Albanian Orthodox Church in America. However, due to the unsettled conditions in the Orthodox Church at the time, he was not able to be ordained before he returned to Europe as the head of the Albanian delegation to the League of Nations in Geneva, which sought admission for Albania. Nevertheless, during this time, he visited Albanian colonies throughout Europe. The circumstances of these years, and especially the Bolshevik Revolution of 1917 in Russia, led to the de facto independence of the Albanian diocese.

Work towards an independent Albania

With the end of World War I, Archimandrite Theophan continued his deep involvement in fundraising and campaigning for the recognition of an independent Albania during the post-war conferences. His diplomatic efforts in the USA and Geneva won the support of President Woodrow Wilson for an independent Albania and, in 1920, earned the new nation membership in the fledgling League of Nations. The political situation was unique at this time for Albanians. This is the reason why, notwithstanding Apostolic Canons 81 and 83, Archimandrite Theophan forged ahead with his efforts to secure recognition for an independent Albania.

On 17 December, 1920, the League of Nations admitted Albania to its membership, which thus established worldwide recognition of Albania's independence. Archimandrite Theophan (Noli) considered this admission to League membership to be his greatest accomplishment. Returning to Albania from Geneva in 1921, he represented the Vatra Federation in the Albanian parliament, and he was also a representative of the liberal pro-British "People's Party" (Albanian :" Partia e Popullit"), the chief liberal movement in the country. The other parties were the conservative pro-Italian "Progressive Party" (Albanian : Partia Përparimtare) founded by Mehdi Frashëri and led by Ahmet Zogu (1895-1961), and the "Popular Party" (Albanian : Partia Popullore) of Xhafer Bey Ypi (1880-1940). The conservatives of Ahmet Zogu would dominate the political scene.

Archimandrite Theophan (Noli), 1920

In 1922, Archimandrite Fan Noli was appointed to be the Foreign Minister in the government of Xhafer bey Ypi, but he resigned several months later.

Albanian Orthodox Autonomy, 1922

The Autonomous Orthodox Church of Albania was proclaimed in Berat, Albania, on 12 September, 1922, with 4 metropolitans, 2 seminaries, and 29 monasteries. It was not recognised by the Patriarchate of Constantinople which continued to insist that Greek be used as the language of the services. Despite Father Fan Noli's attempts at taking advantage of his engagement in politics, there was no success in ordaining Albanian bishops.

Modern Saint Demetrius Cathedral, Berat

Therefore, the Albanian Church turned to the Patriarchate of Peć (Serbia) which agreed to ordain them.

Archimandrite Visarion Xhuvani was ordained to the Holy Episcopate in Kotor (Kingdom of Slovenes, Croats and Serbs) by the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia, which was residing in Sremski Karlovci. Father Theophan kept good relations with the Serbian Church and authorities.

The Patriarch of Constantinople declared that the process was invalid in their point of view. Metropolitan Visarion (Xhuvani) took over after Metropolitan Theophan Noli's exile, and he continued on the same path with persistence. As a counter-measure to Greek pressure, the Albanians expelled the Bishop Hierotheos and imprisoned the other Bishop Kristofor in a monastery, since both had been elected by Constantinople. The relations were frozen for some time due to Metropolitan Visarion's strong opposition to granting any requests from the Greek side. He was considered "an obstacle for the agreement", even by the Albanian government. The Churches of Constantinople and of Moscow did not recognise the independence, although the Serbian Orthodox Church and the Romanian Orthodox Church recognised it by their silence.

Episcopal ordination, 1923

On 21 November, 1923, Archimandrite Theophan (Noli) was ordained to the Holy Episcopate.

Episcopal service

Bishop Theophan (Noli) was assigned to be the Bishop of Korçë, and Metropolitan of Durrës.

Modern Holy Resurrection Cathedral, Korçë

He was now the head of the Orthodox Church of Albania.

Modern Saint Paul and Saint Astius Cathedral, Durrës

Although he had intended to leave politics and devote himself entirely to his diocesan duties (both in Albania and in the USA), his inability to acquire a visa to remain in the USA, and the political events at that time kept him solely in Albania for nearly a decade.

Bishop Theophan was still the leader of a liberal political party, the main opposition to the conservative forces of Ahmet Zogu, who were supported primarily by the feudal landowners and the middle class.

Meanwhile, in the USA

Despite the prolonged absence of Bishop Theophan (Noli), the Church continued to develop in the USA. Indeed, the Church in America continued to flourish. New Albanian parishes were formed in Natick, Worcester, Massachusetts ; Philadelphia, Jamestown, [Pennsylvania] ; Southbridge, Massachusetts. At Saint George’s Church in South Boston, clergy were ordained : Priests Naum Cere (an accomplished iconographer) ; Damian Angeli ; Vangel Chamche (who later served as a bishop in the homeland) ; Koli Kristofer (the first Albanian to arrive in America). A choir had been formed there in 1916 by Professor Thomas Nassi, a New England Conservatory graduate.

In the late 1920s, the women, who would come to play a major sustaining role in the life of the Church, began to arrive in greater numbers, and they formed their own societies, the "Daughters of Saint George and Bashkimi (Union)".

Metropolitan Theophan (Noli)

The June Revolution (1924) ; Episcopal and political service

The events of the June Revolution of 1924 brought Metropolitan Theophan (Noli) to his political summit. After an attempted assassination on Ahmet Zogu, the conservatives allegedly revenged themselves by assassinating another popular liberal politician, Avni Rustemi on 22 April, 1924. Metropolitan Theophan gave a fiery oration at Mr. Rustemi's funeral that provoked such a reaction by the liberal opposition that Ahmet Zogu was forced to flee to Yugoslavia.

In a commentary on 23 July, 1924, the "Manchester Guardian" described Metropolitan Fan Noli as a

 man who would have been remarkable in any country.  An accomplished diplomat, an expert in international 
 politics, a skilful debater, from the outset he made a deep impression in Geneva.  He knocked down his Balkan 
 opponents in a masterly fashion, but always with a broad smile.  He is a man of vast culture who has read 
 everything worth reading in English and French.  His success at the League of Nations had established him as 
 the leading figure in Albanian political life.

Downfall and exile, 1924

Then, on 17 July, 1924, Metropolitan Theophan was proclaimed to be the prime minister. This was followed shortly by his being designated the regent of Albania (the one who rules when the ruler is absent or unable to rule).

Prime Minister Fan Noli, 1924

For 6 months, he led a democratic government which tried desperately to cope with the catastrophic economic and political problems facing the young Albanian state. He presented a 20-point programme for modernisation and democratisation of Albania and for agrarian reform which was, however, unpopular. It seems that the programme was too rash and too idealistic for an undeveloped country with no parliamentary traditions. In a letter to an English friend, he was later to note the reasons for his failure :

 By insisting on the agrarian reforms, I aroused the wrath of the landed aristocracy ; by failing to carry them 
 out, I lost the support of the peasant masses.

On Christmas Eve, 24 December, 1924, Zogist forces overthrew Metropolitan Fan Noli's government. Under a death sentence, Metropolitan Fan Noli left Albania for the last time, and he went to Italy. Meanwhile, conscious of his fragile position, Ahmet Zogu took drastic measures to consolidate and reassert his power. By the end of winter, the 2 main leaders of the opposition, Bajram Curri and Luigj Gurakuqi, were assassinated, and others were imprisoned.

Metropolitan Fan Noli then spent several months in Italy at the invitation of Prime Minister Mussolini (1883-1945), the “Duce” of the Fascist Party at that time. However, when Mr. Mussolini finally reached an agreement with Ahmet Zogu about oil concessions in Albania, Metropolitan Fan Noli and his followers were “given to understand” that their presence in Italy was no longer desired.

Metropolitan Fan Noli subsequently spent several years visiting in northern Europe, primarily in Germany and Austria. Metropolitan Fan Noli founded the "National Revolutionary Committee" (Albanian : "Komiteti Nacional Revolucionar") also known as KONARE in Vienna. The committee published the periodical called "National Freedom" (Albanian : "Liria Kombëtare"). Some of the early Albanian communists such as Halim Xhelo or Riza Cerova began their publishing activities there. The committee aimed at overthrowing Mr. Zogu and his government and restoring democracy. Despite the efforts, the committee's access and influence in Albania were limited. With the intervention of Kosta Boshnjaku, an old communist and KONARE member, the organisation received unconditioned monetary support from the “Comintern”. Both Metropolitan Fan Noli and Kosta Boshnjaku made it possible for exiled members of the Committee for the National Defence of Kosovo (outlawed by Ahmet Zogu) to get the same financial support.

In November, 1927, Metropolitan Theophan visited Moscow in the Soviet Union as a Balkan delegate to a congress of “Friends of the Soviet Union”, which was marking the tenth anniversary of the Bolshevik October Revolution.

In 1928, KONARE changed its name to "Committee of National Liberation" (Albanian: "Komiteti i Çlirimit Kombëtar"). Meanwhile, in Albania, after 3 years of a republican regime, the "National Council" declared Albania to be a Constitutional Monarchy, and on 1 September, 1928, Ahmet Zogu became king.

From 1929, Metropolitan Visarion (Xhuvani) continued the work of Metropolitan Theophan (and in close collaboration with him) within the Albanian kingdom itself. Metropolitan Fan Noli called him one of the most energetic clerics of Albania.

USA, 1930

In 1930, Metropolitan Theophan returned to the USA, on a six-month visa. In Boston, he founded the weekly periodical “Republika” ("The Republic"), the name of which alone was in open defiance of Ahmet Zogu who had proclaimed himself to be Zog I, King of the Albanians. "Republika" was also published in opposition to "Dielli" ("The Sun"), now under the control of Faik Konitza who had come to terms with King Zog and who had become Albanian minister plenipotentiary (like an ambassador) in Washington, DC. With the expiration of his visa, Metropolitan Theophan was forced to return to Europe. The periodical "Republika" was taken over by Anastas Tashko until it ceased publication in 1932.

Metropolitan Theophan

Return to USA : permanent residence ; retirement from politics, 1932

Nevertheless, in 1932, through the help of others, Metropolitan Theophan was granted permanent resident status and he returned permanently to the USA. He had previously spent 8 years living in Germany while he waited for this visa.

Upon arriving in the USA, he withdrew for the most part from political life, and he returned to his duties as the head of the Albanian Orthodox Church in North America (without breaking ties with the Albanian Orthodox Church).

Despite all that had previously occurred, in late 1933, his supposed arch-enemy King (Ahmet) Zog gave Metropolitan Theophan 3,000 gold francs to pay for treatment of a serious illness that Metropolitan Theophan could not afford. Through this gift, much of the animosity between the 2 was reconciled. He was also reconciled with his old compatriot, Faik bey Konitza.

Developments in the USA, 1934

In 1934, the choir at Saint George's Church in South Boston was reorganised, and they used the hymnals prepared and translated into Albanian by Metropolitan Theophan. By this time, however, the metropolitan faced the monumental task of translating the liturgical books and music into English so as to ensure the participation of the first American-born generation. Ever a visionary, he also turned his attention towards the goal of uniting all the various ethnic branches of the Church in the USA into a single American Orthodox Church.

In 1935, he focussed his attention also on one of his earlier deep interests : music. At the age of 53, he registered at the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston, Massachusetts, from which he graduated in 1938 with a Bachelor of Music degree.

Albanian autocephaly, 1937

On 12 April, 1937, Metropolitan Theophan’s dream of an Albanian national Church was fulfilled, when the Patriarch of Constantinople recognised the autocephaly of the Orthodox Church of Albania.

Under King Zog, Metropolitan Visarion (Xhuvani) had pressed successfully for the recognition of the autocephaly of the Albanian Orthodox Church. When this was accomplished in 1937, Metropolitan Visarion was replaced by the demand of Constantinople, and he later suffered considerably at the hands of the communists.

After having gone to the USA, Metropolitan Theophan did organise a republican opposition to King Zog. Nevertheless, he later made a short-lived alliance with King Zog, who fled from Albania before the invading Italians in 1939. However, King Zog was unable to set up a firm anti-Axis and anti-Communist front.

Metropolitan Theophan (Noli), 1939

Continuing studies, writing, retirement

Soon after his graduation from the Boston Conservatory, Metropolitan Fan Noli turned to post-graduate studies at Boston University. He completed a Ph.D. degree there in 1945, with a dissertation on George Castriot Scënderbeg, a 15th century Albanian warrior and nobleman who led a rebellion against the Ottoman Empire in Albania.

In the early years after World War II, Metropolitan Theophan maintained reasonable relations with the new communist government in Albania, and he tried to persuade the USA to recognise the new state. However, his attempts (and the fact that some called him the ‘red bishop’) only generated enmity and polarised relationships amongst the émigré circles in the USA, as the communist government began destroying all religion in Albania.

Enver Hoxha's increasing persecution of all religions prevented Metropolitan Theophan's Albanian Church in America from maintaining ties with the Orthodox hierarchy in Albania. Despite the Hoxha government's anti-clerical and anti-religious bent, Metropolitan Theophan's ardent Albanian nationalism brought the bishop to the attention of the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation. The FBI's Boston office kept the bishop under investigation for more than a decade, with no final outcome to the probe.

Meanwhile, Metropolitan Theophan (Noli) conducted research at the Boston University Music Department, and he subsequently published a biography of Ludvig van Beethoven. He also composed a one-movement symphony called “Scanderbeg” in 1947.

Metropolitan Theophan spent the remaining years of his life as an academician, retired bishop and writer.

In 1953, Metropolitan Theophan moved to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, where he bought a house, for which he used part of a $20,000 grant from the Vatra Federation.

In his later years, Metropolitan Theophan began to suffer from cancer, which eventually became severe. A surgery was ultimately deemed necessary. Following the surgery, Metropolitan Theophan suffered a severe cerebral haemorrhage, from which he did not recover.

Repose, 1965

Metropolitan Theophan (Noli) fell asleep in the Lord (at the age of 83) in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on 13 March, 1965.

The Funeral Services for the Burial of an Hierarch were offered at the Saint George Cathedral in Jamaica Plain (South Boston), Massachusetts. There were 15 bishops and other clergy serving at the funeral services.

Saint George's Albanian Orthodox Church, South Boston, Massachusetts

After the conclusion of the funeral services, the body of Metropolitan Theophan (Noli) was interred in the Forest Hills Cemetery and Crematory at Jamaica Plain, Suffolk County, Massachusetts.

Grave marker

— Bishop of Korçë, Metropolitan of Durrës and all Albania 1923-1929 (1937-1965). See created. Succeeded by : Metropolitan Visarion (Xhuvani) 1929-1937.

Reflections

Writing in his diary 2 days after Metropolitan Fan Noli's death, the Albanian leader Enver Hoxha gave his analysis of the metropolitan's work :

 As we are informed, Fan S Noli died from an operation done last week from which, because of his age, he did not 
 survive.  A cerebral hemorrhage caused a quick death.  Noli was one of the prominent political and literary 
 figures of the beginning of this century. The balance sheet of his life was positive. [...] Fan Noli today 
 enjoys a great popularity in our country, deserved as a literary translator and music critic. He was a 
 prominent promoter of the Albanian language. His original works and translations, especially of Shakespeare, 
 of Omar Khayyám and Blasco Ibáñez, are immortal.  But especially his anti-Zogist, anti-feudal elegies and 
 poems are beautiful jewels that have inspired and will inspire our youth, especially in creativity.  He was 
 also respected as a realistic politician, as a revolutionary democrat in ideology and politics.  The Party has 
 assessed the figure of Noli.  As is deserved, we have had a patriotic duty to point out the really great merits 
 of his in literature, the history of the arts, and his merits and weaknesses in politics.  I think we will do 
 our best in bringing his body to Albania, as this distinguished son of the people, the revolutionary patriot, 
 deserves to bask in his homeland, which he loved and fought for his entire life.
 — Enver Hoxha

Fan S Noli was depicted on the obverse of the Albanian 100 lekë banknote issued in 1996, although the banknote itself ceased being legal tender from 31 December, 2008.

100 Leke banknote. 1996-2008

The Albanian University in Pristina is named after Metropolitan Theophan (Noli}. The monument to the “red bishop” was erected in a small park in Tirana that bears his name.

Legacy

Metropolitan Theophan (Noli) is remembered mostly for his efforts towards founding the Albanian nation ; for bringing Orthodox Christianity to the Albanian nation in their own language and for enabling the establishment of an Autocephalous Albanian Orthodox Church.

Metropolitan Theophan is remembered in this respect also in the 2 Albanian Orthodox dioceses in North America : the Albanian Orthodox Archdiocese (OCA) and the Albanian Orthodox Diocese of America (Ecumenical Patriarchate).

Through Metropolitan Theophan, the Albanian Orthodox Archdiocese, which has been a part of The Orthodox Church in America since 1971, has continued in a direct line from him (albeit with a hiatus) to be the leading influence in the Albanian Orthodox Church in North America, and in Albania.

After World War II, following the controversies about Metropolitan Theophan Noli's status, and the political divergences of Albanian-Americans with the rise of communism in Albania, Patriarch Athenagoras (Spyrou) of Constantinople was requested by some Albanians to send a canonical bishop. Therefore, in 1949, Bishop Mark (Lipa) organised the Albanian Orthodox Diocese of America. He accepted into this diocese the large Albanian community of Saint Nicholas in Chicago, and also an older parish, which was the first of 3 Albanian Orthodox parishes to locate in South Boston.

The 2 dioceses with their bishops have given their support to the renewal of the Autocephalous Albanian Orthodox Church, beginning in 1990. Despite the administrative differences between the dioceses, the 2 have rather more in common than these differences.

Metropolitan Theophan was a pioneer in calling for a united Orthodox Church in North America. He considered his Albanian Orthodox Church in North America to be as a daughter of the Russian Orthodox Church in North America. He looked to it for the creation of a single Orthodox Church in America. He continued to lead his flock and to advocate Orthodox unity until his death (see "Orthodox America" p. 148).

Honour

On 11 April, 2022, in the Morris Park neighbourhood in the Bronx, New York, Tenbroek Street [was given the additional name "Fan Noli Way". It was named after the Albanian cleric politician Theofan Stilian Noli : Albanian writer, scholar, diplomat and founder of the Albanian Orthodox Church.

Fan Noli Way street sign

Writings

Liturgical publications :

Metropolitan Theophan was a leader in establishing a literary Albanian language. He was a poet, a dramatist, an historian, a musicologist, and a noted translator. For the Orthodox Christians, it is his translations of the Orthodox services and Divine Liturgies into Albanian that will be long remembered.

His early writings were collected into 2 volumes : the “Book of Holy Services of the Orthodox Church” (1909) and the “Book of Great Ceremonies of the Orthodox Church” (1911). More ecclesiastical translations followed in later years, all in a style of language that honoured the Romano-Constantinopolitan traditions that he so loved. He continued to translate throughout his life, and this work included translations into the English language (after the use of English began to enter his American parishes). In this context, his great concern was for the young people and for their active participation in the Church. In his pastoral service in America, Metropolitan Theophan found that most of the young people could no longer understand Albanian. He therefore decided to translate the liturgical books into English, as he had previously done with Albanian. Before his death, he had published 8 such books in the English language. Thus, he became a pioneer in the translation of liturgical texts into the English language.

Historical and other writings :

In the non-religious fields, Metropolitan Fan Noli is remembered for his works on Albanian history, as well as his biographies of great figures from the past, both political and musical. He wrote both in Albanian and in English. His works in the Albanian language, both in prose and in verse, contributed greatly towards the establishment of an elegant style in the use of the Albanian language, a style which is refined and which flows with elegance.

Theophan Noli’s first literary work was a three-act drama entitled "Israilitë dhe Filistinë" ("Israelites and Philistines", Boston, 1907). This 48-page tragedy written in 1902 is based on the Book of Judges, chapters 13-16, in the Old Testament : the famous story of Samson and Delilah. Published at a time when Albanian theatre was in its infancy, it is one of the rare Albanian plays of the period that is not gushing with sentimentality before reaching a superficial melodramatic conclusion. Such were the tastes of the period, however, and Fan Noli’s play found little favour with the public. Not only was the subject matter too distant and philosophical, but his language was too archaic or dialectal for the public to enjoy.

Fan Noli’s most popular work today is a scholarly history of the life and times of the Albanian national hero Scënderbeg. A 285-page Albanian version was published as "Historia e Skënderbeut (Gjerq Kastriotit), mbretit të Shqipërisë 1412-1468" ("The History of Scanderbeg (George Castrioti), King of Albania 1412-1468", Boston, 1921), and an English version, the fruits of his doctoral dissertation at Boston University in 1945, as "George Castrioti Scanderbeg (1405-1468)" (New York, 1947). Another scholarly work in English which mirrors both his fascination with great figures of the past (Julius Caesar, Skënderbeg and Napoleon) and his love of music is the 117-page "Beethoven and the French Revolution" (New York, 1947).

His contributions to English language literature are also manifold as a scholar and author of a series of publications on Scënderbeg, Shakespeare, Beethoven, religious texts and translations. He produced a translation of the New Testament in English, “The New Testament of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ from the approved Greek text of the Church of Constantinople and the Church of Greece”, published in 1961.

Theophan Noli has not been forgotten as a poet, although his powerful declamatory verse is far from prolific. It was collected in a volume with the simple title "Albumi" ("The Album", Boston, 1948), which he published on the occasion of his 40 years of residence in the USA. "Albumi" contains primarily political verse reflecting his abiding nationalist aspirations and the social and political passions of the 1920s and 1930s.

Fan Noli’s main contribution to Albanian literature, however, was as a stylist, as seen especially in his translations. Together with Faik bey Konitza, Fan Noli may indeed be regarded as one of the greatest stylists in the Tosk dialect of the Albanian language. His experience as an actor and orator, and his familiarity with other great languages of culture, Greek, English and French in particular, enabled him to develop Albanian into a language of refinement and flowing elegance. Fan Noli translated poetry of various nineteenth-century European and American authors, and most often managed, with the ear of the musician he was, to reflect the style, taste and rhythmical nuances of the originals.

Although he wrote comparatively little in the way of literature per se, Fan Noli remains nonetheless a literary giant. He was instrumental in helping the Albanian language reach its full literary and creative potential.

Poems :

The following poems were written by Theophan Noli :

   • 'Hymni i Flamurit'				• 'Syrgjyn-vdekur'
   • 'Thomsoni dhe Kuçedra'			• 'Shpell' e Dragobisë'
   • 'Jepni për Nënën'				• 'Rent, or Marathonomak !'
   • 'Moisiu në mal'				• 'Anës lumejve'
   • 'Marshi i Krishtit'			• 'Plak, topall dhe ashik'
   • 'Krishti me kamçikun'			• 'Sofokliu'
   • 'Shën Pjetrin në Mangall'			• 'Tallja përpara Kryqit'
   • 'Marshi i Barabbajt'			• 'Sulltani dhe kabineti'
   • 'Marshi i Kryqësmit'			• 'Saga e Sermajesë'
   • 'Kirenari'					• 'Lidhje e paçkëputur'
   • 'Kryqësmi'					• 'Çepelitja'		
   • 'Kënga e Salep-Sulltanit'			• 'Vdekja e Sulltanit'

References

Bala, Vehbi, “The Life of Fan S. Noli” (Tirana : Political Book Publishing House, 1972).

Albanian Wikipedia biography

“Albanian Voices” biography

Orthodoxwiki biography

Wikipedia biography

Russian Wikipedia biography

"Fan Noli" biography by Robert Elsie

Additional information :

Alexis, Kyros Ad., "Our Balkanian neighbors", 1962, p. 28.

“Athene” (Chicago, IL : Athene Enterprises, Incorporated, 1944).

Austin, Robert Clegg, “Founding a Balkan State : Albania's Experiment with Democracy, 1920-1925” (Toronto : University of Toronto Press, 2012). ISBN 978-1-4426-4435-9.

Baerlein, Henry, “Southern Albania: Under the Acroceraunian Mountains” (Chicago : Argonaut, 1968).

Binder, David, ‘Vlachs: A Peaceful Balkan People’ in “Mediterranean Quarterly” (Duke University Press, 2004), vol. 15, no. 4, pp. 115–124 [doi:10.1215/10474552-15-4-115].

Bogdani, Mirela, Loughlin, John, “Albania and the European Union: The Tumultuous Journey Towards Integration and Accession (Library of European Studies)” (London : I B Tauris & Co Ltd, 2009) ISBN 978-1-84-511308-7, ISBN-13: 978-1845113087.

Brisku, Adrian, “Bittersweet Europe: Albanian and Georgian Discourses on Europe, 1878–2008” (New York : Berghahn Books, 2013). ISBN 978-0-85-745985-5.

“The Central European Observer” (Prague : "Orbis" Publishing Company, 1943), vol. 20.

Elsie, Robert, “Historical Dictionary of Albania”, 2 ed. (Lanham, MD : Scarecrow Press, 2010), p. 79. ISBN : 978-0810861886

......, “A Biographical Dictionary of Albanian History” (London : I B Tauris, 2012). ISBN 13 : 978-1780764313 ; ISBN 10 : 1780764316.

Ersoy, Ahmet ; Górny, Maciej ; Kechriotis, Vangelis, “Modernism: Representations of National Culture. Discourses of Collective Identity in Central and Southeast Europe 3” (Budapest and New York : Central European University Press, 2010). ISBN 978-9-63-732664-6.

Ference, Gregory Curtis, “Chronology of 20th-century Eastern European History” (Detroit, MI : Gale Research Inc., 1994). ISBN-13: 978-0810388796.

“Free Europe: Fortnightly Review of International Affairs” (London : Free Europe, 1941), vols. 4-5.

Giakoumēs, Geōrgios K; Vlassas, Grēgorēs; Hardy, David A, “Monuments of Orthodoxy in Albania” (Greece : Doukas School, 1996). ISBN 978-960-7203-09-0.

“Harvard Encyclopedia of American Ethnic Groups”, eds. Stephan Thernstrom, Ann Orlov, & Oscar Handlin (Cambridge, MA : Belknap Press of Harvard University, 1980). ISBN 978-0-67-437512-3.

“Irénikon” (Amay, Belgium : Monastère Bénédictin, 1963), vol. 36, in French.

“The Naval Review” (London : Naval Society, 1928), vol. 16.

Paul, William E, “English Language Bible Translators” (Jefferson, NC & London : McFarland and Co., 2003), p. 175.

Pearson, Owen, “Albania and King Zog : Independence, Republic and Monarchy 1908-1939" (London : Centre for Albanian Studies, 2004). ISBN 978-1-84-511013-0.

Spahiu, Avni ; Mjeku, Getoar, “Fan Noli's American Years: Notes on a Great Albanian American” (Houston, TX : Jalifat Group, 2009). ISBN 978-0-97-671402-6, ISBN-13: 978-0976714026.

“The Splendour of Orthodoxy: 2000 years history, monuments, art. Discourses of Collective Identity in Central and Southeast Europe 3” (Budapest and New York : Ekdotiki Athenon, 2000). ISBN 978-960-213-398-9.

Stavrou, Nikolaos A, ‘Albanian Communism and the “Red Bishop”’ in “Mediterranean Quarterly: A Journal of Global Issues” (Durham, NC : Duke University Press, 1996), vol. 7, no. 2, pp. 32-59.

Tarasar, Constance J, ed., "Orthodox America 1794-1976: Development of the Orthodox Church in America" (Syosset, New York : The Orthodox Church in America, Department of History and Archives, 1975). ASIN : B000ZLZAUE.

Thernstrom, Stephan, ed., “Harvard Encyclopedia of American Ethnic Groups” (Cambridge, MA : Belknap Press | Harvard University Press, 1980), p. 26.

Vickers, Miranda, “The Albanians : A modern History” (London : Bloomsbury Academic, 1999). ISBN 10 : 1860645410 ; ISBN 13 : 9781860645419.

Vllamasi, Sejfi; Verli, Marenglen, “Ballafaqime Politike në Shqipëri (1897–1942) : Kujtime dhe Vlerësime Historike” (Tirana : Shtëpia Botuese "Neraida", 2000). ISBN 999-2-77-131-3.

“The Central European Observer” (Prague : "Orbis" Publishing Company, 1943), vol. 20, p. 63.

“Free Europe: Fortnightly Review of International Affairs” (London : Free Europe, 1941), vols. 4-5, p. 278.

“Irénikon” (Amay, Belgium : Monastère Bénédictin, 1963) vol. 36, p. 266.

“The Splendour of Orthodoxy: 2000 years history, monuments, art. Discourses of Collective Identity in Central and Southeast Europe 3” (Budapest and New York : Ekdotiki Athenon, 2000), p. 538 : 158 Stylianou Theophanes Noli or Mavrommatis.

"One of the most colorful Albanian politicians"

Wikipedia article about the Albanian National Awakening

Encyclopaedia Britannica article about Eastern Orthodoxy

Metropolitan Fan Noli's Liturgical Translations in Albanian and English by Foti Cici

Wikipedia biography of Solomon Goldstein

Findagrave reference for Metropolitan Theophan (Noli)

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