#friars

Father Shtjefën Gjeçovi (born Hilë Gjeçovi) was born on July 12th, 1874 in Janjevë, Vilayet of Prizren, Kosovo. In 1884, he was sent to the college of Troshan in Shkodër, Albania, where received lessons on the path to priesthood. Apart from being a priest, Gjeçovi was also a collector of Albanian folklore-and a folklorist himself, a playwright, an author, a publicist, an archaeologist and a teacher. He was noted for his research work on collecting traditions and lifestyles of northern Albanians and especially for the codification of collections of canonical material, much to the likes of that of The Canon of Lekë Dukagjini, the contents of which were collected over the years by Gjeçovi between 1898-1924. Because he did not stop neither his work as a teacher, even though Yugoslav authorities had ordered the closure of Albanian schools, nor his folklore collecting and archaeological expeditions, he was shot on the hill of Rrezina in the village of Zym, Kosovo on October 14th, 1929. His body was carried by his Franciscan brother, Lorenc Mazreku and a martyr of the homeland, Luigj Paliqi.

Father Lorenc Mazreku was born on March 5th, 1872 in Janjevë, Vilayet of Prizren, Kosovo. Most renowned for his national and religious zeal. After graduating from the college of Troshan, he continued his studies in Bosnia for philosophy and literature alongside Shtjefën Gjeçovi, Anton Nënshati, Jozef Blinishti, Pjetër Gjadri, Ëngjëll Paliqi and Gjergj Fishta. He built churches and lead parishes across Kosovo and Shkodër. He also helped enrich churches by purchasing statues from different dealers. In 1920 he served again as parish priest in Peja, where, in 1942, he founded the Antonian Society for the education of youth. The Germans also found him there when, during World War II, they entered Peja. Thanks to his intercession, during this period two Orthodox Churches were saved from burning: that of the Patriarchate of Peja and the Church of Deçan and, what is more important, the real danger of war between Muslims and Orthodox; between Albanians and Montenegrins and Serbs was averted. Father Lorenc Mazrreku was killed by the Serbs on February 15th, 1943, on the road between Gjakova and Peja, in Prilep.