Anastas Avramidhi-Lakçe
Encyclopedia
Anastas Avramidhi-Lakçe or Anastas Avram-Lakçe (1821–1890) was an Albanian
businessman and benefactor. Avramidhi was born in Korçë
, modern southern Albania
, then part of the Ottoman Empire
. When he was young he migrated to Bucharest
, Romania
, where he became a successful businessman.
he became one of the founding members and the president of the Albanian association Drita (Light), later renamed to Dituria (Knowledge).
He also financed Albanians of Korçë in promoting the opening of Albanian schools and supported the cause of individuals like Thimi Marko, who was trying to establish Albanian schools. In 1888 he published a book written in Albanian
and translated in French
, Greek
and Romanian
titled "To Albanians from an Albanian". The book dealt primarily with the importance of education in the Albanian language. In his last will he left his fortune to associations promoting Albanian education, but his testament was blocked by the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople
. Anastas Avramidhi named as the executor of his last will Orhan Pojani, an activist of the Albanian National Awakening.
Albanians
Albanians are a nation and ethnic group native to Albania and neighbouring countries. They speak the Albanian language. More than half of all Albanians live in Albania and Kosovo...
businessman and benefactor. Avramidhi was born in Korçë
Korçë
Korçë is a city in southeastern Albania and the capital of the Korçë District. It has a population of around 105,000 people , making it the sixth largest city in Albania...
, modern southern Albania
Albania
Albania , officially known as the Republic of Albania , is a country in Southeastern Europe, in the Balkans region. It is bordered by Montenegro to the northwest, Kosovo to the northeast, the Republic of Macedonia to the east and Greece to the south and southeast. It has a coast on the Adriatic Sea...
, then part of the Ottoman Empire
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
. When he was young he migrated to Bucharest
Bucharest
Bucharest is the capital municipality, cultural, industrial, and financial centre of Romania. It is the largest city in Romania, located in the southeast of the country, at , and lies on the banks of the Dâmbovița River....
, Romania
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
, where he became a successful businessman.
Life
Avramidhi made donations to his hometown, Korçë, subsidizing the foundation and function of several educational, and cultural institutions as well as religious ones. The local Orthodox cathedral of Saint George, was renovated due to his sponsorship. In January 1885 in RomaniaRomania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
he became one of the founding members and the president of the Albanian association Drita (Light), later renamed to Dituria (Knowledge).
He also financed Albanians of Korçë in promoting the opening of Albanian schools and supported the cause of individuals like Thimi Marko, who was trying to establish Albanian schools. In 1888 he published a book written in Albanian
Albanian language
Albanian is an Indo-European language spoken by approximately 7.6 million people, primarily in Albania and Kosovo but also in other areas of the Balkans in which there is an Albanian population, including western Macedonia, southern Montenegro, southern Serbia and northwestern Greece...
and translated in French
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
, Greek
Greek language
Greek is an independent branch of the Indo-European family of languages. Native to the southern Balkans, it has the longest documented history of any Indo-European language, spanning 34 centuries of written records. Its writing system has been the Greek alphabet for the majority of its history;...
and Romanian
Romanian language
Romanian Romanian Romanian (or Daco-Romanian; obsolete spellings Rumanian, Roumanian; self-designation: română, limba română ("the Romanian language") or românește (lit. "in Romanian") is a Romance language spoken by around 24 to 28 million people, primarily in Romania and Moldova...
titled "To Albanians from an Albanian". The book dealt primarily with the importance of education in the Albanian language. In his last will he left his fortune to associations promoting Albanian education, but his testament was blocked by the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople
Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople
The Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople , part of the wider Orthodox Church, is one of the fourteen autocephalous churches within the communion of Orthodox Christianity...
. Anastas Avramidhi named as the executor of his last will Orhan Pojani, an activist of the Albanian National Awakening.