The assembly who saved the Albanian identity. The names of the saviors!

It is called “THE DIVINE ASSEMBLY”! The Assembly of Arber (January14-15 1703) held in Mërqi of Lezha, when Arbëreshian Christian believers, but also those of Western Europe were really on the brink of survival due to the wild Ottoman ruling. The Albanian highest clergy, Pope Clement XI, the so called Albani, because of his Albanian origin, had asked support to the Holy See in Vatican to hold a historic assembly. The Arber Assembly convened in order to improve the miserable situation of the Catholic Church and the Catholic community. At a time when the country was occupied for centuries, the importance of this Assembly had a vital role nationwide. This is demonstrated by the documents, decisions and the decreestaken there: 109 pages in 37 chapters. The Assembly analyzed the spiritual and moral state of Albanians and decisions were taken for the recovery of their spiritual enrichment. The Vatican archives demonstrate that this convention signed by Pope Clement decided that all the Councils of the Catholic Church in the country, mustuseAlbanian language as the first language by all preachers. Even if they had no knowledge of the language, they needed to teach it in order that the language was used while preaching. There was the pastoral catholic Albanian figure, the Archbishop of Tivari and Diokle, Father Vincenc Zmajeviku (1701-1712) to realize the holding of the assembly with the significant name "Assembly of Arber”. But other significant names for the era joined this historic assembly. Do you know who are the signatories of the second Arber Assembly? Let us disclose the archives of time! -Monsignor Vincent Zmajeviq -Monsignor Peter Karagjiku -Bishop Gjergji -Monsignor Nicholas Vladanji -Monsignor Ndue -Monsignor Marin Gjini -Father Egjidide Arsenta -Father Frano Maria a Lycio -Father Martini from Gjinoma. The Convention documents were published in two languages: Latin and English, and later were reprinted three more times in the years:1706, 1868 and 1872, which so far comprises the only case that documents of the theological prose are published three times. And all this takes another value when our country during this period had the status “occupied” by foreigners! But Arber Convention ignored 300 years of Ottoman occupation and created spiritual Albania, where was sparkled hopewhile speaking for believers and their religious obligations, as well as patriotic obligations to preserve Albanian traditions, as well asAlbanian schools etc. Monsignor Zmajeviçi held the opening speech of this historic Councilwhere he appears full of joy and optimism. He urged all bishopsto do everything possible for the resurrection of life and religious freedom. The Church of St. John the Baptist, after the holdingof this unique assembly, became "The cathedral" to decide the fate for the survival of the identity and the Albanian culture from the Ottoman assimilation in order to withstand the continuation of the population Islamization and open schools and publish books in Albanian language.