The Mayor of Elbasan, Gledian Llatja, through a post on social networks, announced the passing of Father Nikolla Marku, the well-known spiritual figure and priest of the Church of St. Mary, in the Elbasan Castle.
He described Father Nikola Mark as " a rare man " and " a spiritual leader who will remain unforgettable ."
"Farewell Father Nikolla Marku! With deep sorrow we convey the news of the passing of Father Nikolla Marku, a revered spiritual figure and a powerful voice of the Orthodox faith. For decades, Father Nikolla Marku has served with dedication in the Church of St. Mary, in the Elbasan Castle, leading entire generations of believers with wisdom, love and spiritual peace. He will always remain a symbol of dedication to the community, unwavering in the protection of religious and national values. I express my deepest condolences to family, friends, Orthodox believers and our entire city for the loss of a rare man! May his memory be unforgettable", says Llatja.
Father Nikolla Marku was born on December 3, 1948 in the city of Elbasan. The son of a well-known teacher from the Elbasan Normal School, which was one of the fundamental institutions of Albanian education.
During the socialist regime, he worked as an accountant in the financial sector. After the fall of the communist regime, he traveled to Greece to pursue theological studies, which he did not complete there for various reasons. He then continued and completed his theological studies in Albania, being ordained as a priest by the Macedonian Orthodox Church.
Father Nikolla Marku was involved in a long and well-known conflict with the Autocephalous Orthodox Church of Albania, and particularly with the late Archbishop, Anastasios. KOASH never officially recognized him as a priest and considered his placement in the Church of St. Mary as a usurpation.
However, with the support of the Orthodox community and many believers in Elbasan, Father Nikolla Marku obtained a court decision on June 18, 1996 (decision no. 2634), which recognized the church where he served as a legitimate subject of worship.
Since 1996, he continued to serve with dedication at the Church of St. Mary in the Elbasan Castle, becoming a beloved figure for many believers and citizens. (A2 Televizion)
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