Father Nikola Marku, the "rebel" priest who defied illness, the weight of his convictions and faith, passed away today.
The serious illness that had mercilessly struck him could not dampen his spirit's strength.
Even though Parkinson's had affected every part of his body, Father Nikola Marku remained steadfast until the end, conveying the messages he believed served others.
In one of his last interviews, given to journalist Andrea Danglli, he found it difficult to speak due to the pain, and from time to time he had to take medication that eased his suffering even a little in order to continue his story.
The priest of the "Saint Mary" church in Elbasan recounts in this interview his path towards God, the challenges during communism, the sins of his youth, his relationship with politics and his long clash with Archbishop Anastas Janullatos.
Today, after his passing, we republish this conversation as a strong testament to his convictions, struggles, and indomitable spirit.
INTERVIEW:
Andrea Danglli: Father Nikola, where do the roots of your faith in God lie?
Father Nikolla Marku: I am the third son of Stefan Marku, a very respected man in the city of Elbasan and beyond. My father was educated in the best schools of the time, from where he began to be maximally engaged in solving national issues. He was appointed head of the choir of this church where we are, initially as a psalmist and later as a priest.
As a child, we often went to help him, and it was here that my great love for God quickly began to be cultivated. This is how I received the first foundations of a Christian education, which I wanted to enrich as much as possible.
I believe this was a short time ago, as we know, in 1967 religious practice was officially banned in Albania. How did this news come to you at a time when you had just begun to cultivate love for God?
We went left and right to find ourselves but it was impossible. Whoever mentioned God was punished. It was a very big perversion. After my father closed the church, he decided to withdraw from people's attention. The dictatorship against faith resulted in one of the most serious dramas that that system staged.
Andrea Danglli: What did you think at the time? Was there any pushback from the trustees?
Father Nikola Marku: As I told you, Andrea, my father had a great cultural preparation and he had instilled in us the belief in God in a very pure and correct form. I can say that the name God was embedded in the soul and had not remained just words. So there was a very great force that often troubled us. Even though deprived, we continued to believe with devotion.
Andrea Danglli: How did you go about praying and fasting?
Father Nikola Marku : Actually, I'm sorry to say it, but sometimes faith seems to have been forgotten. At first, we would come in the evenings to secretly light a candle in the church. When the work became even more difficult, we would no longer enter the church doors but would light candles outside in the yard or even in the premises of the house. A friend of mine who worked in state security often advised me, calling out to me: Nikola, be careful because you are being targeted!
Andrea Danglli: After the ban on religious belief, can you tell us how your life unfolded?
Father Nikolla Marku : At the time of the destruction of religious cults and the prohibition of faith, the city of Elbasan began to become an industrial city. I had to work in Metallurgy because I had to provide income to feed my family. I worked there for years as an accountant but also as a technician in the technical bureau of the plant. I worked there with dedication for many years despite the fact that I did not agree with many things. We saw each other with different eyes because of our faith.
Andrea Danglli: In what way were you seen differently? What happened when you stood next to all that mass of people who didn't believe or were afraid to believe?
Father Nikola Marku : There were many who provoked us by saying that God is an imaginary figure, a fairy tale or madness. I had several cases when I could not bear it and reacted. Once I had a long debate within the class and it was ended by the class teacher who warned us not to talk about God anymore because it could get worse.
Andrea Danglli: What was the most difficult moment from that period that you can remember today?
Father Nikolla Marku : It brings to mind the day when the youth came to demolish the “Saint Mary” church where we are standing today. I thought that everything would collapse now because we were attacking God. When I saw that the cross was removed from the bell tower and began to be cut down with a saw, it was a difficult pain. I cried inside like a child and could not find the strength to react. They set fire to the iconostasis and the barbarity continued for a long time. This situation continued for several minutes when the order was given to stop interfering. Perhaps this is one of the moments when tears of sorrow turn into tears of joy to become a balm for the soul.
Andrea Danglli: With the advent of democracy, Albanian citizens had the opportunity to return to their faith as religion regained its freedom. How did this moment come about for you?
Father Nikola Marku : That day I was returning from work with my wife and I still remember the joy of a friend of mine who ran towards me and said: Nikola, you have been baptized, urgently to the church because they want to make you a priest. Emotions and shivers of happiness. I met the old priest and he told me that my father, who was a priest earlier in the church, would no longer exercise this duty because life had tired him too much and what he had left in the middle was entrusted to me to continue.
Andrea Danglli: What were your father's first words after this news?
Father Nikola Marku: My father seemed fulfilled when he learned that his son would be dedicated to God. I remember two moments from him: The advice he gave me and the bequest he left me. The first was the advice not to mix religious faith with politics, something for which I am often accused. Meanwhile, the bequest was to believe in God until the agony of my soul and to maintain faith in God.
Andrea Danglli: Given that you have been the target of criticism for mixing religion with politics, to what extent do you think you have implemented the advice he gave you?
Father Nikola Marku : Your question requires a very deep thought. With the advent of democracy, everyone took one direction. In our churches, when Anastas Janullatos came, it was a very difficult moment because it was not acceptable to violate the rules of religion and place a foreigner at the head of the Orthodox church. Perhaps here suspicions may arise that I am involved in politics, but it is not true at all.
Andrea Danglli: Father Nikolla, doesn't the use of the patriotic card in this matter seem a bit exaggerated to you?
Father Nikola Marku : No, I simply wanted the truth that I never found. Every people has its own history of faith that must be respected and when you see that this is violated, then the only way left is to seek justice. The issue of the nation is closely linked to religious faith.
Andrea Danglli: Then why this "hatred" towards the Greek people?
Father Nikolla Marku : I can't say that I have hatred towards Greeks. But foreigners should not interfere in the internal affairs of Albania.
Andrea Danglli: So, you don't have it with the people but with the clergy who come from abroad?
Father Nikolla Marku : I have a problem with people who have rushed in and taken on positions they don't deserve. You can't sit in a leadership position without the people giving you this right.
Andrea Danglli: What is your relationship with the current leaders of the Orthodox Church?
Father Nikolla Marku : The Holy Synod created by Janullatos does not recognize my existence. They call it the Albanian Autocephalous Church, while we call it the Albanian National Autocephalous Orthodox Church. We call it such according to the principles of Fan Noli and the constitution of 1937, when the Patriarchate recognized the Albanian national autocephalous Orthodoxy independent of other churches, especially the Greek one.
Andrea Danglli: You have told me that Janullatos has shown revenge against you. You have even told me that he has gone so far as to prepare your physical elimination. What can you tell us about this?
Father Nikolla Marku : You have many articles in the media. After I was ordained a priest, there were threats against me and my family. Threats with phone calls, physical threats where they told me they intended to kill me. Even during these years we have had threats. In my country, I am protected by a secret state bodyguard and I have special care from the state.
Andrea Danglli: How can we believe you? Do you have proof that they wanted to execute you?
Father Nikolla Marku: We have a video showing the open threats of Greek priests waiting outside the church with suitcases in hand and pushing the sold-out believers from Korça to enter the church to disrupt the mass or to physically attack me. The believers from Elbasan at that moment fought hand to hand and did not allow them.
Andrea Dangllj: So why don't you publish this video that you say you have?
Father Nikolla Marku : This video was shot on October 15, 1995 and will be released when the conditions are right. It is a testimony of my life defending the Albanian National Autocephalous Orthodox Church. Everyone will see this video and be convinced.
Andrea Danglli; During your answers, I notice that you emphasize that Anastas Janullatos is an agent of Greek asphalia. Where do you base this statement?
Father Nikolla Marku : While the mass is celebrated in Greek by him, churches are built in Greek styles and icons are placed in Greek within our territories and it is openly displayed in Northern Epirus, this shows that Greek agents have penetrated deeply into Tirana.
Andrea Danglli: Were there attempts to sit down and make peace with Janullatos?
Father Nikolla Marku : In this open conflict, we have invited Janullatos to come on television and have a public confrontation. He is the one who has not accepted because he knows that he has no answer for what he does. He is an agent of Greek asphalia. I want to say that I have forgiven him for the mistakes or the negativity he has expressed towards me. I have respect for his age and for part of his contribution.
Andrea Danglli: What are the positive things that you recognize as merits of Anastasios Yanullatos as the head of the Autocephalous Orthodox Church since the moment of his appointment?
Father Nikolla Marku : I do not know Janullatos as an archbishop. Even thousands of Albanians around the globe speak with concern about the black shadow that has occupied Tirana. I only know the excellent works that Fan Noli left behind. I do not recognize the conquerors of my country as my superiors. Even the Albanian people do not recognize them.
Andrea Danglli: There are people who think that behind your attack on Janullatos, there is an early ambition to become archbishop...
Father Nikolla Marku : I have never claimed to be on the throne of the archbishop. I am a married priest and I have two children. The statute states that married priests cannot follow the path of the religious hierarchy. There is another path that leads to this position and I have not followed it. So I have no right to be appointed to this position. I tell you honestly that I have never fought the grace because of this issue. First of all, being at the head of the church, he has violated and changed the statute since the archbishop and all those who follow him must be of Albanian blood, language and citizenship.
Andrea Danglli: Why not change some article of the statute, where is the harm here?
Father Nikola Marku: You cannot change the tradition, culture or history of a country. Who can accept that we lose our national identity? No other country could accept this.
Andrea Danglli: Since you have not accepted Janullatos as archbishop for years, and you also excluded yourself from this position, then who should be at the head of the Orthodox Church according to you?
Father Nikolla Marku : I have held several meetings and have followed very closely the people who are part of the church today. In my judgment, I would propose Bishop Joan Pelushi to sit in this leadership chair. A Muslim boy converted to Orthodoxy who has a high level of preparation. He can perform this task quite well.
Andrea Danglli: Let's switch roles for a moment. Can you confess to me one of your sins?
Father Nikola Marku : Andrea, every person has their sins. I can say that one of my regrets is that I did not follow the religious ritual properly during the dictatorship due to the pressure brought by the system. From time to time, while dealing with other things, we forgot God and only remembered Him during religious holidays. This departure was a sin. I would ask God for a very big forgiveness because I should not have “agreed” with the dictatorship. (A2 Televizion)
A2 CNN Livestream
MUND TE LEXONI GJITHASHTU
