Beatified in this cathedral, 5 November 2016
The 38 martyrs
Thirty-eight Catholics killed under the communist regime between 1945 and 1974 for keeping their faith. Their portraits fill section XIV of the museum.
38 lives1945–1974Section XIV
XIVMartirët
The martyrs' wall
Who they were
Bishops, priests, friars and lay people
They were two bishops, 21 diocesan priests, 7 Franciscan friars, 3 Jesuits, a seminarian, an aspirant of the Stigmatine Sisters and 3 laymen. Many were shot; others died in prison after torture.
Pope Francis recognised them as martyrs, and on 5 November 2016 they were beatified here, at St Stephen's Cathedral.
Imzot Frano GjiniBishop · 1886–1948Shot
Imzot Vinçens Prennushi O.F.M.Archbishop · 1885–1949Died in prison
Dom Lazër ShantojaDiocesan priest · 1892–1945Shot
Dom Ndre ZadejaDiocesan priest · 1891–1945Shot
Dom Alfons TrackiDiocesan priest · 1896–1946Shot
Dom Josef MarksenDiocesan priest · 1906–1946Killed
Dom Mark XhaniDiocesan priest · 1909–1947Died under torture
Dom Luigj PrendushiDiocesan priest · 1896–1947Shot
Dom Dedë MaçajDiocesan priest · 1920–1947Shot
Dom Anton MuzajDiocesan priest · 1921–1948Died under torture
Dom Anton ZogajDiocesan priest · 1908–1948Shot
Dom Dedë PlaniDiocesan priest · 1891–1948Died under torture
Dom Ejëll DedaDiocesan priest · 1917–1948Died in prison
Dom Pjetër ÇuniDiocesan priest · 1914–1948Died under torture
Dom Lekë SirdaniDiocesan priest · 1891–1948Died under torture
Atë Josif PapamihaliByzantine-rite priest · 1912–1948Died in forced labour
Dom Jak BushatiDiocesan priest · 1890–1949Died under torture
Mons. Jul BonatiDiocesan priest · 1874–1951Died in prison
Dom Ndoc SumaDiocesan priest · 1887–1958Died after prison
Dom Dedë MalajDiocesan priest · 1917–1959Shot
Dom Marin ShkurtiDiocesan priest · 1933–1969Shot
Dom Shtjefën KurtiDiocesan priest · 1898–1971Shot
Dom Mikel BeltojaDiocesan priest · 1935–1974Shot
Atë Gjon Shllaku O.F.M.Franciscan friar · 1907–1946Shot
Atë Bernardin Palaj O.F.M.Franciscan friar · 1894–1946Died under torture
Atë Serafin Koda O.F.M.Franciscan friar · 1893–1947Died under torture
Atë Mati Prendushi O.F.M.Franciscan friar · 1881–1948Shot
Atë Çiprijan Nikaj O.F.M.Franciscan friar · 1900–1948Shot
Atë Gaspër Suma O.F.M.Franciscan friar · 1897–1950Died in prison
Atë Karl Serreqi O.F.M.Franciscan friar · 1911–1954Died in prison
Atë Danjel Dajani S.I.Jesuit · 1906–1946Shot
Atë Giovanni Fausti S.I.Jesuit · 1899–1946Shot
Vëlla Gjon Pantalija S.I.Jesuit brother · 1887–1947Died under torture
Mark ÇuniSeminarian · 1919–1946Shot
Fran MirakajLayman · 1916–1946Shot
Gjelosh LulashiLayman · 1925–1946Shot
Qerim SadikuLayman · 1919–1946Shot
Maria TuciAspirant of the Stigmatine Sisters · 1928–1950Died under torture
- 2 Bishops
- 21 Diocesan priests
- 7 Franciscan friars
- 3 Jesuits
- 1 Seminarian
- 1 Aspirant of the Stigmatine Sisters
- 3 Laymen
Four of the 38
Their stories
1946
Giovanni Fausti
Jesuit priest
Born in Italy, he served the Church in Albania and was shot in Shkodër in 1946.
1949
Vinçenc Prennushi
Franciscan, Archbishop of Durrës
The first named of the 38. Arrested and tortured, he died in prison in 1949.
1950
Maria Tuci
Aspirant of the Stigmatine Sisters, aged 22
The only woman among the 38. She died in hospital in 1950 from the torture she suffered in prison.
1971
Shtjefën Kurti
Diocesan priest
Shot in 1971, accused of baptising a child in secret.
16 November 2024
Two more blessed martyrs
Eight years after the 38, the Church beatified two more martyrs here in Shkodër. They died before the communist years, for the same faith.
Atë Luigj Paliq O.F.M.
Parish priest of Peja. In the First Balkan War he urged Catholics and Muslims alike to stay true to their own conscience. Arrested on a false charge, he refused to renounce his faith and was shot on 7 March 1913. His last words: “O Jesus, I do it for Your love!”
Dom Gjon Gazulli
A parish priest in the Diocese of Sapa who opposed the state’s plan to close the Catholic schools. Falsely accused of stirring the Dukagjin revolt, he was sentenced to death and hanged in Shkodër on 5 March 1927.
From the profiles of the Archdiocese of Shkodër-Pult
In the museum
Their wall is in section XIV
Their portraits fill the arched panels of section XIV. Visit on your own in about 30 minutes, or with a guide who can tell their stories.
