Anastas Avramidhi-Lakçe

Anastas Avramidhi-Lakçe or Anastas Avram-Lakçe (1821–1890) was an Albanian[1] businessman and benefactor. Avramidhi was born in Korçë, in modern southeastern Albania, then part of the Ottoman Empire. When he was young he migrated to Bucharest, Romania, where he became a successful businessman.[2]

Anastas Avramidhi-Lakçe
Anastas Avramidhi-Lakshe
Born1821
Korçë, Albania, then Ottoman Empire
Died1890 (aged 69)
OccupationBusinessman
Known forBenefactory deeds

Life

Avramidhi was born in Korçë. He moved to Bucharest where he became a successful businessman and planned on awarding his fortune to the inhabitants of his hometown.[3] Thus, he sponsored 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 Romania he became one of the founding members and the president of the Albanian association Drita (English: Light), later renamed to Dituria (English: Knowledge).[2][4][5]

He also intended to support the foundation of an Albanian school in Korçë 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".[2] The book dealt primarily with the importance of education in the Albanian language.[2] In his last will he left his fortune to associations promoting Albanian education, but his testament was blocked by the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople.[6] Anastas Avramidhi named as the executor of his last will Orhan Pojani, an activist of the Albanian National Awakening.[7] Although he initially intended to support the foundation of the first Albanian school in Korçë, after discussions with representatives of the Orthodox Church of the city he didn't sponsor this initiative.[1][2]

He finally made donations to his hometown, Korçë, subsisting the foundation and function of several Greek educational, cultural and religious institutions.[8] When died he donated his entire fortune to the local Trust fund, called Lasso, created for the support of Greek cultural activities in Korçë.[9]

References
  1. Faenssen, Johannes (1980). Die albanische Nationalbewegung. Balkanologische Veröffentlichungen (in German). Vol. 4. Freie Universität Berlin Osteuropa-Institut, Harrassowitz. p. 123. ISBN 9783447021203.
  2. Clayer, Natalie (2007). Aux origines du nationalisme albanais: la naissance d'une nation majoritairement musulmane en Europe (in French). KARTHALA Editions. pp. 301–10. ISBN 978-2-84586-816-8.
  3. Palairet, Michael (2016). Macedonia: A Voyage through History (Vol. 2, From the Fifteenth Century to the Present). Cambridge: Cambridge Scholars Publishing. pp. 114–115. ISBN 9781443888493.
  4. Maksutovici, Gelcu Sefedin (1992). Istoria comunității albaneze din România (in Romanian). Editura Kriterion. p. 37. ISBN 9789732603345.
  5. Skendi, Stavro (1967). The Albanian national awakening, 1878-1912. Princeton University Press. p. 146. ISBN 9780691650029.
  6. Clayer, Natalie (2007). Aux origines du nationalisme albanais: la naissance d'une nation majoritairement musulmane en Europe (in French). KARTHALA Editions. pp. 309–10. ISBN 978-2-84586-816-8.
  7. Südost-Forschungen (in German). Vol. 59–60. S. Hirzel. 2001. p. 383.
  8. Kondis Basil. The Greeks of Northern Epirus and Greek-Albanian relations. Hestia, 1995, p. 9.
  9. Balkan studies. Hetaireia Makedonikōn Spoudōn. Hidryma Meletōn Cheresonēsou tou Haimou, 1996, pp. 242-249.
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