Constantine of Berat

Albanian writer and translator

Constantine of Berat

Konstandin Jeramonak Berati
Born| Possibly 1745

likely in Berat

Died| Possibly 1825
Other names| Kostë Berati
Occupation(s)| Likely an Orthodox Monk, writer and translator.
Notable work| Codex of Constantine of Berat

Constantine of Berat, known among Albanians as Kostandin Jermonak Berati or shortly Kostë Berati, was an Albanian writer and translator of the 18th century.[1]

## Life and work

[edit]

Not much is known about him, except that he was from Berat, today's southern part of central Albania, then Sanjak of Berat in Vilayet of Janina of the Ottoman Empire. His lifespan was highly probably between 1745 and 1825. Also, Constantine was quite likely an Orthodox monk. Elsie mentions that some experts doubt his existence, at least as a writer.[2] He has copied a part of the "lexicon" of Theodore Kavalliotis, and is believed to have signed in 1779 a religious document (in Greek) together with Kavallioti and Teodor Haxhifilipi in Moscopole.[3]

Constantine of Berat is attributed as the author of a manuscript from 1764 to 1822, originally a 154[2] or 152-page work.[4] It is preserved in the National Library in Tirana.[5] This so-called Codex of Constantine of Berat or Codex of Berat (but not to be confused with Codex Beratinus I and II), is a simple paper manuscript and must not be envisaged as an illuminated parchment codex in the Western tradition. The Albanian part of the manuscript contains some religious prayers and Bible fragments, a hymn-poetry on Christ's suffering, and a Greek-Albanian dictionary.[4] It was discovered by the Albanian researcher and Rilindas Ilo Mitkë Qafëzezi in 1938. In Qafëzezi's study "Protopapa Theodhor Nastas Kavalioti, Teacher of the New Academy of Voskopojë, 1718–1719" of 1951, he mentions that "from the perspective of the Albanian language, in general, the work of Kosta (Berati) is greater than and superior to the Albanian of all his contemporary writers". Albanian researcher Bedri Dedja considers Constantine's alphabet and writings as influential in the "New Academy" of Voskopojë, and is part of a wider cultural enlightenment of the Berat area. The codex seems to have been the work of at least two hands and was completed around 1798 at the earliest. It contains various texts in Greek and Albanian: biblical and Orthodox liturgical texts in Albanian written in the Greek alphabet, all of them no doubt translated from Greek or strongly influenced by Greek models. His alphabet contained 37 letters. Since the Greek script does not contain Albanian sounds ë, nj, sh, zh, etc, he used diacritic letters. I.e. the "ë" shows up as a rotated Latin script "i" or an "alpha" with an Iota subscript, "nj" as "ni", etc. Among the texts in the Codex of Berat is a forty-four-line Albanian poem, with the corresponding Greek text, called "The Virgin Mary before the Cross" (Albanian: Zonja Shën Mëri përpara kryqësë). It is written in so-called fifteen-syllable political verse. According to Elsie, the poem seems to be based on a Greek original by Akakios Diakrusis of Cephalonia, published in 1730. Also, the manuscript contains valuable information on Cosmas of Aetolia and his journeys through Albania.[5]

Constantine also compiled two Greek-Albanian glossaries comprising a total of 1,710 entries, most of Albanian words belong to the Berat dialect and are commonly used there. He also wrote a short passage containing another original Albanian alphabet which resembles the Glagolitic-Cyrillic script. Only two verses are written in this alphabet.[4] The rest of his work consists of various religious notes; and a chronicle of events between 1764 and 1789 written in Greek. The Orthodox communities of central and southern Albania used later some of the religious texts in this manuscript later circulated for teaching purposes.[2]

Constantine's work and similar contemporary works of his time aimed at making the Orthodox religion as understandable as possible to the Orthodox Albanians who did not speak Greek, or/and facilitating them to learn the Greek language.[4] Due to its importance, the manuscript is top-listed to be digitized as part of the Albanological Portal, a joint project of the Albanian and Kosovo National Libraries.[6]

A street in Berat is named after him.[7]

## Controversy

[edit]

German Albanologist Armin Hetzer in 1982 was the first scientist to notice that the name Constantinos in the Berat manuscript is not a reference to a person, but to a date (St. Constanties date).[8] Thus, according to Hetzer, there was no Constantine in Berat that authored the manuscript, instead he notices another name in it of a certain Thimi Nuni. More recently (2019), Albanian philologists Bardhyl Demiraj made a claim agreeing with the German, seeing it possible that Constantine of Berat, in fact, never existed.[9] There seems to be a rise in the number of researchers agreeing with this hypothesis.[10]

## See also

[edit]

* Albanian literature
* Elbasan alphabet
* Vithkuqi alphabet
* Orthodoxy in Albania

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Savet akademija nauka SFRJ (1971), "Bulletin scientifique", Bulletin Scientifique. Section B, 7, Zagreb: Le Conseil: 268, ISSN 0350-1604, OCLC 1765068
2. ^ a b c Robert Elsie, Costantine of Berat, Robert Elsie, part of "Albanian Literature in Translation", archived from the original on 2014-03-01, retrieved 2015-05-23
3. ^ Xhevat Lloshi (2008), Rreth alfabetit të shqipes: me rastin e 100-vjetorit të Kongresit të Manastirit (in Albanian), Logos-A, p. 279, ISBN 9789989582684, OCLC 494310096
4. ^ a b c d Abaz Ermenji (1968), "XVIII", Vendi që zë Skënderbeu në historinë e Shqipërisë, Paris (printed in Rome): Komiteti Kombëtar Demokrat "Shqipnija ë Lirë", OCLC 504152562, "I gjysmës së dytë të shekullit XVIII është edhe një dorëshkrim greqisht e shqip i Kostandin Beratit, prej nja 152 faqesh, ku pjesa shqipe përmban disa lutje fetare e copa t'Ungjillit, një vjershë hymnore mbi vuajtjet e Krishtit dhe një fjalor greqisht-shqip. Shkrimet e këtilla kishin për qëllim t'ua bënin fenë të kuptuarshme Shqiptarëvet orthodoks që s'e dinin greqishten, ose edhe t'iu lehtësonin mësimin e kësaj gjuhe. Por në dorëshkrimin gjindet edhe një tjetër abece, ku më të shumtat e shkronjavet iu shembëllejnë atyre t'abecesë glagolitike e cirilike sllave. Me këtë janë shkruar shqip vetëm dy radhë.
translated
Of the second half of the 18th century, there is a Greek-Albanian manuscript of Kostandin Berati, around 152 pages, where the Albanian part contains some religious prayers and Bible fragments, a hymn-poetry on Christ's suffering, and a Greek-Albanian dictionary. These kind of writings aimed at making the religion understandable to the Orthodox Albanians who did not know Greek, or facilitating them to learn Greek, But the manuscript contains another alphabet, where the majority of letters resemble the Glagolitic-Cyrillic slavic ones. This alphabet was used in only two verses"
5. ^ a b Nikolla Lena (2014-04-22), Manastiri i "Shën Kozmait", midis legjendës dhe historisë [Monastery of St.Kozma, between legend and history] (in Albanian), Albanian Telegraphic Agency, archived from the original on 2015-09-25, retrieved 2015-09-22, "Një dëshmi me vlera për veprimtarinë arsimore të Kozmait është dorëshkrimi i murgut Kostandin Berati i cili gjendet sot në akivin e bibliotekës kombetare ne Tiranë.
translated
A valuable testimony of the educational activity of St. Kozma is the manuscript of the monk Kostandin Berati, which is preserved in the archives of the National Library in Tirana"
6. ^ Perurohet portali albanologjik (in Albanian), Top-Channel, 2014, archived from the original on 2016-03-05, retrieved 2015-09-22, "Në faqen e internetit janë vendosur dhe do të vendosen kopje dixhitale të disa prej veprave më të rëndësishme të historisë së kombit tonë, si Meshari i Gjon Buzukut, apo dorëshkrimi i Kostandin Beratit.
translated
On the internet page are placed and will be placed digitized copies of some of the most important works of our nation's history, such as Meshari of Gjon Buzuku and the manuscript of Kostandin Berati"
7. ^ Disa plotesime dhe saktesime ne sistemin e adresave (Some additions and corrections in the address system - Municipality of Berat
8. ^ Armin Hetzer (1982). 'Der sogenannte Kodex von Berat. II: Untersuchungen zu einer anonymen griechisch-albanischen Handschrift vom Ende des 18. Jahrhunderts', In: Südost-Forschungen, 1 (1), p. 131–179.
9. ^ Bardhyl Demiraj (2019). Kodiku Beratas – Ο Μπερατινός κώδικας (me një botim kritik të pjesës shqip të përgatitur nga Bardhyl Demiraj). Tiranë: ASHSH.
10. ^ Yll Rugova (2023). 'Alfabeti i Kodikut të Beratit, ndërlidhja e mundshme me gravurën e Ardenicës dhe anonimin e Elbasanit', In: The XLI International Seminar on Albanian Language, Literature and Culture, Revistë / Journal (41), p. 37–52. ISSN 2521-3687.

* v
* t
* e

Albanian literature

Related articles|

* Albanian language
* List of Albanian writers
* women
* Albanian folklore
* History of Albania
* Albanian National Awakening
* Albanology

Early authors|

* Frang Bardhi
* Zenel Bastari
* Constantine of Berat
* Pjetër Bogdani
* Pjetër Budi
* Gjon Buzuku
* Julije Balović
* Nicola Chetta
* Nikollë Filja
* Nezim Frakulla
* Dalip Frashëri
* Shahin Frashëri
* Tahir Efendi Gjakova
* Hasan Zyko Kamberi
* Haxhi Ymer Kashari
* Luca Matranga
* Branko Merxhani
* Etëhem Bey Mollaj
* Sulejman Naibi
* Giuseppe Schirò (archbishop)
* Tahir Skënderasi
* Giulio Variboba
* Muçi Zade
* Ali Asllani

Classical authors|

* Josif Bageri
* Andon Zako Çajupi
* Gabriele Dara
* Spiro Dine
* Asdreni
* Gjergj Fishta
* Kristo Floqi
* Naim Frashëri
* Sami Frashëri
* Mihal Grameno
* Luigj Gurakuqi
* Milto Sotir Gurra
* Jolanda Kodra
* Musine Kokalari
* Ernest Koliqi
* Faik Konitza
* Loni Logori
* Migjeni
* Ndre Mjeda
* Papa Kristo Negovani
* Ndoc Nikaj
* Fan Noli
* Foqion Postoli
* Girolamo de Rada
* Francesco Antonio Santori
* Giuseppe Schirò
* Giuseppe Serembe
* Lazër Shantoja
* Filip Shiroka
* Stefan Shundi
* Risto Siliqi
* Vaso Pasha
* Jani Vreto
* Pjetër Zarishi

Modern|

* Dritëro Agolli
* Mimoza Ahmeti
* Ylljet Aliçka
* Ag Apolloni
* Fatos Arapi
* Lindita Arapi
* Eqrem Basha
* Domenico Bellizzi
* Ben Blushi
* Maria Antonia Braile
* Flora Brovina
* Dionis Bubani
* Aleks Çaçi
* Martin Camaj
* Selfixhe Ciu
* Spiro Çomora
* Diana Çuli
* Ibrahim Dalliu
* Ridvan Dibra
* Teki Dervishi
* Elvira Dones
* Mirko Gashi
* Fatmir Gjata
* Ndoc Gjetja
* Sabri Godo
* Odhise Grillo
* Ervin Hatibi
* Helena Kadare
* Ismail Kadare
* Karmel Kandreva
* Teodor Keko
* Skifter Këlliçi
* Anastas Kondo
* Fatos Kongoli
* Vath Koreshi
* Rifat Kukaj
* Teodor Laço
* Natasha Lako
* Luljeta Lleshanaku
* Sejfulla Malëshova
* Gjekë Marinaj
* Petro Marko
* Din Mehmeti
* Esad Mekuli
* Betim Muço
* Besnik Mustafaj
* Faruk Myrtaj
* Jeton Neziraj
* Fadil Paçrami
* Ludmilla Pajo
* Dhimitër Pasko
* Arshi Pipa
* Ali Podrimja
* Lasgush Poradeci
* Giuseppe Schirò Di Maggio
* Dhimitër Shuteriqi
* Azem Shkreli
* Drago Siliqi
* Llazar Siliqi
* Nokë Sinishtaj
* Xhevahir Spahiu
* Sterjo Spasse
* Luan Starova
* Haki Stërmilli
* Parid Teferiçi
* Kasëm Trebeshina
* Hajro Ulqinaku
* Ardian Vehbiu
* Ornela Vorpsi
* Bilal Xhaferri
* Dhimitër Xhuvani
* Jakov Xoxa
* Injac Zamputi
* Petraq Zoto

*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template