Vatra (') is an association of

Albanian Americans Albanian Americans () are Americans of full or partial Albanian ancestry and heritage in the United States. They trace their ancestry to the territories with a large Albanian population in the Balkans and southern Europe, including Albania, Ital ...

, created in 1912, that has historically protected the rights of the

Albanians The Albanians are an ethnic group native to the Balkan Peninsula who share a common Albanian ancestry, Albanian culture, culture, Albanian history, history and Albanian language, language. They are the main ethnic group of Albania and Kosovo, ...

in the United States, as well as has endeavored in lobbying with the United States Congress about the rights of the Albanians throughout the world.

Foundation

The first meeting to bring together all the Albanian American organizations into one federation took place on December 24, 1911, in Boston. This meeting was called with the initiative of the "

Besa-Besën Besa-Besën (Pledge for a Pledge) was an organization of Albanian emigrants in Boston, Massachusetts. The society was founded on January 6, 1907, in Boston. The elected president was Fan Noli, vice-president Goni Katundi, treasurer Angelo Stefens ...

" association. In these meetings were present:

Faik Konica Faik Bey Konica (later named Faïk Dominik Konitza, 15 March 1875 – 15 December 1942) was an important figure in Albanian language and culture in the early decades of the twentieth century. As the Albanian minister to Washington, D.C., his lit ...

Fan Noli Theofan Stilian Noli, known as Fan Noli (6 January 1882 – 13 March 1965), was an Albanian Americans, Albanian-American writer, scholar, diplomat, politician, historian, orator, bishop, and founder of the Albanian Orthodox Church and the Albania ...

, Kristo Floqi, Marko Adams, and Paskal Aleksi. The meetings continued until 28 April 1912, when Vatra was officially founded. The official records of the unity commission cites: "We call as formed the Pan Albanian Federation of America by the following associations: "Besa-Besë", "Flamuri i Krujës-Kruja Flag", "Shoqërisë Kombëtare-National Association", "Mirëbërësja", and "Skënderbeut". "Dallandyshja" and "Malli i Mëmëdheut" were not present but conformed with the proceedings.Cilat ishin 150 shoqëritë shqiptare që u formuan në SHBA, Tirana Observer, 27 May 2015 (in Albanian)
/ref> In this historic meeting, a temporary board is named and its members are: Secretary -

, Treasurer - Llambi Chikozi, ''"Dielli"'' Manager - Kristo Kirka, Federation Branch Managers: Faik Konica and Kristo Floqi. ''"Dielli"'' Newspaper Supervisors: Paskal Aleksi, Elia Tromara and Kosta Vasili. Vatra was recognized by the

Massachusetts Massachusetts ( ; ), officially the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, is a U.S. state, state in the New England region of the Northeastern United States. It borders the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Maine to its east, Connecticut and Rhode ...

state and received its certificate on June 13, 1912. The original certificate shows these names: Faik Koniça, Lambi Chikozi, Fan S. Noli, Kristo Floqi, Elia Tromara, Naum Cere, and Kosta Kotta. Prominent following members who would join later would be Constantin Anastas Chekrezi, and Pani brothers from

Dardhë Dardhë (; sq-definite, Dardha, literally "pear") is a community in the former municipality of Drenovë in Korçë County, Albania. After local government reform in 2015, it became part of the municipality Korçë. It is a well known ski area of ...

World War I and the Peace Conference

Considering the political vacuum in Albania during the World War I, Vatra somehow functioned and was considered a kind of Albanian government in-exile. Vatra sent Noli and Konica in

Europe Europe is a continent located entirely in the Northern Hemisphere and mostly in the Eastern Hemisphere. It is bordered by the Arctic Ocean to the north, the Atlantic Ocean to the west, the Mediterranean Sea to the south, and Asia to the east ...

to advocate and defend Albanian national demands. They remained in Europe until the war ended. Meanwhile,

Kol Tromara Kol Tromara (1882–1945) was an Albanian nationalist and political figure of the first half of the 20th century. Tromara was born in Albanian Orthodox Qytezë, a town in today's Devoll municipality, back then part of the Ottoman Empire, ...

became acting-chairman and main figure. During these turbulent years, VATRA gained influence and "Dielli" newspaper was published daily under Constantin Anastas Chekrezi's supervision. Vatra would perform a lobbying campaign during the

Paris Peace Conference, 1919 Paris () is the capital and largest city of France. With an estimated population of 2,048,472 residents in January 2025 in an area of more than , Paris is the fourth-most populous city in the European Union and the 30th most densely pop ...

trying to influence mostly the decision of the American delegation. Christo Dako would join the Albanian delegation in 1919. Meanwhile,

Mihal Turtulli Mihal Turtulli Bey (1856–3 January 1935), also known as Michail Tourtoulis or Dr. Turtulli, was an Albanian oculist, politician, member of the High Council of State (Jan - Dec 1920), and representative of Albania at the Paris Peace Confere ...

and

Mehmed Konica Mehmed Konica (1881 – 1948), was an Albanian politician. He served three times as the Foreign Minister of Albania. He was the brother of Albanian writer Faik Konica. Konica was born in Konitsa, today's Greece, back then part of the Janina Vil ...

would be very active in negotiating with Italians regarding the creation of an Albanian Privision Government and preparing the

Congress of Durrës The Congress of Durrës () was a conference of Albanian political leaders, held from December 25 to December 27, 1918, in Durrës, at the time capital of the Principality of Albania. Mehmet Konica was the Chairman of the Congress, which aimed ...

in 1918.
Vatra held a fundraising convention on December 29, 1918, led by Anastas Pandele, with the goal of supporting the Albanian delegation at the Peace Conference. Albanian emigrants throughout US raised a sum of $150,000 of which the greatest part was sent to Vatra's delegates to Paris.

New Albanian state and afterwards

Vatra would build the foundation of the new

Orthodox Autocephalous Church of Albania The Autocephalous Orthodox Church of Albania (), commonly known as the Albanian Orthodox Church or the Orthodox Church of Albania, is an autocephaly, autocephalous Eastern Orthodox Church, Eastern Orthodox church. It declared its autocephaly in ...

, which would thrive independence from the

Church of Constantinople The Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople (, ; ; , "Roman Orthodox Patriarchate, Ecumenical Patriarchate of Istanbul") is one of the fifteen to seventeen Autocephaly, autocephalous churches that together compose the Eastern Orthodox Church. ...

and repel further Greek influence towards

Albanian Albanian may refer to: *Pertaining to Albania in Southeast Europe; in particular: **Albanians, an ethnic group native to the Balkans **Albanian language **Albanian culture **Demographics of Albania, includes other ethnic groups within the country ...

orthodox population. Core members like Fan Noli and Faik Konica, would be involved in politics and administration of the newly created Albanian state, with Fan Noli leading the unsuccessful

June Revolution The June Revolution () was a popular uprising in Albania that temporarily overthrew the Zogist regime following the 1923 Albanian parliamentary election and the assassination of popular Albanian activist and politician Avni Rustemi. A new gove ...

. Noli would resume its position after returning in US. Agim Karagjozi would take over after Noli's death.
The headquarters would move from

Boston, MA Boston is the capital and most populous city in the Commonwealth (U.S. state), Commonwealth of Massachusetts in the United States. The city serves as the cultural and Financial centre, financial center of New England, a region of the Northeas ...

, to

Bronx The Bronx ( ) is the northernmost of the five Boroughs of New York City, boroughs of New York City, coextensive with Bronx County, in the U.S. state of New York (state), New York. It shares a land border with Westchester County, New York, West ...

, NY, in the 90s. Today, Vatra's influence is very minimal and mostly symbolic, while there are controversies regarding the political affiliations of today's organization.

Legacy

Vatra is unified with the

Albanian American Albanian Americans () are Americans of full or partial Albanian ancestry and heritage in the United States. They trace their ancestry to the territories with a large Albanian population in the Balkans and southern Europe, including Albania, Ital ...

history. Its contribution to Albanian national cause, and state building has made Vatra the symbol of

Albanian Nationalism Albanian nationalism is a general grouping of nationalism, nationalist ideas and concepts generated by ethnic Albanians that were first formed in the 19th century during the Albanian National Awakening (). Albanian nationalism is also associated w ...

and

patriotism Patriotism is the feeling of love, devotion, and a sense of attachment to one's country or state. This attachment can be a combination of different feelings for things such as the language of one's homeland, and its ethnic, cultural, politic ...

Publications

Vatra has published historically two magazines,

Dielli Dielli may refer to: *Dielli (Albanian paganism), the Sun in Albanian ethnic religion *Dielli (newspaper) ''Dielli'' is a newspaper published in the United States by Vatra, the Pan-Albanian Federation of America. History ''Dielli'' started on ...

, and The Adriatic Review. ''"Dielli"'' is still being published today, after a period of interruption.

References

http://illyriapress.com/pse-une-e-perkrah-komisionin-e-5-tetorit-2019-te-vatres/ http://illyriapress.com/komisioni-i-5-tetorit-shkelje-te-renda-ne-federaten-vatra-te-largohet-kryetari/

External links

Official websiteOfficial social media websiteOfficial 10-5-2019 VATRA Committee website
{{Authority control Albanian-American culture in New York (state) Albanian-American history 1912 establishments in the United States Diaspora organizations in the United States Organizations established in 1912