Kristo Negovani

Papa Kristo Negovani
Picture of a young Papa Kristo Negovani
Born	1875 Negovan, now part of Florina in Greece, then Manastir Vilayet, Ottoman Empire
Died	1905 (aged 30) Negovan
Occupation	Teacher, Priest, Publisher
Ethnicity	Albanian
Period	1895–1905
Literary movement	Albanian National Revival
Notable works	The History of the Old Testament (Albanian: Istori e Dhiatës së Vjetërë), The Destruction of Hormova (Albanian: Prishija e Hormovësë).

Papa Kristo Negovani, born Kristo Harallambi, and also known as Kristo Negovani (1875 – February 12, 1905) was an Albanian nationalist figure, religious leader and writer

Biography

Born in the village of Negovan, now part of Florina in Northern Greece, then Manastir Vilayet, Ottoman Empire, he pursued his secondary schooling in Athens, Greece and later emigrated to Brăila, Romania. There, he came into contact with the Albanian National Revival movement. In 1897, he returned to his native village and worked as a teacher and parish priest.

Negovani transformed his house into a school and taught over one hundred children and adults to read and write Albanian. He preached and said the Divine Liturgy in Albanian, much to the displeasure of the Greek Orthodox hierarchy and was assassinated for his activity on February 12, 1905 by a local pro-Greek band.

Works

Negovani is the author of prose and poetry, including school texts, translations and fables. Among his publications are

• The History of the Old Testament, (Albanian: Istori e Dhiatës së Vjetërë), Bucharest 1889;
• The Destruction of Hormova, (Albanian: Prishija e Hormovësë), Sofia 1904;
• Little Dhonat Argjendi (Albanian: I vogëli Dhonat Argjendi), Costanza 1904;
• Works of the Holy Apostles (Albanian: Bëmatë të shëntorëvet dërgimtarë), Sofia 1906;
• History of Plikati (Albanian: Istorishkronjë e Plikatit), Thessaloniki 1909.