Mosques, churches and tekkes: faith in Albania, the back story

About Mosques, churches and tekkes: faith in Albania, the back story

By the ULTIMATE Tirana Editorial Team

Editor-in-Chief: Jai Michael

Few countries mix faiths as easily as Albania, where many families include more than one religion and neighbours celebrate each other’s holidays.

Many faiths, one country

Most Albanians are of Muslim heritage, with large Orthodox communities in the south and Catholic ones in the north. Public holidays include Christmas, Catholic and Orthodox Easter, and both Eid festivals.

The Bektashi

The Bektashi, a Sufi order, have their world headquarters in Tirana, at the Kryegjyshata on the north-eastern side of the city. Their tekkes, lodges rather than mosques, are found across the country, including one inside Krujë castle.

Christmas, Easter and both Eids are public holidays in Albania.

Closed and reopened

In 1967 the communist government banned religion and closed or converted places of worship. Faith returned openly in 1990–91: the Et’hem Bey Mosque reopened in January 1991, and new cathedrals and mosques have been built since, including St Paul’s (2001), the Resurrection Cathedral (2012) and the Great Mosque.

Visiting

Visitors are welcome in mosques and churches outside services. Dress modestly, cover shoulders and knees, and remove your shoes in mosques.

Our advice: visit the Et’hem Bey Mosque, the Resurrection Cathedral and St Paul’s on the same walk, all within a few minutes of Skanderbeg Square, and see the tekke at Krujë on a day trip.

Opening hours, prices and seasonal openings change, so please check with Mosques, churches and tekkes: faith in Albania, the back story before you go.