Gregory of Durrës

Gregory of Durrës was an Orthodox Christian cleric of Ottoman Albania who is thought to have invented the Elbasan script which he used to write the Elbasan Gospel Manuscript, the oldest Albanian language Orthodox literature and the oldest Orthodox Bible translation into Albanian.

The earliest mention of Gregory is in 1720 when he is noted to have met a Serbian illuminist in Berat; Gregory is said to have been a student of the Aromanian philosopher Ioannis Chalkeus, a significant figure in the Greek Enlightenment. As a budding scholar, Gregory arrived in Voskopoja some time at or before 1730, after which point he became confused with Gregory the Printer, as both were called "Gregory of Voskopoja" at times. He published his first work, "Life of Saint Nikodemos" in 1741, and in 1744, he was chosen as the rector of the New Academy and edited two books there. In 1746 he is thought to have taken up residence at Saint Gjon Vladimir's Church near Elbasan. There, in 1761, he was the author of the famous Elbasan Gospel Manuscript. In 1768, he became Archbishop of the newly created Archbishopric of Durres and in 1772, he died.

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