On December 5-6, 2025, Tirana hosted the First International Conference “Albania in the Byzantine Period”, a landmark event for Byzantine studies in Albania. The conference was organized by the Academy of Sciences of Albania, the University of Tirana, the Autocephalous Orthodox Church of Albania, and other institutions, with Mr. Andi Rembeci as Chair of the Organizing Committee.
Approximately 50 scholars participated from Albania, Kosovo, Greece, Cyprus, North Macedonia, Italy, Spain, Austria, Germany, France, and the USA. Archbishop Ioannis of Tirana emphasized that the Byzantine period constitutes a living layer of the spiritual and cultural identity of the Albanian people. Prof. Peter Schreiner called the conference «the best he has ever attended in Albania» and described Albania as an «El Dorado of Byzantine manuscripts».
The conference featured 6 thematic sessions: political relations, art and architecture, post-Byzantine art, paleography, archaeology, and spiritual heritage. Special attention was given to Saint John Koukouzelis (1280-1336), the Dyrrachium-born founder of Byzantine music.
The conference concluded with a Byzantine music concert at the Cultural Center of the Cathedral, dedicated to Saint John Koukouzelis.
📝 Translation: AI
Photos
