TIRANA, Aug 24 /ATA/ Orthodox Christians across Albania are celebrating the feast of Saint Cosmas today, a revered figure honored with more church and monastery dedications than nearly any other saint in the country. Among these sacred sites, the Monastery of Saint Cosmas in Kolkondas, Fier stands out as the most prominent. Erected on May 12, 1814, its construction was made possible through the patronage of Ali Pasha of Tepelena, marking a significant chapter in Albania’s religious and cultural history. 

Today, the Monastery of Saint Cosmas in Kolkondas has welcomed a significant influx of worshippers, reaffirming its role as a major pilgrimage destination—not only for locals from Fier and nearby regions, but also for faithful arriving from across Albania and beyond. 

Festivities typically commence on the evening of August 23rd, culminating in the feast day’s spiritual observances. Many of the most devout choose to spend the night in Kolkondas, embracing the tradition with prayers and hope for Saint Cosmas’s divine intercession. 

The monastery was built alongside the Seman River, adding to its serene and spiritual setting. Historical evidence of its founding includes two letters from Ali Pasha of Tepelena addressed to the Christians of the Berat region, as well as an inscription carved into a stone plaque in the church’s apse. These artifacts stand as enduring testimony to the Pasha of Ioannina’s significant role in the establishment of the monastery. 

During the communist dictatorship, the monastery was abandoned, and the few remaining parts of its guest quarters—already damaged by the flooding of the Seman River in the early 20th century—were destroyed in 1986. 

Following the restoration of the church and the reconstruction of the guest quarters—highly valuable for the architectural typology of this genre—carried out by the Autocephalous Orthodox Church of Albania, the monastery has regained its true significance. It has since been transformed into a vibrant pilgrimage center, hosting a rich array of religious and cultural activities. 

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