Marin Sirdani
(1885 - 1962)

A Brief Biography

Born in Gurez, Lezhe, he attended the Franciscan College at Shkodra city then went to Vienna, Austria, where he graduated in theology.  On returning to Albania, he worked as the director of the Franciscan College and the Illyrikum Gymnasium of Shkodra city.  In 1925, he published "George Kastrati (Kastrioti) after the legend." which is considered his masterpiece.  In 1941 he published his book "Albania and Albanians", Shqypnija e Shqyptaret".  In 1942, he published "The History of Franciscan Province in Albania." 

He published many articles on "Hylli i Drites" and other periodicals.  He left manuscripts mounting to thousands of pages, which were burned and destroyed by the Kozacks who ran Albania for about 45 years, until the Soviet Empire pulled out the plugs and then they turned to drugs and prostitution.  Father M. Sirdani was arrested just for being a Catholic priest and spent two years in jail. 

Marin Sirdani died in 1962, five years before the religion was banned in Albania, at the Franciscan Convent in Shkodra city.  He was the brother of the esteemed folklorist and ethnographer Alexander Sirdani

Books

• "George Kastrati (Kastrioti) after the legend (Considered His Masterpiece)

•  Albania and Albanians

•  The History of Francescan Privince in Albania.

Noted Articles in Morning Star (Hylli i Drites)

• For What is Blamed Skenderbeu (George Kastrati/Kastrioti)

• The Contribution of the Catholic Element in Albania

• Nora of Kelmeni

• Skanderbeg's Grave