Fan Noli & St. George Albanian Orthodox Cathedral
Meet Fan Noli: Albania’s Renaissance Man
Writer, scholar, diplomat, priest, and even prime minister, Fan Noli's talents and vocations were broad. Born in 1882, he sparked a revolution in politics, religion and culture, founding the Albanian Orthodox Church in America and helping shape Albania’s national identity.
Noli didn’t just make history — he wrote it, translated it, and even sang it (he studied at the New England Conservatory). A Harvard graduate and a champion of language, music, and justice, he brought the spirit of Albania to the world stage.
Though his time as prime minister was brief, his impact was timeless. Noli spent his final years in the U.S., still writing, teaching, and inspiring future generations. A true force of nature, Fan Noli’s legacy lives on in his writings, translations and music, much of which are available in our library.
