Today marks 85 years since the birth of the eminent clergyman. Visits are expected to the Bektashi Holy See in Tirana
Hundreds of Bektashi believers of other faiths, friends, benefactors and various personalities today visit the Holy See of the Bektashi World Headquarters in Tirana, to commemorate a marked date, the 85th anniversary of the birth of the former Bektashi World Leader, Haxhi Dede Reshat, the prominent cleric who devoted his entire life to the faith of the nation, the person who has undeniable merit in the re-establishment of Bektashi institutions after the system changes in 1990. "The commemoration of the 85th anniversary of the birth of Dede Reshat Bardhi" is a day marked for millions of Bektashis around the world. He remains a prominent figure of Bektashism in the unwavering stance of Hak's path; contributed and revived Bektashism in Albania and consolidated the ties and cooperation with the Bektashi communities in the world… ”- affirms, among others, the Bektashi World Leader, His Excellency, Haxhi Dede Edmond Brahimaj.
DEDE RESHAT BARDHI
Dede Reshat Bardhi was born on March 4, 1935, in the village of Lusën in Kukës, in the North of Albania. At the age of 6-7, he starts learning to read and write in Albanian and Arabic from the imam of the village. In 1944, his family settled in the suburbs of Tirana, very close to where today is the Holy See of the Bektashi World Headquarters. Reshati continues his lessons at school while spending his free time studying the Qur'an. In the early 50s of the last century, Reshat Bardhi attracted the attention of the World Leader of that time Ahmet Myftari, who saw in the boy from distant Lusna, not only mystical and religious tendencies but also examples of a deep loyalty. He becomes the spiritual leader of Bardhi and according to Bektashi rules leads him to the mystical path opened by Haxhi Bektash Veliu. In August 1954, Reshat Bardhi dressed as a dervish. Because the Albanian communist state had planned the destruction of religious beliefs, in 1958 he interned in the village of Drizar in Mallakastra, Grandfather Ahmet Myftari, together with dervishes Reshat Bardhi. From 1958 to 1967, dervish Reshati would experience a series of mental and physical tortures carried out by the notorious security of the communist state. But he would not depart from his spiritual leader nor from practicing Bektashi religious rites. In the tekke of Drizar, believers from Kosovo and Delvina, from Kruja and Përmeti, from Dibra and Vlora, from Tetovo and Skrapar would secretly go. With the demolition of religious buildings in Albania in 1967, dervish Reshat Bardhi would go to Tirana to experience other physical and spiritual pain. He worked until 1991 as a manual laborer, never losing faith in God.
THE RESURRECTION OF BECTASHISM
Dede Reshat Bardhi has an indisputable merit for the revival of Bektashism. In 1991, Reshat Bardhi reorganized Bektashism in Albania with all its structures. Reshat Bardhi was proclaimed the World Leader of the Bektashis, at the Bektashi Congress VI of 1993. He revived the Bektashi faith, revived from the foundations the cult objects inside and outside the territory of Albania. He set an excellent example of religious tolerance. He has participated in international conferences and meetings of high religious levels such as: On March 22, 1991, he received at the Holy See of the Bektashi World Headquarters, Mother Teresa and some sisters of her order from Colombia and Spain; in November 1991, in Mecca, received by the high religious authorities of Saudi Arabia, in February 1992 goes to the Bektashi community in Detroit, USA, where he is received by Baba Rexhepi; In August 1993 he visited the tekke-museum of Haji Bektashi Veliu in Turkey where he was received by thousands of Bektashi believers from Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Pakistan, etc. He was also received at a special lunch by the Mayor of the city, Haxhi Bektash, etc. From 1991 until his escape from this life; at the Holy See of the Bektashi World Headquarters, Dede Reshat Bardhi received at every religious holiday, the President, the Prime Minister, the Speaker of the Albanian Parliament, the Ministers and all the ambassadors of the diplomatic corps accredited in Tirana. In 1994-1995 he went twice to Iran where he was received by the top leader of the Ahl al-Bayt foundation, Mr. Hossein Miri, as well as senior religious figures from Iran, India and Kuwait. In March 2001 he was invited to a special audience by Pope John Paul at the Vatican; in August 2002, in Haji Bektash, Turkey, he is received, among others, by the Turkish Prime Minister, Ecevit; in October 2002 participates in the OSCE-ODIR International Conference in Azerbaijan