Yesterday, April 27, 2022, in the premises of the Bektashian Holy See in Tirana, the ceremony and the relevant rites were held, on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the passing away of the World Vice Grandfather of the Bektashians, father Bajram Mahmutaj. This activity was attended by Bektashi clerics, leaders and representatives of other religious institutions in Tirana, family members of the well-known cleric Mahmutaj, monks and believers. According to the official announcement that preceded this event, the rites of commemoration of the 25th anniversary of the passing away of the World Vice Grandfather of the Bektashi, father Bajram Mahmutaj, included: From 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., reception and homage at the Holy See - Tirana; at 17:00, in the premises of the Museum of Bektashism, the relevant ceremony was held in memory of father Bajram Mahmutaj; the greeting of the World Grandfather of the Bektashi, His Holiness, Haxhi Dede Edmond Brahimaj; the greeting of Valentina Toro-Ndreu, heiress of the clergyman's family; watching the documentary film of RTVSH, dedicated to father Bajram Mahmutaj; the visit to the photographic exhibition "Life and work of father Bajram Mahmutaj" and the Iftar, served for those present, by the Grandfather of the World Bektashian.
In his speech, among other things, the Grandfather of the World, His Holiness, Haxhi Dede Edmond Brahimaj, emphasized: "...In the name of God, the Merciful, the Merciful Dear clergy! Dear pilgrims and believers present today at this event, the commemoration of the 25th anniversary of the death of father Bajram Mahmutaj, the former World Grandfather of Bektashism! As the World Grandfather of Bektashism, I thank you for your presence, I bless you and wish you more health, peace and brotherly love, more solidarity and charity, more hope and faith in the Great God! The commemoration of the death of our brother, father Bajram, as well as in other events of this nature, through which the Bektashian Holy See has created a tradition that is constantly enriched, we not only appreciate the contribution of the Bektashian clerics in the path of Haxhi Bektash Veliut, as spiritual leaders and patriots, but we intend to bring as many fellow travelers-brothers to the Bektashian family as possible, so that this transitory life is as peaceful and spiritually harmonious as possible. Baba Barjami was born on May 18, 1906, in the village of Rabije in Tepelena, where there was a tekke, founded by Baba Ali in the 16th century. His parents, Sadik and Merushe Mahmutaj, were devoted to Bektashism. His uncle, father Muharrem, in 1890, opened a bakery in the village of Plashnik in Berat. In 1927, Bajram Mahmutaj dressed as a dervish. Now, dervish Barjami found in father Muharremi, the parent, the educator, the teacher, the theologian, the Albanian patriot, creating a sound theoretical and practical base, not only as a Bektashi cleric, but also as a social missionary and patriot. After the death of Muharrem's father, in 1929, until 1945, he led the Plashnik teke. This year would mark the beginning of a difficult ordeal, as under the accusation of cooperation with the National Front, the justice of the time sentenced him to 15 years of imprisonment. After serving his sentence, he was subjected to an internment in Milot, an ordeal that ended with the political changes of 1990 and the regaining of religious freedom and the reopening of religious institutions. In 1991, he joined the initiators of the re-opening of the Bektashian World Headquarter and felt rebirth when on March 22, 1991, on the occasion of the Sultan Nevruz holiday, the Bektashian World Archdiocese was reopened with its Headquarters, where we are today. Being close to Dede Reshatin, he contributed to the new clerical, structural, organizational reorganization, the re-establishment of religious groups and tyrbes in Albania, but also to the connection with other religious groups in the world. Thus, he visited the former World Center in Turkey, Haxhi Bektash, while he stayed in Detroit in the USA for about a year (1992). Baba Bajrami passed away on April 30, 1997 at the age of 91. He remains a devout cleric of Bektashism. After leaving this life, he was decorated with the "Torch of Democracy" with the motivation: "Unbowed and with faith in God, he endured the prisons and tortures of the dictatorship for a free, religious and democratic Albania". But Father Bajram Mahmutaj, although he suffered difficult dramas in his life, left his mark where he worked and lived, he was and remains a dedicated cleric.
Even this meeting in commemoration of his death on earth, this photo exhibition that we have prepared and follow together, and the words and conversations about him and around him, are messages about the necessity of faith in God, in our path of peace, messages of love and fraternal harmony, for which today, after the pandemic we are still not completely freed; the dramas of the war in Ukraine and the difficulties of everyday life, we need it more than ever! God bless you all! Amen!”
Next, she greeted the attendees, Mrs. Valentina Toro-Ndreu, representative of the Mahmutaj family. Among other things, she thanked the Bektashian Holy See and the Bektashian World Grandfather, Dede Edmond Brahimaj, for organizing this activity, in appreciation of the contribution and activity of father Bajram Mahmutaj. Next, Mrs. Valentina, dwelt on interesting details of the physical and spiritual suffering of father Bajram, during the 15 years of imprisonment in monism, the time he was exiled in the north of the country, as well as his commitment to the revival of Bektashism after the political changes of 1990 and the work for the restoration of Bektashi institutions inside and outside Albania.
Of great interest, in continuation of the activity, was the attendance of a rich photographic exhibition, prepared by Nuri Çuni, which simultaneously served as a narrator of its elements, for those present. At the end of the activity, those present had the iftar, organized on this occasion, by the Grandfather of the World Bektashi Community, His Holiness, Haxhi Dede Edmond Brahimaj.
Prepare:
Kujtim BORIÇI
