As every year, the Bektashi believers of Durrës, Kavaja and Elbasan welcomed the pilgrimage of Father Sako with excitement. As always, they addressed the tomb of this Bektashi saint, as a sign of honor and respect, for him and the entire prominent constellation of clerics, followers of Haxhi Bektash Veliu. A special wish also comes from the Bektashi World Leader, His Grace Haxhi Dede Edmond Brahimaj, who in His greeting and blessing, on this marked date, among other things, said: “Dear Bektashi believers of Luz! Dear brothers, father Faik and dervish Admir! I am lucky to be here today and to share together this blessed day of pilgrimage to the tomb of Father Sako. Let me wish and bless you all: Good luck and prosperity to each of your families. The attention and care of the Bektashi dervishes and fathers, let them always follow you, let them guide you and give you light in the path of Hak! No like other times, last year and this year, we did not celebrate this day according to our traditions. The world epidemic took its toll, removing us somewhat physically. But we have always stood together spiritually, proving that the brotherhood that the Bektashi fathers instilled, the wisdom that Father Sako spread throughout his life, has been transmitted to us, to today’s generations, faithful to the best traditions of Haxhi Bektash Veliu . In the Exalted God , we managed to throw behind our backs the pains left by this pandemic and here we are today, next to each other, looking each other in the eyes and multiplying the joys. We will increase day by day in number, to go as close as possible to the tomb of father Sako, as well as hundreds of other fathers and dervishes, because next to them we will always be saddened and our hopes will be multiplied. Because their lives, served only in the way of Hak and the nation, have been and remain the pole star that guides us on our eternal journey. On this occasion, I am happy to thank the group of Luzi’s myhibs, who in appreciation of the memory of father Sako, but also of their myrshid and ours, dede Reshat Bardhi, keep alive the spirit of the brotherhood of our tariqat even in these times difficult. They follow our traditions, becoming monuments of faith and wisdom. May you always be safe, dervishes, fathers, myhibans and believers of Luz! ”
The tekke is located in the village of Luzi i Madh, Lekaj Administrative Unit, Rogozhina Municipality. It is thought to have been erected around 1826 and is dedicated to Baba Sako, a warrior who distributed water and hence the name Sako. Father Sako, is an early missionary, originally from Horasan, Persia. The surname Sako, is derived from the word Saki from Persian but also as a borrowing in Turkish: meaning dividing water, one who serves with glasses, a wine-drinker, who carries and sells water. In various conversations, when the table is set, in engagements and weddings a man is appointed who serves to fill the glasses of rakia and is called saki. Therefore, Father Sako, took this adjective, that he served in giving water and helping the people, charities. He served in many Balkan countries and then came and settled in the Great Luzi of Kavaja, where he worked diligently in spreading Bektashism, preaching love for the Great God and love for the homeland. He set up the tekke in this village and approached many believers and benefactors by becoming famous throughout the Kavaja area. When he passed away, the inhabitants erected the tomb, in his honor.
In this tekke, also served, dervish Abdullai (Xhani) from 1829 until he passed away, where he has his story with Xhefai Baba, of the Great Tekke of Elbasan, when he accompanied him to Frashër, in 1826 Dervishi worked diligently in his tribes, Hysaj, Aliaj, Dullaj and Kalac. For his good work, behavior and contribution to Luzi i Madh, he was received with honors by his opponent, Sheh Hamidi of Kavaja, where afterwards, good relations began, also with the Halveti sect. Thus continued the Bektashi tradition in Kavaja.
In 1950, this tekke was led by father Mustafa Panariti.
Throughout its history, this tekke was a place of Bektashism and patriotism, until it was closed in 1967 by the monist state of that time, to reopen in 1998, with a beautiful shrine. It has played an important spiritual role, to all believers in the Kavaja area and beyond. To continue the precious tradition of this holy place, every year at the end of May, an annual pilgrimage is organized.
