Shen Mari's Church, Elbasan

Shen Mari's Church in Elbasan is a cultural monument declared in 1963, which stands out for its rare ethnocultural and architectural values in the region. Built around 1830 by the Christian community on the foundations of an older church, it has a rich history and heritage.

The architecture of the church is of the late Byzantine style, using stones carved by Dibra masters. The combination of local elements makes this church a special example of Albanian autochthonous culture. Inside the walls of the church are the catacombs, where the bodies of the dead were placed. This is one of the features that shows its use for important services and the deep history associated with the city of Elbasan.

Shen Mari's Church ranks among other Orthodox churches of the Elbasan area, including the churches of Saint Kolli, Saint Premte, Saint Kozmai and Damiano, Saint Mihill, Saint Thanas, etc. It is a deep testimony of the presence of Orthodox culture in this area and has served as an educational center, contributing to the development of the Albanian language and its culture.

The history of the church goes back in time, starting from the year 458, when the city of Elbasan became the episcopal center. Over the centuries, the church has gone through different times and experienced significant events, including its burning in 1819 and the subsequent reconstruction.

Shen Mari's Church is a work of art with considerable ethnocultural value. The fresco-type paintings restored by the artists David Selenica, Kostandin Shelcani and Onufri, show the artistic heritage of this country. The iconostasis of the church has a special feature, featuring gold lacquered details and portraits of Albanians to bring the saints to life.

After the period of prohibition in the 1990s, the church was reopened and reconstructed with the help of the community and foreign donors. This recovery has given the church a strong identity and turned it into an important cultural and religious site. Today, the Albanian National Autocephalous Orthodox Church, also known as Saint Mary's Church, constitutes an important part of the cultural heritage of Albania and serves as a place for anyone who wants to get to know the history, culture and faith of this country better.