Speaking to ATA, Director of the museum Fjoralba Prifti expressed her gratitude for the extraordinary contribution made to the opening of the museum by the architect and academic Pirro Thomo, who was present at the event.

“Thankful for the extraordinary dedication of all employees who, despite the hard times, managed to preserve values ​​and keep the museum as a consolidated institution with all standards,” said Fjoralba Prifti.

The National Museum of Medieval Art opened its doors and took shelter right under the dome of one of the main churches of the city of Korça, the Cathedral, on April 26, 1980, at a time when during the communist dictatorship the war against religion, religious belief and cult objects were on the agenda.

It was also thanks to this museum that some historical and artistic values ​​were kept alive, which are evidence of the traditions and culture of our people.

Today, the National Museum of Medieval Art preserves, conserves and exhibits the highest number of iconographic works in the world, thus conveying knowledge about the past, faith, life of communities and proclaiming our cultural heritage.

The director of the museum told ATA about the phases that the museum has gone through since its creation. The first stage belongs to the period after 1967, when the collection of iconic works began. There are about 6000 icons, which originate mainly from Korça region as well as the bringing of a considerable part from Tirana (about 60 icons), originating from all over Albania, saved in the name of Cultural Heritage from atheist-communist destruction. These works were saved by heroes like Theofan Popa. /r.e/a.f/p.s./

During the last 32 years, Prifti lived in the United States of America, where for 15 years he was the secretary of the Pan-Albanian Federation of America, Vatra.

Naum Prifti is from Rehovo, Kolonja. Being fond of literature, he pursued his studies in Albanian Language and Literature branch at the State University of Tirana. During the years 1954-1960, he served as an editor in the “Hosteni” magazine. While from 1960-67, he worked as an editor in the “Ylli” magazine.

Prifti has also worked as a teacher from 1967-70 in Divjaka, Lushnja. In 1970-72, he was responsible as editor for the newsletter “Children’s Stage”, at the Central House of Popular Creativity, Tirana and as a theater inspector at the Ministry of Education and Culture during 1974-76.

During this period, he also served as an external lecturer for Albanian Literature at the University of Tirana. In 1991, he emigrated to the States (New York), where he made a contribution to the Albanian community there and to Albanian Literature. In 1995, he was elected secretary of the Vatra Pan-Albanian Federation.

He has received several awards for his literary works such as volumes of stories, novels, children’s literature, humor and film scripts. /k.s/ /gj.m/p.s./