Ruins of Historic St Mary’s Church Restored

In a significant moment for Albania’s cultural heritage, the newly restored Ruins of St Mary’s Church were unveiled today during the inauguration visit. This event marks the successful completion of the restoration works, breathing new life into a site severely damaged by the 2019 earthquake.

The restoration, valued at approximately 400,000 EUR, was carried out under the EU-funded EU4Culture programme, implemented by UNOPS in partnership with the Ministry of Economy, Culture and Innovation. The works commenced in March 2023 and spanned approximately one year.

St Mary’s Church holds a special place in Albania’s medieval history. According to records from Theodor Ippen, an Austrian diplomat who explored the region in the 19th century, it was once among the largest and most distinguished churches in medieval Albania. While the exact construction date remains uncertain due to a lack of definitive historical or inscriptional evidence, Ippen’s accounts suggest the church was already in ruins during his time.

The restoration efforts focused on wall restoration, cleaning and consolidation of remains and wall paintings, and construction of a protective shelter over the remaining wall paintings in the apse.

Ms Lira Pipa, Deputy Minister of Economy, Culture, and Innovation; Mr Hubert Perr, Head of Cooperation at the EU Delegation to Albania; Ms Pamela Lama, UNOPS Senior Programme Manager; Ms Majlinda Shqalsi Cara, Mayor of Kurbin; Father Altin Shabini, representative of the Catholic Church; alongside field experts and community members gathered to witness this important milestone in cultural preservation.