86-year-old Muslims build one church in Puka, Albania (Photo)

By the beginning of this year, the story of a man in Spain who had dedicated his whole life to building a single cathedral caused a stir. It was a story beyond the usual for the attention of world media. However, it made me remember that a artisan in my village has completed a church of its own but not without media attention.

I decided that when I make my next visit to Kryezzi, Puka, I will stop and pay respect to the man who built a church with his own hands. In a way, I was also curious to understand his motivation for this work.

The Light Star, a small but powerful man, now 86 years old but still full of energy, appeared in his work a sunny autumn day. He was dressed nice, with his mustache and hat just like a gentleman of his age on these sides and smiling as always. The star is a master master of the stone but also of other talents.

Throughout a career of some 70 years, he has built more than 100 residences. The church is one of his last projects throughout this career when he was “re” 82-year-old. I know the strong grip of his hand from childhood, and it is impressive that that that hand continues to be just as strong.

Star eagerly showed me around the object, challenges along with the church's construction and historical details. Although it has had to rebuild from the foundation, the church adheres to the tradition of building Nalta Albania, but in particular it arouses its symbolic curiosity.

The windows on the outside follow the Gothic style with a sharp climax, and from inside the windows are in the form of the Roman arch. I'm not a field specialist, but it's kind of like the old Vau church of the Sea, which Albanians may recognize from a $10,000 (old) bill.

There was a church here that was sacred as to Catholics like Muslims in this area” explains Star.

Communists destroyed it along with centuries-old oaks and clears to create a dozen more land for the <x0).

I learned that ancient oaks were considered cultural monuments.

The old church has been standing there for over 800 years. The 1637 Frank White Regiment describes this hat with large oak trees. The star has had to compromise with many things but in many details he has remained faithful to history.

Very carefully, he has traced the stones of the old church already on the walls of surrounding fields or buried in the ground for decades by cleaning them up to put them on the target. Windows are an example. But the most impressive thing is the two cornerstones that carry their bow on their shoulders over the entrance gate. One of these carries the sign of the cross, the other carries a “X”

The star says these rocks “show how old [the church] is”. After a few internet investigations, I confirmed that the sign “X” was used in the early churches along with the cross.

In a country like Albania where history finds little respect, it becomes a heart of joy to see these important details not escape the master's eye.

The star explains to me that this church dedicated to St. Prende [Venera, Venice] has a special place here because people who had problems with childbearing, including Muslims, came and prayed here.

As long as I can remember” The Star says, the “here isn't buried who”. The most important connection with fertility problems is to understand why the church is important both to Muslims and Catholics.

Besides the Church of St. Prende, there are two churches and two mosques in Kryezia. Religious harmony is to take an example as elsewhere in Albania. The star seems to be a believer but not one of those people who dedicate their lives to religion as was the example of the Spaniard mentioned at the outset.

I asked him what motivated him to get into this job with all those expenses. The star explains that “this monument was destroyed by the [communist] regime. I've built it to enjoy the generations to come, here and 800 more years --”

Clearly, Star has done all this work to get the community back to something that was previously deprived of dictatorship maybe has a secondary role here. I think the star built this plant to bring people together, through the mystical charms of history that are unknown to the dot.

What about the generations to come? Star's sons and grandchildren live and work in Italy, and they will enjoy the church a few days a year. Unfortunately, Lisa is no longer among us. The star lives alone in a 3.5 - story tower that could be the palace of some aristocrat (which he built, of course). One man. One man for all. Does that not mean that his gesture is pure unselfish?

He will add some fir trees (selvia) to this work to call it accomplished. He also thinks he pays with his pension.

I learned that his family opened the doors of the house (an old tower built according to tradition that remains today) to return him to the first village school in the years of St. That makes me believe that in the star family, there's a community spirit. I wish more Albanians were like his star and family.

I shook this little man's strong hand once again, but hard-working and generous. I feel inspired by this man who built a monument to re-winned freedom, a temple for the community at 82. The Star Act is a gesture of unmatched unselfishness. If only more people in the world were like him!