Athanas Gegaj

Athanas (Luka) Gegaj was an Albanian historian, intellectual, and writer from the Malësia region. He was born in Triesh (Malësia e Madhe). He was the son of Prenkë and Mria Gegaj and was baptized with the name Luka.

He completed his early education at the Illyricum Franciscan College in Shkodra, where he graduated in 1927–1928. In 1931 he continued his studies at the University of Louvain in Belgium, where he earned a degree in history and philosophy. After returning to Albania, he was ordained as a Franciscan friar and worked as a teacher at the Franciscan college. Because of his opposition to the Italian fascist regime, he was interned in Italy and was not allowed to return to Albania. In 1941, he left the Franciscan order and began a civilian life.

After World War II, Gegaj served as secretary to King Ahmet Zogu in exile. In 1962 he moved to the United States, where he became the editor of the Albanian-American weekly newspaper “Dielli” in Boston, a role he held until 1971.

Athanas Gegaj passed away on 28 January 1988 in Santa Monica, Los Angeles, California, leaving behind an important legacy as a scholar and contributor to Albanian intellectual life in the diaspora.