Nationality Ottoman Other names Dom Pjeter Xarishi | Name Pjeter Zarishi | |
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Born 1806 Blinisht, Zadrima, Ottoman Empire Died 1866
Kallmet, Lezhe, Ottoman Empire Occupation Catholic priest and poet Known for establishing a tradition of the 19th century Catholic literature in northern Albania | ||
Pjetër Zarishi or Dom Pjeter Xarishi (1806 in Blinisht, Zadrima – 1866 in Kallmet, Lezhë) was an Albanian Mirditë Catholic priest and poet who established a tradition of the 19th century Catholic literature in northern Albania. He is also noted for his literary contribution to the Albanian National Awakening. His poems were primarily religious and in less extent secular.
In 1837 he was educated at the training college of the Propaganda Fide. He was first appointed as a secretary of the Italian bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Sapë in Nënshat, in the Shkoder Archdiocese who was transferred to Orosh and appointed as abbot of the remote Abbey of Orosh after one disagreement with bishop of Sapa. Zarishi and Dotmaze from Shkoder were assistants of Karlo Kransnik who was in Catholic pries for the Mirdite tribe. In Orosh Zarishi initially maintained a close cooperation with local Mirdite leaders and particularly with Dod Bib Pasha.
When Ilija Garašanin, through Krasnik, approached to Dod Bib to propose Mirdite to join anti-Ottoman revolt, Dod Bibe accepted to ally with Serbia in exchange for the autonomy of his tribe and freedom to keep their Catholic faith within Serbian state. On the other hand, Zarishi and Dotmaze were opposed to participation of Mirdite tribe in the uprising against Ottomans because they believed it would not be effective.
Because of the conflict with some Mirdita chieftains he was forced to leave Orosh and to settle in Kallmet where he died in 1866. His pupil Petar Draguša later wrote that Zarishi was so good orator that more than once listeners of his speeches broke crying.