The President of Kosovo, Hashim Thaçi, has visited the house of the National Renaissance colossus, Jeronim De Rada, and has paid homage at his grave in Macchia, Calabria.
The President has said that the Arbëresh people have given meaning to the most important Albanian political and cultural movement, the National Renaissance, headed by the colossus of literature, Jeronim De Rada.
“The Arbëresh people haven given meaning to the National Renaissance, headed by the colossus of literature, Jeronim De Rada. Today, I paid homage at De Rada’s grave and visited his house in Macchia, where I also met the Arbëresh community and the Cultural Association “Jeronim De Rada”.
The square of Macchia was swarming from liveliness and Arbëresh speakers. For the outstanding cultural contribution, I have decorated the “Jeronim De Rada” Association with the Presidential Medal of Merits”, wrote President Thaçi.
Jeronim De Rada has played a major role in the history of Albanian literature. His influence over contemporary Arbëresh writers was enormous, and the poetic tradition written by him continues to live renewed also in today’s Arbëresh literature.