Blessed Gjon Koda

Biography

Blessed Gjon Koda, also known as Brother Serafin, was a Franciscan Friar Minor, priest, and martyr. He was born on 25 April 1893 in Janjevô (Janjevo), Lypjan, Serbia. Blessed Gjon celebrated his first Mass on 30 July 1925, embarking on a dedicated journey serving the Catholic faith.

Father Serafin served as a vicar in Lezhô, Albania, where he carried out his missionary work with compassion and devotion. However, his life took a tragic turn when the Communist authorities in Albania arrested and tortured him. These authorities attempted to coerce Father Serafin into admitting that his fellow Franciscans gathered for political reasons and were plotting against the state. Recognizing the falsehood of these accusations, Father Serafin bravely refused to "confess" in order to save himself.

Due to his unwavering commitment to the truth, Father Serafin became a martyr. On 11 May 1947, he met a gruesome end, with nails driven through his throat in Lezhô, Albania. His body was secretly buried nearby, only to be discovered on 16 September 1994. Father Serafin's relics were re-interred in the walls of the Franciscan church in Lezhô, where they continue to be venerated.

In recognition of his martyrdom and steadfast faith, Pope Francis decreed the veneration of Blessed Gjon Koda on 26 April 2016. This decree was followed by his beatification on 5 November 2016, an occasion celebrated at the Square of the Cathedral of Shôn Shtjefnit in Shkodôr, Albania. The beatification ceremony was presided over by Cardinal Angelo Amato, honoring the life and sacrifice of this brave Franciscan Friar Minor.

Blessed Gjon Koda, also known as Brother Serafin, remains an inspiration to believers around the world for his unwavering dedication to his faith and his refusal to compromise his principles in the face of persecution.