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Albanian Version of the Scriptures.

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Albani,giovanni Francesco

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Albano (or Albani), Francesco

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This language is vernacular in Albania, which lies partly opposite to the Ionian Islands, and extends for more than 250 miles along the Mediterranean and Adriatic coasts. The Albanians possessed no version of the Scriptures till the year 1819, when Dr. Pinkerton, agent of the British and Foreign Bible Society, employed a native Albanian to prepare a translation of the New Test. int Albanian. The translator, Evangelos Mexicos, after having finished the translation, handed the same for revision to Gregory, archbishop of Negropont. In 1825 the Gospel of St. Matthew was printed, and in 1827 the New Test. was completed at press in Corfu, under the superintendence of the Rev. J. Lowndes. The expense of the work was borne by the Ionian Bible Society. Of late the attention of the British and Foreign Bible Society has been directed towards the Albanians, who, with much that is degrading, combine some fine traits of character. During the year 1866 a translation of the four gospels and the Acts of the Apostles in the Gheg, or Northern Albanian dialect, was printed at Constantinople. The translation was made by Mr. Constantine Christophorides, a native of the country. During the year 1868, the Psalms in the Tosk, or Southern Aibanian dialect, were printed, which' were also translated by Mr. Christophorides. The same translator proceeded with other parts; and at present there exist in Gheg the New Test. and Psalms, and in Tosk the New Test. and the Psalms in a revised edition. (B. P.)