The Diocesan Museum was born out of the necessity to collect, preserve and render accessible the historical heritage related to the faith and the culture of the Albanian people, with a special emphasis on the territory of the Archdiocese Shkoder-Pult. The North of Albania – where the Catholic tradition has been historically stronger than in the rest of the country – has witnessed and preserved the Christian faith since the apostolic era. Though such faith has encountered a great deal of adversity in an attempt to extinguish its fire, the fire managed to revive from the very ashes under which it had been buried. “Taking care of one`s memory” is not only about remembering. It is about being aware of the identity that has determined our future while simultaneously providing us with an opportunity to lay the foundation for the future. Under this light, the purpose of the Diocesan Museum is not only to preserve a highlight the value of the material and immaterial testimonies of our history, but also to introduce the visitor to a reality with clear ehoes in the present. It is the intention of the Museum to reach far beyond the mere knowledge of the visitor and appeal to his/her awareness: love for life; a sense for what is good and beautiful; a spiritual intense experience. Thus, the primitive intuition that had triggered the collection of the samples with the purpose to have them preserved, gave way to a more profound reflection which conditioned the project team not to take up the role of the “guide” of the organization, but rather be guided from the samples which communicated their stories with surprising clarity. The museal itinerary is a continuous confrontation with the collection fund: works of art, holy objects, objects of personal use and worship, document fragments and various testimonies. It has been organized as a narrative procession through several thematic sessions – accompanied by a timeline – which branches out into two main components: PLACES AND SIGNS IN TIME (the ground floor) and VOICES, FACES, TESTIMONIES IN TIME (the first floor). The location of the Diocesan Museum – in the southern side of the Cathedral under the highly imposant belfry – is significant in itself. The Cathedral, besides being an integral part of the narrative course of the Museum, is also part of the common history of all the samples of the collection. Furthermore, the Museum and the spaces of the Cathedral which have been recently object of renovation work, constitute a perfect fusion between two realities that complement each-other. Another fascinating element of the Museum, is the close connection with the other cultural places which are to be found in the territory of the diocese. During the itinerary, attention is drawn several times to the such places in order to make the Museum a part of a broader network in the territory. The Diocesan Museum has been conceived by taking into account scientific and functional criteria in order to guarantee the historical accuracy of what is told, and to make it more accessible to the visitors through diverse means of narration.
