Theodhor Haxhifilipi
Teacher and inventor of an original Albanian alphabet.
Theodhor Haxhifilipi, often called Dhaskal Todhri (Elbasan, c. 1730–1805), was a teacher from Elbasan who is thought to have created an original Albanian alphabet. The script, known as Todhri after him, may have been his own invention or, according to Kostandin Kristoforidhi, brought by him from Voskopojë. He translated many liturgical texts into Albanian, but only a handful remain. One of the few surviving works is a mass by John Chrysostom, a 32-page later manuscript kept at the National Library of Albania.
Little is known about his life, with only a few documentary sources available. He was likely born into a silversmith family in Elbasan’s Kala neighborhood. According to Johann Georg von Hahn, he studied at the New Academy of Voskopojë. Albanologist Robert Elsie notes that after training there, Haxhifilipi taught at the Greek school in Elbasan, earning the name Dhaskal (teacher). Von Hahn claimed he translated both the Old and New Testaments and other religious works, but most of his writings were burned during an 1827 epidemic, so this cannot be verified. Surviving fragments, held in the Central State Archives in Tirana and the Austrian National Library in Vienna, include an Orthodox Book of Hours and the liturgy of St. John Chrysostom. He also wrote a poem in 1774, published in a prayer book for Saint John Vladimir. The Todhri alphabet was used in Elbasan until 1930.
It is uncertain whether Haxhifilipi invented the script or first brought it to Elbasan. Scholar Dhimitër Shuteriqi suggests it may have been created by Gregory of Durrës, a teacher at the New Academy. The earliest dated Todhri text is a daybook from a merchant partnership called Jakov Popa i Vogël dhe Shokët, with entries from 10 August 1795 to 1797. An even older text, dated 1 January 1780, was recently found in a family notebook in Elbasan. Leopold Geitler and Rajko Nahtigal studied the script, concluding it derived mainly from 18th-century Roman and Greek cursive. Other older texts possibly by Todhri himself cannot be dated or confirmed. Most of his works were burned out of fear of the plague. Surviving handwritten fragments include the John Chrysostom mass, copied around 1800 by igumen Josif Haxhi Anastasi, and an incomplete translation of a catechism by Adamantios Korais, copied in the late 19th century. In this text, a note likely from Haxhifilipi says he added new words because Al
- born
- c. 1730, Elbasan
- died
- 1805
- field
- Education, linguistics, translation
- nationality
- Albanian
- known_for
- Inventor of the Todhri script, an original Albanian alphabet
Lore & Background
Not much is known about Haxhifilipi's life. He was probably born into a family of silversmiths in the Kala neighbourhood of Elbasan. According to George Von Hahn, he finished his studies at the New Academy of Voskopojë. He taught at the Greek school in his native Elbasan, hence the name Dhaskal (teacher). According to Robert Elsie, the alphabet was used until 1930 in Elbasan.
It is not certain whether Haxhifilipi invented the Todhri script or brought it from Voskopojë. According to Dhimitër Shuteriqi, the script could have been invented by Gregory of Durrës, also a teacher at the New Academy. The earliest dated text in Todhri's script is a daybook of a local merchant partnership, with entries starting on 10 August 1795. An even older text, dated 1 January 1780, was discovered in a family notebook. Most of his writings were destroyed by fire during an epidemic in 1827.
Reader's Guide
Theodhor Haxhifilipi is significant as the creator of the Todhri script, one of several original alphabets developed for the Albanian language before the modern standard. His work reflects the cultural and educational efforts of the Albanian Orthodox community in the 18th century, particularly around the New Academy of Voskopojë. Though most of his translations and writings were lost to fire in 1827, surviving fragments—including a liturgy of John Chrysostom and a catechism translation—provide rare evidence of early Albanian literary activity. The script itself, studied by scholars Leopold Geitler and Rajko Nahtigal, was derived primarily from Roman and Greek cursive. Haxhifilipi's legacy endures as a pioneer of Albanian writing, with his alphabet remaining in local use in Elbasan until 1930. The uncertainty over whether he invented or introduced the script underscores the complex history of Albanian script development.
Did You Know?
- The Todhri script was used in Elbasan until 1930.
- Most of Haxhifilipi's writings were destroyed by fire during an epidemic in 1827.
- The earliest dated text in Todhri's script is a merchant daybook starting 10 August 1795.
- A mass of John Chrysostom, preserved in a later manuscript of 32 pages, is kept at the National Library of Albania.
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