Grigor Cilka

Grigor M. Cilka (1875-1919) was an Albanian Protestant reverend and missionary. He went to New York City, United States to finish his education at the Union Theological Seminary. Cilka founded a Protestant parish in Korçë. After studying theology, Cilka became a member of Korçë-based organizations that sought the creation of an Albanian state independent of the Ottoman Empire. In the late nineteenth century debate over choosing an Albanian alphabet, Cilka was a supporter of the Frashëri alphabet. Together with his wife Katerina, Cilka served as teacher at the first Albanian school for girls in Korçë.

Miss Stone Affair In 1901, Katerina, 6 months pregnant, embarked on a regional tour at the invitation of her friend Ellen Maria Stone, an American Protestant missionary. in what become known internationally as the Miss Stone Affair. Ottoman authorities suspected Protestants of involvement and for a short time, Cilka was arrested on orders by the vali (governor) of Salonika on unfounded charges of being complicit in the kidnapping. After Katerina's release, the Cilkas returned to Korçë and authorities from the Ottoman state continued to suspect the couple of involvement in the event. The couple had a daughter named Eleni. Cilka served as director of the girls' school, later he was imprisoned by Ottoman authorities and the educational institution closed shortly thereafter in February 1904. In 1906, an Albanian guerilla band assassinated Greek bishop Photios and Ottoman authorities unable to arrest the perpetrators, had Cilka and other Korçë Albanian notables involved in the national movement imprisoned, but released soon after. Cilka in 1906 was involved in the establishment of groups geared toward nationalist aims. After the declaration of independence, Cilka moved to Bulgaria where he died in 1919 from the Spanish flu.