Gjon Buzuku (c. 1499 – c. 1577) was an Albanian Catholic priest who wrote the first known printed book in Albanian. The Missal as it is commonly referred to, is considered an important monument of Albanian Studies, being the oldest source for studying the Albanian language. Life Very little that is known about Gjon Buzuku comes from the last page of his book, where he mentions being the son of a certain Bdek (Benedict) Buzuku. In the same text he also informs about his service as a priest in a church not far away from where the printers workshop was located. Most scholars agree that this was in Venice. From March 20, 1554, to January 5, 1555, he wrote a translation of the Catholic missal into the Gheg dialect of Albanian. He published it as a book of 220 pages. The Apostolic Library in the Vatican holds the only known copy of the book. It is missing the frontispiece and the first 16 sheets, which explains why the title and year of publication of the work are not known. Buzuku gives a few clues on his motives in the short text at the end, I, John, son of Benedict Buzuku, having often considered that our language had in it nothing intelligible from the Holy Scriptures, wished for the sake of our people to attempt, as far as I was able, to enlighten the minds of those who understand, so that they may comprehend how great and powerful and forgiving our Lord is to those who love him with all their hearts. I beg of you from today on to go to church more often to hear the word of God. Based from the Albanian dialect used, it is obvious that Buzuku came from a Gheg area of Albanian milieu. Sometimes this is defined further to be around the village of Shestan near Krajë region, close to Northern Albania (Krajë is located on the shores of Shkodra Lake), then Ottoman Empire. Not much else is known about Buzuku. His presence is not recorded in any of the archival documents of the time. It remains to be seen if a recent discovery from the archives of Padova might add a few more details. A certain Gjon Buzuku is recorded there at the University of Padova finishing his doctoral studies in 1567. The first Albanian book The book of Buzuku was discovered in