Mother Teresa

Mother Teresa on a stamp printed in Cyprus c. 2002, photo by Neftali/Bigstock.com

Birth Name: Anjezë Gonxhe Bojaxhiu

Date of Birth: 26 August, 1910

Place of Birth: Üsküp, Kosovo Vilayet, Ottoman Empire (now Skopje, North Macedonia)

Date of Death: 5 September, 1997

Place of Death: Calcutta, West Bengal, India

Ethnicity: Albanian

Mother Teresa, or Mary Teresa Bojaxhiu, was a Roman Catholic religious nun and missionary. An Albanian, Mother Teresa moved to Ireland at eighteen; and eventually to India, where she lived most of her life, and of which she became a citizen. She founded Missionaries of Charity, a religious institute of consecrated life of Pontifical Right for women. The order manages homes for people with HIV/AIDS, leprosy, and tuberculosis, as well as orphanages, schools, mobile clinics, dispensaries, soup kitchens, and children’s and family counselling services. In 2016, she was canonized by Pope Francis, as Saint Teresa of Calcutta. September 5, the anniversary of her death, is her feast day.

She was the daughter of Dranafile/Drana and Nikollë/Nikola Bojaxhiu, who was a businessperson, pharmacist, construction company partner, benefactor, and politician. Her father was born in Prizren, Kosovo Vilayet, Ottoman Empire (now Kosovo), and was an Albanian rights activist. Her mother was possibly born somewhere near Gjakovë, Kosovo Vilayet, and was also of Albanian heritage.

Mother Teresa had said:

By blood, I am Albanian. By citizenship, an Indian. By faith, I am a Catholic nun. As to my calling, I belong to the world. As to my heart, I belong entirely to the heart of Jesus.

Some have stated that Mother Teresa’s father may have been Macedonian. Others have also stated that he was of Vlach descent. It is not clear if there is any evidence for these claims.

Mother Teresa’s paternal grandfather was named Lazër/Lazar Bojaxhiu.

Mother Teresa’s paternal grandmother was named Çilja.

Mother Teresa’s maternal grandfather was surnamed Bernai.

Sources: Genealogy of Mother Teresa (focusing on her father’s side) – http://www.geni.com

Death record of Mother Teresa – https://www.findagrave.com

Birthplaces of Mother Teresa’s parents – http://bjoerna.dk