Dervish Hatixhe

A Journey Of Inspiration

Vision

Building A World Where Every Individual Thrives

Mission

Heal, Educate, Inspire And Empower Individuals And Families

Our Story

Hatixhe Skenderi is the one of the first of the few women in the world to be honored with the title Dervish for her dedicated service to humanity during the bubonic plague of 1738-1740 in the Balkans. She helped to save lives, even turning her home to a hospital and her properties into a cemetery. People saw her as a person sent by God to save them during those difficult times.

After her death, as her tomb quickly became a site of pilgrimage, and a Tekke hosting her tomb was built in her home in Tirana, Albania. Her selfless actions had such an impact, that people continue to believe that her soul protects them.

In 1969, the communist regime closed all of the religious places in Albania. It was said that the government was going to remove the tomb of Dervish Hatixhe and rebury her in the cemetery of Tirana.

In an attempt to protect her tomb and The Tekke of Dervish Hatixhe, Sultana and Rame Skenderi (Dervishi), the family members in charge of Dervish Hatixhe at the time, installed thick concrete floors over the tombs and declared that they had closed the Tekke of Dervish Hatixhe as per the government instructions. At this point, the government took control of most parts of the Tekke and turned it to one of its own offices, though the tombs remained untouched.

Meanwhile, Sultana and later the wife of her son, Rukije, kept welcoming pilgrims and believers in secrecy during the years of communism. The dedication of both of these women kept the Tekke of Dervish Hatixhe open during the communist regime to help people find inner peace. They rendered a great service to the community by putting themselves and their families at risk. At any time, they could have been jailed and killed by the communist government, while their families would have been sent to deportation camps.

In 1992, while communism had fallen but the times were still dark, Rukije courageously opened the Tekke of Dervish Hatixhe to the public and kept serving in this spiritual place with devotion and dedication. Finally, people were free to honor their spirituality and connect with the soul of Dervish Hatixhe by visiting her tomb without fear.

The Tekke of Dervish Hatixhe is a place of pure spirituality where people of all religions and all walks of life come to find inner peace.

Generation after generation, the tradition of the Dervish Hatixhe has empowered women. Through centuries, the history of the women of this family has shown that women are a powerful force of the society, who can shed the bright light in our darkest places and times.

The Dervish Hatixhe Yoga Center was founded by Eva Peza in 2020, during the Coronavirus pandemic, to serve humanity with wellness and fitness programs through yoga and meditation. This initiative is another step in the path of the light of Dervish Hatixhe and all other courageous women of all times.

We would like to express appreciation for the people who are on the front lines, doctors, nurses, scientists, social workers, teachers, etc, fighting the virus. We have a deep appreciation for everyone contributing with kindness and mindfulness to prevent the spread of the virus through these difficult times.

Join Our Cause

Get involved with Dervish Hatixhe by donating, volunteering, or networking...

Our People

Because of our people we are doing more good for more people!

Teqja Dervish Hatixhe (TDH)

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Sulltane Skenderi

Previous Administrator

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Rukije Skifteri

Current Administrator

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Eva Peza

Next Administrator In Line

Dervish Hatixhe Foundation (DHF)​

Executive Team

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Eva Peza​

Founder & Executive Director

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Kelly Grace

Director Of Research & Programs

Dervish Hatixhe Yoga Center (DHYC)​

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Eva Peza​

Founder & Instructor

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Kelly Grace

Instructor

Pellazgian Institute

Executive Team​

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Eva Peza

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Luftulla Peza​

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Liljana Peza​

LaunchPad Enterprises LLC

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Eva Peza​

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Trace Gordon

Tekke of Dervish Hatixhe is a family owned Sufi Shrine. Generation after generation, the administrators of the Tekke of Dervish Hatixhe have been the wives in the family. Nene Rukija is the current administrator and Eva Peza is the administrator in line. Sufi Shrine that supports spiritual freedom and is a crossroad of all religions. People of all religions and all walks of life come to find inner peace in Tekke of Dervish Hatixhe. Dervish Hatixhe Foundation is inspired by the enlightened work of Dervish Hatixhe and it is dedicated in helping women, men, children and families to contribute to the betterment of the society. This organization offers educational and practical tools for personal growth, supporting talents, ideas and creativity in all different fields of life such as arts, science, spirituality, entrepreneurship, history, language, etc.

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