Press Release:  10-4-2004

Press Release No. 04-40/e              4 October 2004

CEC EXPRESSES SOLIDARITY WITH THE ORTHODOX CHURCH OF ALBANIA

The Central Committee of the Conferences of European Churches (CEC), which met in Prague from 27 September to 3 October, expressed concern for the recent acts of aggression in Albania against the Orthodox Church.

“It is with anxiety”, the Central Committee said, “that we have heard about the series of aggressive acts that have happened against the Orthodox Church in Albania. Some of these acts included: the blowing up of a cross-bell tower in Tzara; the looting of an Orthodox youth camp and student facilities around the Monastery of St. George in Saranda; and the eviction of the Orthodox community from an old church building in Permet”.

The committee shared their concerns and protests concerning these violent acts with His Beatitude Archbishop Anastasios of Tirana and All Albania, head of the Orthodox Church of Albania. Archbishop Anastasios is also Vice-President of CEC.

“We appeal to the Albanian authorities”, declared the Central Committee, “to continue to respect religious freedom in the country and to protect all religious communities”.
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The Conference of European Churches (CEC) is a fellowship of some 125 Orthodox, Protestant, Anglican and Old Catholic Churches from all countries of Europe, plus 40 associated organisations. CEC was founded in 1959. It has offices in Geneva, Brussels and Strasbourg.

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