After many years of effort and uninterrupted work in the city of Lezha the church building project was completed for the Orthodox community of the city.  The date of Sunday, November 13, 2005 will be remembered by the faithful of the city and the surrounding areas as their greatest joy as well as in the history of the local church of Lezha, the day in which the first Divine Liturgy was held in the new church “Transfiguration of Christ the Savior”.  Faithful came from the city of Lezha, Shkodra, and Laç, as well as from other regions to participate.

            In the beginning the Service of the Opening of the Doors and Blessing of the Waters was lead by Archbishop Anastasios.  The faithful followed this solemn moment with prayers and joy and then the Archbishop invited them to enter in the new church which will now keep its doors open daily for the Orthodox faithful of Lezha and the surrounding areas.

            For the building of this church 820 square meters of land was bought, from which 323 square meters is taken up by the actual building of the church.  Furthermore, in the surrounding land is yet another building which will be the priest’s as well as the local church offices.  The building of this church was begun on September 28, 2000 and completed in October 2005.  About 51 million new lekë ($ 510 000) were used from funds secured by Archbishop Anastasios from donors.

            The building of this church is truly glorifies God, and it is a great blessing that He gave for another church to Albania.  “We lived through harsh persecution where they tried to make every trace of religious faith invisible.  But, glory to God, in the past 14 years we again live the joy of the resurrection of our Church.  I want to thank all those who labored to accomplish the building of this beautiful church, which is consecrated as The Transfiguration of our Savior and which will be a symbol of transfiguration, calling all people of Albania so that with the Grace and Strength of our Lord we change from what we are to that which God wants us to become” said Archbishop Anastasios during his speech.

            The purpose of building churches is not limited only to the object itself, but in order that even more so the spiritual church will be built up in the hearts of men. In this point each and every one of us has a special responsibility. “The church doesn’t simply consist of some exterior buildings, but is the body of Christ where each of us has the great honor to be limbs of this body and cells of this mystical body of Christ.  It was of great importance that this church was built, but even more importantly it should be adorned and filled with the Grace and beauty of the Holy Spirit’s presence. And this great responsibility is held by each of us. Every time a new Orthodox church is opened it is again an example to remind us that we too should make a new start, that we should all try to become in reality temples and churches of the Holy Spirit.  And this is what will keep the Orthodox Church of Albania alive” emphasized the Archbishop.

            In his sermon, the Archbishop interpreted and explained the Gospel reading of the day “The Parable of the Good Samaritan” and the importance of the charge to help our neighbors sincerely and without judging.

  After Liturgy the faithful and the participants in the Tirana Diocese youth conference that had taken place in Shëngjin, made a photograph as a remembrance of this day. Later, representatives of the Orthodox community of Lezha and Shkodra organized a reception for the Archbishop in which they thanked him from the depths of their hearts for all that he had done for them during these years and especially for the new church.     

Isidor Koti

Përktheu: Kristiana Muça dhe Georgia Gilman