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Kosovar
Refugees Return Home
Life in the refugee camps these days
is quiet. Several weeks ago, people were tired with life there. Day
monotonously passed by. Food was bland. Anxiety abounded as many people
wondered what was the status of many family members – dead or alive. And too
many people viewed the future with uncertainty.
Today things have changed. Hundreds
of thousands of refugees have returned home despite warnings from NATO and
camp officials that safety and stability are still uncertain. Most families
staying in rented flats, or with host families, have already left or are in
the process of leaving.
Two of the three largest refugee
camps in Kukes have cleared out, consolidating into a transit camp, while
others seem to be following the same path. Yet the Orthodox Autocephalous
Church of Albania, in cooperation with the ecumenical cluster of church
agencies called Action by Churches Together (ACT), continues to run its
refugee camp capable of 1300 persons right outside of Tirana, and is ready
to open two more camps in the surrounding villages of Kavaja. As most
refugee camps close, the Orthodox Church and ACT are discussing with local
officials about preparing their three camps as places for refugees unable to
return at the present time. Specialists believe that a number of refugees
will still be here by wintertime, and these camps could be winterized in
order to house refugees into the coming year.
As refugees continue their trek
home, some have stopped by the Church to express their gratitude for the
help given to them and their families in their moment of desperation. Fatmir,
a young father of twins, stopped by the Church Cathedral to say goodbye and
thank the clergy for the help his family and their two newborns had
received. As he was given a final food package and supplies for his babies,
as well as support to pay for the transport home, he began crying. He said
he would never forget what the Orthodox Church had done for him during this
most difficult time in his life.
Another man, Ramadan, had taken his
family back to Kosovo, and returned to Tirana to buy needed supplies hard to
find in Kosovo. While in Tirana, he made it a point to stop by the
Archdiocese and give an oil painting as a sign of his gratitude for all the
Orthodox Church and ACT had done for him and his family. He said that
through the concrete and loving actions of the Church, he still had hope in
humanity despite the atrocities he had witnessed, and was even beginning to
understood what true Christianity is all about.
In addition to the refugee camp
program, the Orthodox Church and ACT have also been active in distributing
hundreds of tons of food, as well as thousands of individual food and
hygienic packages to families hosting refugees. Another part of the overall
Church ministry has been offering new clothing and supply packages to more
than 300 newborn babies and mothers in Tirana, as well as offering spiritual
and moral support and hope to many hurting people.
Three representatives of the Orthodox
Church of Albania have gone into Kosovo over the past weeks to see how the
Church can continue offering support to victims of war. Ms. Penny
Deligiannis and Mr. Artan Kosti traveled with a delegation from the World
Council of Churches to evaluate the situation there. Mr. Nathan Hoppe twice
traveled with refugee families to various cities and villages in the
southern part of Kosovo, helping them relocate and assessing ways the Church
could aid in the reconstruction of their homes.
Special
Postwar Appeal of Archbishop Anastasios:
"Antidote to the Radioactivity of
Hatred"
With sincerity and pain, by word
and action, the Orthodox Autocephalous Church of Albania has repeatedly
expressed her full assistance to our Kosovo refugee brothers and sisters. At
the same time, she has persistently proclaimed that the oil of religion must
never be used to increase conflicts, but instead be used to heal wounds and
calm hearts.
Now, after the cessation of armed
conflict, all religions are called to work together for peace and
reconciliation. Particular respect should be shown to every religious symbol
and monument (be it a mosque, church, teke, or monastery). A basic
presupposition for peace and justice, that all of us are seeking in our
region, is first of all respect for whatever is consecrated to the God of
peace and justice. When monuments of worship are destroyed, then whatever
has been most precious and hopeful throughout the centuries is hurt.
After the return of democracy in
Albania, all religious communities have tried to cultivate not only
tolerance and respect for one another, but even something greater - a
harmonious cooperation for the good of the entire society, both for those
who believe in God as well as those who do not believe in Him.
In all the Balkans, and especially
now in Kosovo, the different religious communities must draw from the
deepest and most genuine layers of our teachings and tradition and become
inspired workers of reconciliation and peace. We should take the initiative
in building a free and just society which will respect the religious freedom
and particularity of the other - one who does not cease to be God's creation
and our brother and sister, no matter what he or she believes.
Blessed are those in this historic
time who boldly and self-sacrifically offer sincere love, which is the only
antidote against the unhesitating hatred that has been sown in our region
and threatens it immediately, and in the long term, as dangerous
radioactivity.
+Anastasios Archbishop of Tirana,
Durres and All Albania
24 June 1999
Youth Summer
Camp Programs Begin
On July 5, 1999 the Orthodox Church
began its first of seven different summer camp programs for more than 600
youth of all ages. The high school age boys camp opened first with
approximately 90 students at the ancient monastery of the Dormition of the
Virgin Mary on the scenic island of Svernec, Vlora. Following the first
two-week camp, another 90 boys ages 18-25 will attend the second session.
The girls camp program begins on July
12, 1999, with 85 high school age girls attending the first session at the
St. John Vladimir Monastery outside of Elbasan. A two-week second session
will have approximately 90 university age girls participating in the camp,
followed by a week-long session for 120 younger girls aged 12-15.
Two other camps will be held
throughout the summer, one for high school boys in Korca and another
sponsored by the Gjirokaster diocese.
All camp sessions include a lively
spiritual program, with morning and evening liturgical services, Bible
Study, Spiritual Presentations and Discussion, along with outreach to state
institutions, catechism to local villages, arts and crafts, singing,
theater, and sports. The main purpose of the camps is to help these youth
experience a taste of an authentic Orthodox spiritual life in an loving and
fun atmosphere.
The island of Svernec is an ideal
place for a camp, being surrounded by a lagoon, only a 3 km walk to the sea,
and covered with pine trees and greenery. The 15th century church of the
Dormition of the Virgin Mary, along with another smaller chapel and some
newly renovated buildings are the only man-made structures on the island.
During the communist area, this isolated island was used as a place of exile
for political prisoners.
The monastery of St. John Vladimir is
nestled in the mountains of Elbasan, surrounded by fruit trees and greenery.
The grounds contain a 18th century church building, and other newly
renovated building, including dormitories, arts and craft room, and kitchen.
All funds for the renovation of both
monasteries, as well as for the running of the entire camp program come
through the effort of Archbishop Anastasios. The direction and realization
of all the different camp programs has come mainly through his vision,
concern and desire.
National
Youth Music Festival
Two hundred and
eleven youth from 18 cities and villages around Albania gathered together
for the 2nd annual National Orthodox Youth Music Festival, held on June
28-29, 1999 in Tirana. Youth groups dressed in traditional costumes from
their particular region performed in song and dance for the festival. For
the second year in a row, the youth group from Korça won first prize for
music, with Pogradec coming in second, and Durres third. In the dance
competition, the youth group from Selenice-Vlora took first place, with a
traditional dance entitled "Dance of the Cross."
Each group was asked to perform two
songs – one religious and one traditional song – with a six minute limit. A
new addition to the festival this year was the inclusion of traditional
dances. Six groups performed regional dances in conjunction with their
traditional songs.
On the first night of competition all
groups performed their songs before a panel of five judges. The eight best
proceeded onto the second night, which included special musical performances
by talented young musicians and singers from around the country, as well as
the Tirana Byzantine Choir. Students from the Resurrection of Christ
Theological Academy also performed a dramatic 20 minute presentation on the
life of the great martyr St. Katerina.
Seven new youth groups participated
in the festival this year. The formation of several of these groups was the
result of a year-long catechism program done by seminarians and university
students from Tirana to various areas throughout Albania.
Mobile
Dental Clinic Active in Refugee Camps
During the months of May and June,
the mobile dental clinic of the Orthodox church has been active in offering
free dental care and check-ups to Kosovar refugees. The mobile clinic has
served mainly at the Olympia Camp in Tirana and the camp in Ndroq, which is
under the auspices of the ecumenical agency Action By Churches Together, in
conjunction with the Orthodox Church of Albania. By the end of May more than
200 patients had received care.
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