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Offering Hope to a Suffering Country in Despair
Albania is a country
that has fallen into total chaos. General anarchy. Senseless destruction.
Countless injuries. Meaningless deaths. Growing hunger and poverty.
Overwhelming despair. And a continual fear and uncertainty for the future.
During this time of civil crisis in the
history of Albania, the Orthodox Autocephalous Church of Albania has tried
to reach out and offer hope to a people in desperate need. Through
continuous prayers, combined with a concerted effort of concrete action, the
Church has been a voice of conscience, calling the country to peace and it’s
leaders to truth and justice. The Church has tried to take a stand with the
unprotected, identifying with their suffering and speaking out for their
rights.
Throughout the “state of emergency” which
has been in effect since March 2, His Beatitude Archbishop Anastasios has
declared several times to the nation via state and foreign radio and
television, to stop the hysteria of violence, hatred, chaos, injustice and
blood. He called on all peoples, from the highest elected officials to the
common citizen, to maintain a spirit of self-control, repentance and
reconciliation.
In this issue, you will be informed about
various ways the Church is trying to offer hope, comfort and love during
these days of pain and suffering for the despairing people of Albania.
No More Blood! No
to the Arms! No to the Hatred!
In these difficult times that the country is now
passing through, as the Orthodox Archbishop I have a few simple words in
prayer to say for all: No more blood. No to the fighting. No to the arms. No
to the hatred. "And the God of peace will be with you” (Phil 4:9)
It is only with self-control, repentance, truth,
forgiveness and reconciliation that substantial peace can be secured and the
way to a better future be opened. The God of love and peace will not leave
us."
+Anastasios
Archbishop of Tirana and All Albania
Tirana, March 6, 1997
An Agonized
Appeal: No One Can Play with God’s Justice
During these tragic hours through which
Albania is undergoing, indefinable and uncontrolled dark powers are released
from even the hearts of common citizens. When the smallest opportunity is
given, there are many who will mercilessly steal from whomever it may be,
even their own neighbor. They do not hesitate to plunder hospitals,
orphanages and religious institutions, injuring the sick, the elderly and
innocent children.
Enough! This hysteria must stop! It is
unheard of for someone to protest against an injustice that was done to him
by some in power, by doing injustice to others who are even weaker than he.
Those who act in this way do not seem to believe
in anything at all. Nevertheless, especially to those who pretend to belong
to some religious community, let them responsibly hear this: As much as they
steal, they will not prosper. It is as if they invest in pyramid schemes.
They are happy for a short time, but in the long run they will lose
everything. No one can play with God's justice.
Those who are faithful must protect, in the name
of the living God, the weak, all places of religious worship, schools, and
the centers of social welfare and love. As decisively as possible, with
faith and love, let us resist this inexcusable injustice, which is quickly
spreading like an epidemic. Be without fear! "Perfect love casts out fear"
(1 Jn 4:18).
As Archbishop, I will stay with you always,
sharing - in prayer, word and work - the pain and the efforts for a society
which will be inspired by justice, freedom, love of God and a sincere
respect towards every person.
+ Anastasios
Archbishop of Tirana and All Albania
Tirana, March 15, 1997
Robbery and Vandalism
Affect Even the Church
Tragic destruction, arson and robbery have occurred to
individuals, personal property, shops, warehouses, factories, enterprises,
museums, national libraries, governmental residences, institutional
buildings such as hospitals, orphanages, old-age homes and prisons, military
depots, ports, scientific laboratories, water networks and custom houses
throughout Albania. Unfortunately, religious properties also faced the
bitter reality of such violence.
Up to this moment, no Orthodox church has been
damaged. In Gjirokaster, however, masked men broke into the diocese house,
tied up the resident priest and stole $10,000, money designated for one of
the many construction projects of a new church. In Vlore, several gypsy
families moved into the diocese house. They continue to occupy the building
up to the present moment. In the village of Prrenjas, close to Pogradec, all
materials (marble, steel, concrete, tiles, sand) for construction of the
Ascension Church, with an estimated value of $20,000, were stolen. In
Saranda, masked men broke into the diocese house but found no money. Outside
of Tirana, a large warehouse storing equipment and aid for the Church, as
well as many inter-national and national organizations, was looted. The
nursery of Korça was robbed of everything. A car of the Diocese of
Gjirokaster was stolen but returned several weeks later. Near Vlora, the
youth camp of Skrofotina was completely robbed of all kitchen equipment,
beds and mattresses. The church, which is less than 50m away, was untouched.
Other incidents were prevented by the grace of
God and the protection of the parishioners themselves. For example, several
gangs attempted to rob the monastery of Ardenica, one of the great
treasuries of Orthodoxy in Albania. Their objective was to rob the famous,
hand-carved icon-screen, with its invaluable, ancient icons. Armed villagers
and guards foiled their attempt and now protect Ardenica with a roadblock
and tank. The same scenario occurred in St. Vlash (35 km from Tirana), where
armed parishioners and guards defended the newly built Orthodox School of
Theology. In Korça, the local priests and faithful defended the main Church,
which is also a national museum. The state police abandoned the museum, with
its thousands of invaluable and ancient icons. One of the unarmed, local
priests stopped a gang of people from robbing the museum, and then organized
a group of guards to protect the museum.
Quick Response to
Emergency Relief Need
The Orthodox Church responded to the
emergency needs of the country almost immediately after the initial anarchy
enveloped the entire country. Beginning on March 16, emergency food packets
were quietly trucked into the Saranda and Gjirokaster areas. By the first
week of April, more than 25 tons of food had been delivered from Greece to
the local institutions (orphanages and hospitals), as well as to individual
families in numerous villages.
Another 150 tons of emergency aid will be
arriving over the next several weeks, while an additional 350 tons is
expected during the next three months. This help comes from the Archdiocese
of Athens, various Metropolises of the Church of Greece, miscellaneous
public and private institutions, and thousands of pious individuals.
Diaconia Agapes, the Church’s social and
developmental office, has secured a further $350,000 in funding from the WCC,
the ecumenical Action by Churches Together Network and the International
Orthodox Christian Charities. Diaconia Agapes will distribute 10,000
packages of family food parcels as well as medicines during the next three
months to more than 3,300 “especially vulnerable families” in ten hard hit
areas.
The Orthodox Autocephalous Church of
Albania is grateful for all the support and help offered during this
critical period.
Church
Participates in Town Hall Meetings of Tirana
Under the initiative of Mayor Albert
Brojka of Tirana, representatives from the political parties that adhere to
the Mayoral Council, the religious community leaders, the Association
“Tirana” and the Association of the Political Persecuted, gathered at town
hall on March 13, 1997, to responsibly analyze the precarious situation in
Tirana and the entire country.
Although held in extraordinary conditions,
with total anarchy and continuous gunfire in the streets, the meeting
offered fruitful results that positively influenced the public order in
Tirana and its surrounding districts. The committee offered a common
declaration, appealing to the citizens of Tirana, parents, intellectuals,
and all Albanian people to be mature, full of wisdom, oriented towards a
good, normal and social peace, as well as to offer support to the new
government of National Reconciliation as a government of the entire people.
His Beatitude Archbishop Anastasios participated
in all these meetings. At one point, he commented, “Remember, the main need
here is not bread, but dignity Let us not wait for international aid. Let us
begin with the resources that we have here. The Church will begin by
offering all the aid which we have available to the social institutions.”
On March 29, 1997, the new prime
minister, Bashkim Fino, participated in the Mayoral meeting. He thanked and
congratulated the initiative taken by the Committee, even emphasizing the
crucial role of the religious communities. He encouraged other town mayors
to imitate such initiatives.
Similar meetings have been held
weekly, and will continue until the proposed elections in June 1997.
Stories of Pain
and Grief Know No Bounds
During a visit to Vlore, as well as numerous
visits to the local hospitals, many stories of grief and pain were heard.
One family told how their mother died. Masked men came to the door and
demanded the two daughters of the house to follow them. While the mother
intervened, trying to stop the criminals, her daughters escaped through a
back window. The mother herself was shot to death.
Another mother shared the pain of her 22-year-old
refugee son, Aleksander. He was on the ship of Otranto with his 21-year-old
wife and three month old child. When the ship capsized, he was separated
from his family. He managed to swim to safety, but not his wife and child.
Their bodies have not even been found.
Suffering knows no boundaries. Eda, a
seven-year-old girl, had a bullet in her stomach. Six days earlier she was
playing in a garden outside her home when a bullet that had been shot in the
air landed in her flesh. The same day, three other neighborhood children
were killed in a similar manner. One was a two-year-old child sleeping
inside her home. A bullet came through the window and went into her head.
Bektashi, a 12-year-old boy, along with
some friends were playing with one of the thousands of explosives that have
been looted from army depots. As he was playing, one exploded and burned his
entire side and arm.
Another 12-year-old boy, Altin, was walking
down the street with several friends, when a man on a bicycle passed by. At
the moment he passed the children, the box he was carrying on the back of
his bike opened, and an explosive fell out. The cyclist lost both legs.
Altin lost one. His friend didn’t even survive.
A Visit In the
Cradle of Pain and Suffering
On Sunday, April 6, Archbishop Anastasios, along
with various church co-workers from Tirana, visited the town of Vlora
despite the dangerous surroundings. The visit was prompted by the great pain
and suffering of this city, especially with the recent and tragic boating
accident of Otranto, where 83 men, women and children drowned.
The Archbishop offered a message of hope during
the Divine Liturgy held at the St. Theodore Orthodox Church. “If you
believe, all things are possible.” Hundreds of believers filled the church.
At the end of the service, special prayers were offered on behalf of the
entire country, and especially for all those who have suffered.
After the service, all the people proceeded
to the port for a special memorial service for the victims of Otranto. “May
their memory be eternal.” The Archbishop followed the tradition of the
people by casting flowers into the sea in memory of the victims. Present on
the pier was Arben Malaj, the minister of finance, who greeted and thanked
the Archbishop.
The Archbishop then visited a children’s
orphanage. Toys and candies were offered to the children. Also, the
Archbishop promised the director that beginning on that day, the Church
would be responsible for the monthly expenses of the orphanage.
The last and most painful part of the trip was
visits to families, irrespective of religious affiliation, who lost loved
ones in the Otranto tragedy, or in the recent violence in the city. A
comforting presence and word of hope, along with a modest offering was given
to each family. "We have been deeply moved by the shocking accident of
Otranto, where tens of unprotected people were lost. We share with all our
heart in this great sorrow. It was an unjustified loss that added to the
undue killing of this period. Anyone who despises unprotected people
despises the crucified Christ himself. On Sunday the 30th of March, in the
Orthodox Cathedral of Tirana, we performed a special prayer for the victims.
'May their memory be eternal.' We now express our heartfelt sympathies to
the families who have lost their loved ones. We pray to God to give rest to
the souls of those who were separated from us and to show His mercy and love
for our beloved country, so that all people may quickly find peace, justice,
and dignity."
Anyone Who Despises
Unprotected People Despises the Crucified Christ
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