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Church
Opens Radio Station
On Palm Sunday, April 12, 1998,
the Orthodox Church experimentally opened its new “Resurrection” Radio
Station at the Church of St. Prokopi in Tirana. Archbishop Anastasios
inaugurated the Radio Station with a Blessing of the Waters service on April
20.
The Radio Station transmits classical
music 24 hours a day throughout Tirana on 88.5 FM, and offers a news and
religious program three hours a day, from 14:30-17:30. The weekly program
includes general local, national and international news, as well as
particular church related events, Bible Readings, Readings from the Lives of
the Saints, sayings of the Church Fathers, reading of the Bible for
children, different dramas and fairy tales for children, a weekly sermon on
the Sunday Gospel, interviews from different personalities and workers of
the Church.
Plans for the future include
broadcasting a program 12 hours and expanding its capabilities so that all
parts of Albania will be able to receive the program.
Archbishop
Speaks At Council of European Churches
His Beatitude Anastasios, Archbishop
of Tirana and all Albania gave an address at a conference sponsored by the
Council of Europe’s European Commission for Democracy through Law, The
Institute of International Relations (Panteion Univeristy, Athens), and
Hellenic Ministry for Foreign Affairs. Held in Strasbourg, France, on May
5-6, 1998, the theme of the conference was “Democratic Institutions and
Civil Society in South-Eastern Europe.”
The inaugural speech was given by Mr.
Rexhep Meidani, president of the Republic of Albania. Mrs. Leni Fischer,
president of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, Mr. Daniel
Tarschys, Secretary General of the Council of Europe and Mr. Dimitris
Constas, permanent representative of Greece to the Council of Europe gave
opening remarks.
In the final working session, Archbishop
Anastasios spoke on the theme “Social Co-Existence in Religious Pluralism,”
using the Albanian context as a concrete example for the necessity of
tolerance and peaceful relations between religious communities. He
summarized his talk with these words, “For a vision of peaceful co-existence
among the religious communities in South Eastern Europe to become a reality,
it is certain that general observations of the past and a vague optimism for
the future are insufficient. Of course, traditional and historical
experiences are valuable, but we cannot simply copy them since our
international, modern political-social data and framework differ. The
religious communities must search the principles of a healthy anthropology
from the depths of their teaching and the best pages of their tradition,
giving emphasis to the sincere respect of each human being, and struggle for
the development and prevalence of these principles through the ethos of the
leadership and education of their members.
It must persistently be stressed that
every war in the name of religion is an offense against religion. The holy
oil of religion should not be used to ignite or intensify the fire of armed
conflicts; it is a divine gift to calm the hearts, heal the wounds, and
bring individuals and peoples together in peace. Each religion is called
upon to develop what is more genuine, deep, and beautiful in what she
possesses, and with these, to address the civil society in a peaceful and
edifying way. The only possibility for peaceful living in our region is an
acceptance of the existing pluralism, through the initiative of the
religious communities themselves. At the same time there should be a sincere
respect for each person’s freedom of conscience, and the rights of all
minority groups in every country.
What is asked for is not simply religious
tolerance, but something much more positive: conscious mutual respect,
understanding, and solidarity among people; creative cooperation in common
humanitarian aims; steady effort towards social harmony; and genuine acts of
love. “He who loves God cannot but love each man like himself.” Only in
these ways, can we remain consequent to the deeper inspirations and living
experiences of our faith.
Our final proposal is this: With the active
contribution of all religious communities, let us proceed toward a wider
commonwealth of peace and solidarity, which secures justice and human
dignity for every person, for every people, for every minority, and leads to
a deeper, human culture.”
University
Students Gather For Retreat on Relationships
On May 15-17, 1998, 113 university students
gathered together in the city of Durres for a three day retreat conducted by
the Orthodox Student Fellowship. The theme of the conference was
“Relationships: Growing Closer to God and One Another."
The purpose of the retreat was to offer
students an opportunity to experience three days of Christian fellowship,
prayer and learning. Students participated in a variety of spiritual and
social activities, including morning and evening worship services, four main
presentations with small group discuss-ions, time for confession and
counseling, organized skits, activities, games, and songs, as well as free
time to walk along the scenic beach of Durres.
On the final day of the retreat, all the
students celebrated the Divine Liturgy at the Monastery of St. Vlash, and
then visited the Resurrection of Christ Theological Seminary.
The majority of the participating students
are active members in the Orthodox university fellowship. Weekly activities
on campus include a Tuesday night spiritual discussion and an early morning
Divine Liturgy on Thursdays.
Presenters at the retreat were theologians
and speakers from Albania, America, Greece, and Kenya, including Hiermonk
Theologos, Fr. Luke and Faith Veronis, Nathan and Lynette Hoppe, Elekiah
Kihali and Jorjo Papadopoulo. Student leaders led the small group
discussions themselves.
Women of Korça
Minister to the Needy
Every Monday and Thursday approximately one
hundred needy people come to the Orthodox Cathedral of Korça for a midday
meal. Other families in desperate need wait in their home for a weekly visit
from one of the women. Some of the members visit the sick and despairing,
trying to offer a word of encouragement and hope. And the residents of the
local Old Age Home and the children’s orphanage know that they can expect a
visit from this “group of love.”
These are only part of the activities of the
Orthodox Women’s group of Korça, who call themselves “Dashuria” (Love), as a
reminder for their ultimate responsibility – to radiate the love of Jesus
Christ throughout the city.
The core group of these women came together
long before communism fell in 1990. During the years of religious
persecution, when any expression of faith was forbidden by state law, these
women secretly encouraged one another to persevere in their faith. They
occasionally invited a courageous priest to secretly come and hold the
Divine Liturgy in one of their homes at two in the early morning.
When one priest taught them the importance
of keeping vigil in prayer, these women organized themselves to pray without
ceasing during the 40 day fasting periods of the Church. The women secretly
set up a program where a different person would pray in two hour shifts
throughout the day and night without break. This continued for the entire
period of the fast. In this way they tried to fulfill St. Paul’s words when
he commanded us “to pray without ceasing.”
The group continues such fervency in prayer
during their weekly Friday night Paraclesis (Supplication) Service to the
Virgin Mary, where they lift up the names of those in need. They also
encourage the priests to hold frequent all night vigils in the Church.
Priest’s Wives Gather
Together for First National Retreat
Forty three presbyteras (priest’s wives) from
different regions of Albania gathered together at the “Resurrection of
Christ” Seminary in St. Vlash, Durres, for a three-day retreat on May
13-15,1998.
Over the past two years, several local and regional
presvytera retreats have occurred. This was the first time, however, for all
the presbyteras to come together in a national retreat. In February of this
year, more than 100 priests and deacons of Albania gathered with His
Beatitude, Archbishop Anastasios for such a national clergy meeting.
Unfortunately, family and work restrictions did not allow all the
presbyteras to attend the retreat in Durres.
The main goal of the retreat was to give the
presbyteras an opportunity to meet one another in loving fellowship, and to
exchange ideas and concerns regarding their respective roles.
The presbyteras participated in a variety
of spiritual activities, including morning and evening worship, seven
presentations, and a Divine Liturgy at St. Vlash Monastery. Each presbytera
received a Bible as a gift from the National Sisterhood of Presbyteras from
America. (Many had owned previously only a New Testament).
Sister Galini, a missionary nun from Kareas
Monastery in Athens, acted as retreat master. Other presenters and
organizers included presbyteras Renee Ritsi and Faith Veronis, along with
Albanian co-workers.
The themes of the presentations and
discussions were: The Role of the Priest and Presbytera in Church; The
Importance of Daily Bible Reading; The Meaning of the Pentecostarion; An
Explanation of the Sacrament of Marriage; Meaningful Participation in the
Divine Liturgy; and Practical Suggestions for Personal Hygiene.
At the close of the retreat, the presbyteras
honored with a gift presbytera Renee Ritsi for her six years of faithful
love and service in Albania. Renee and her husband Fr. Martin, together with
their two children, Stephanos and Nicole, are preparing to return to America
after serving in the mission field for over 10 years.
Orthodox
joyfully celebrate Easter throughout Albania
Countless Orthodox Christians throughout
Albania celebrated the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ on Easter
night, April 19. At midnight in Tirana, approximately 10,000 believers
gathered in front of the Cathedral of the Annunciation to hear His Beatitude
Anastasios, Archbishop of Tirana and All Albania cry out, “Christ is Risen”
and read his Paschal message.
All over Albania, Church officials reported
thousands of people flocking into the churches in every city and village
during Holy Week. Events culminated in the services of Holy Friday, when
processions with the epitaphio (the tomb of Christ) were made throughout the
main boulevards of the cities, and Holy Saturday night, when people joyously
observed the midnight Resurrection service.
On Holy Friday in Korça, processions from
five different Orthodox churches met together in front of city hall,
gathering thousands of the city’s faithful. In Durres, more than three
thousand people followed the procession passing by the new Cathedral as well
as city hall. And similar reports came from all other cities.
In His Paschal message, the Archbishop
emphasized that the feast of Easter is a time to re-evaluate the things that
fill up our lives, and fill them with the light and hope which comes from
Christ’s victory over death. “When the Church lifts up the flag of the
Resurrection, we discover that God’s unconditional and sacrificial love is
for all people … Everyone who worships the Cross and glorifies the
Resurrection has a responsibility at every moment and in every condition, to
act justly with all people, whether they are powerful or weak, whether they
are one of us or a foreigner … Those who don’t work for righteousness and
justice, once again crucify Christ…. The Cross and Resurrection of Christ
fully express the universal character of His righteousness … Christ is
Risen!”
Paschal
Greetings to Archbishop
On Easter day, Archbishop Anastasios opened the
archdiocese to welcome visitors wishing to offer festive greetings to the
Orthodox leader.
The President of Albania, Dr. Rexhep
Mejdani, along with Prime Minister Fatos Nano and numerous other members of
the government came and wished the archbishop and all the Orthodox believers
of Albania a joyous and festive celebration of Easter. Dr. Sali Berisha,
head of the democratic party, and numerous other heads of political parties
also joined in wishing “Happy Easter and many years” to all.
Leaders of the main faith communities also
came, including Hafiz Sabri Koçi from the Muslim community, Baba Reshat
Bardhi from the Bektashi, and Arch-bishop Rok Mirdita from the Roman
Catholic Church.
Diplomatic representatives included the
Ambassadors of the United States, France, Romania, Bulgaria, and Yugoslavia.
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