Clergy, parents, professors, students and many other guests attended the festive ceremony of the graduation of 13 students of the Theological Academyin Saint Vlash, Durres. On the feast day of the Holy Spirit, June 12, Archbishop Anastasios along with other members of the Holy Synod, the Bishop of Berati, Ignati, the Bishop of Korça, Joani, the Dean of the Theological Academy Bishop Ilia Ketri and Protopresbyter Jani Trebicka along with other priests coming from other cities and in the presence of many believers attended the episcopal Liturgy that was held in the Church of the Monastery of Saint Vlash. During the sermon, Deacon Hector Firoglanis spoke about the goal of Christian life. “The Holy Spirit never stops acting in Church. But the majority of the Christian do not allow It to work in their lives. The students of the Theological Academy themselves feel inferior to the students of other subjects and this fear comes when we send far away from us the Holy Spirit. Even though we study Theology, without the Holy Spirit we are weak. The fast, prayers and everything that a Christian does in the name of Christ, he does it to receive the Holy Spirit” – emphasized Deacon Hector.
At the end of the Divine Liturgy, Archbishop Anastasios thanked two American missionaries Panayiotis and Shannon Sakellariou, who after offering their contribution in our country for some years will be back in their country. He reminds them that this is a “temporary permission” they have to leave and then to return to serve the Orthodox Church in Albania. During the graduation ceremony, the opening speech was given by the Dean of the Theological Academy, His Grace Ilia, who underlined “His Beatitude, a humble man, with his look toward God carries in his shoulder the heavy cross of the offences that have been done by irresponsible elements of the society. At the beginning of the school, His Beatitude transmitted two messages. None has come here casually, but the Lord has talked to you in a special way. Also, do not accept the Grace of the Lord for nothing, but to attend lessons with love and zeal. I believe that you, the students of the fourth year have fulfilled these responsibilities. My beloved, today I suggest you to accept yourselves among the workers in the vineyard of the Lord. Especially you parents that have dedicated your children to the Lord with love and faith.”
Later on the best two students Theodhor Peci and Elena Krakulli gave their speeches. The student E. Krakulli read a part from the book of Saint Basil the Great “On the Holy Spirit” while the other student Th. Peci said to the people who were present that these students are coming out with a full involvement in the service of the Orthodox Autocephaly Church of Albania.
During the greeting word, in the day of the feast of the Holy Spirit, the Archbishop said: “This is a thanksgiving day. Our Spirit should be filled with gratitude for all these things. I thank the families of the students and the students themselves for their efforts . In the spiritual life are three phases of the returning to God, the meeting of our spirit with the Lord, the personal experience of forgiveness that He grants us and the Pentecost, the coming of the Holy Spirit that is a coming that brings to our existence a new spirit. All these three phases are linked with the changing, returning and renewal in the spiritual life. Let us ask from the Helper himself to walk ahead, because the Holy Spirit is the Spirit of the truth, of reconciliation and of brotherhood. All the Orthodox Christian make up one family. In your path you’ll encounter difficulties. I want to wish you that your life may pass under the shining of the Holy Spirit and try to spread this to other people.” The program continued with songs and hymns sang by the choir of the Academy and with the diplomas handed out, that were given by Archbishop Anastasios along with his book, “Facing the World.”
During the lunch held in honor of those who were present, two other Bishops, His Eminence Ignati and His Eminence Joani also spoke and wished the students to continue with zeal and dedication their spiritual life and their work in the Church.
Among many songs and the festive atmosphere at the Theological Academy, the verses of the hymn of the Academy connected all the participants: “I started the journey, as a guide I had Christ, and a pure life I chose, dressed with the repentance I went. In the pastures of the mystery, I was working and looking, the moving prayer associated me and to Christ it gave glory. A voice from heaven was heard, who is going to go for me, and my voice without hesitation said, hear I am my dear Lord. For mission God called me, in Saint Vlash in Academy, to resurrect the Orthodoxy in all Albania.”
Isidor Koti
Translated by Gabriela Bezhani and Christine Pappas
