Declaration of the Christian Communities of Albania
about the Event in the Church of Përmet
Tirana, August 24, 2013
We have followed with concern and indignation the latest event at the Orthodox church of Saint Mary of Pazari, in the city of Përmet, where the security forces of private bailiff officers removed the sacred religious objects from the church by force and treated in a shameful way the Orthodox clergy and believers, who were there to defend their church. The images which were broadcasted by the media brought to our minds once again the years of war and persecution against the Religious Institutions and the sacred buildings, while we still waiting for the return of the buildings and properties of our Religious Communities.
With this declaration we want to express our solidarity with our Orthodox brothers and sisters in the city of Përmet, and to all the Orthodox believers, and we wish that the issue about this church will be resolved as soon as possible, and that the sacred building and the holy place will be returned to the believers and clergy so that they may perform their holy services. On this occasion we would like to urge once again the Albanian State to engage in finding a final solution for the restitution of the properties to the Religious Communities in Albania, which, even after 23 years of democracy have not yet attained their legitimate democratic rights.
The Orthodox Autocephalous Church of Albania
The Albanian Catholic Church
The Evangelical Brotherhood of Albania
