Educational Conference with the Orthodox Clergy Wives of Albania
Eighty clergy wives came from the various Metropolises in Albania to participate in one of two three-day educational conferences held at the Myrrh Bearing WomenSkete – New Monastery of St. Vlash, Durrës on the 1st to 3rd and 3rd to 5th October. At the invitation of His Beatitude Archbishop Anastasios, seven Orthodox women from the United States assisted with the educational conferences with the theme of “Mary and Martha: Becoming Servants and Students.”One of the primary goals was to have time for fellowship and to learn more about the roles of a clergy wife in the Orthodox Church.
The educational conference had both small and large group sessions. Lively discussions were held in some of the small groups which were more intimate. In addition to the American women’s presentations on the role of the clergy wife and other pertinent religious and social subjects, three high points were the presentations given by His Grace Bishop Asti, Motra Raqela and Prifteresa Irini Nushi. Prifteresa Irini shared from her wealth of experience as she encouraged the women to “take care while mending, cleaning and folding your husband’s vestments and robes because they enter into the altar, which is the Kingdom of God. When you kiss his hand, you are kissing the hand that touches the Holy Sacrament of Communion, the Body and Blood of Christ.”
The meeting, led by Prifteresa Urani Ritsi also had time for prayer; Matins, Vespers, the Akathist of Thanksgiving, and Paraklisis of the Theotokos, and the Divine Liturgy. The women enjoyed time singing together during the Liturgical services and later they sang traditional Albanian and American songs.
By far the most thrilling and gratifying experience for both the American and Albanian clergy wives was meeting, visiting, and interacting with His Beatitude Archbishop Anastasios. For the clergy wives, to see His Beatitude was “like seeing, Abraham, father of the nations, Moses, leading his people to freedom and St. Nicholas, caring for his children”, said Marina Corodemus, one of the American women.
The Albanian and American women enjoyed the assistance of three very capable translators who assisted with communications: Ana Baba, Djakonesha Mikea Topanxha and Prifteresha Theano Kostoli. Many of the participants of the Conference expressed their gratitude to His Beatitude Archbishop Anastasios for the time of fellowship and learning.
October 7, 2014
Diakonissa Alexandria Ritsi
The Press Office of the Archdiocese
