The young prisoners at Prison #325 in Tirana are now enjoying a beautiful and contemporary football field. This new athletic court is a gift from the Orthodox Church of Albania from donations raised by Archbishop Anastasios.
 
    This most recent gift from the Orthodox Church to the prisons of Tirana (other gifts include the greenhouse at the women’s prison) was the result of a visit by His Beatitude to this prison last Christmas. After seeing the conditions there, he expressed to the director of the prison his desire to help in some way.
    The result was a beautiful, well-lit athletic court for football and hand games (such as ping pong) covered with green turf and surrounded by a net. This court, which cost about 20 thousand dollars, was a great improvement over what had formerly been a dull cement area, which flooded when it rained.  A secondary advantage was that a number of prisoners were employed in its making.
    
    On the completion of this athletic court a small inauguration ceremony was held. A number of clergy members and laity of the Church attended, headed by His Grace, Bishop Andoni. Also in attendance were various directors and employees of the prisons and members of the local government.
 
    All in attendance spoke warmly of the Orthodox Church’s kind and continuous collaboration with the prisons in Tirana and were especially thankful for this new gift.
    Unfortunately the media that covered the event completely ignored the Church’s social and spiritual aid in the prisons by focusing solely on the overpopulation problem.
    This new gift, among others given over the past decade to the Tirana prisons, greatly improves the life of these inmates. It is also a help from the psychological side by giving them positive ways to pass the time during this difficult period of their lives.
    The Church does not only give material gifts, but also of its time. During these ten years members of the Orthodox Women’s Group and the Youth Group of Tirana have gone on monthly visits to the prisons as well.
By Luljeta Pjetri
Translated and edited by Georgia Gilman
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