In all the parishes of the Holy Diocese of Gjirokastra, especially in the large cities which celebrated with a deep spirituality the most important event in the human history which is at the same time the center of our faith with the general participation of not only orthodox believers but also of the general public. In the city of Gjirokastra the services and the Divine Liturgy was lead by his Eminence, the Metropolitan of Gjirokastra Dhimitri.
Throughout the lent the Metropolitan had the chance to visit other large parishes and to celebrate the hierarchical services, but also he had the chance to talk to the youth, to our students and to the catechism groups for the importance that they should show during their spiritual preparation to wait the Risen Lord, Jesus Christ.
The Holy Friday with the Epitaph procession once again filled the cobblestone streets of Gjirokastra with the believers of both churches which were united under the leadership of the Metropolitan in the main square of the city where the gospel was read. Hundreds of believers, who during the day had been in the churches praying over the Body of our Lord, attended the service.
The same atmosphere was also in Saranda, where the procession of the Epitaph in the boulevard along the seaside makes the celebration even more beautiful. In Permet were three Epitaphs during the procession which were gathered in the square in front of the church of the Holy Theotokos, where were present almost all the inhabitants of the city. Also in all the other villages of Dropulli and Vurgu, in the small city of Himara and Delvina in the presence of hundred of young people who returned from Greece where they live and work to celebrate Easter was created a more impressive atmosphere.
It is important to emphasize that during the lent our young people, the students that are members of catechism groups or the once study in the educational institution of the Church, were very active in the decoration of the churches and also in the spiritual activity. They helped priests to do the services and the Divine Liturgy. The students of theparochialhigh school “Holy Cross” accompanied his Eminence Dhimitri in the spiritual visits in different villages, in the area of Pogoni and Dropulli. Some of the priests from the Diocese of Gjirokastra celebrated the service of the Resurrection beginning Saturday evening but also on Sunday morning as it has become a tradition to meet the needs of the believers.
Everywhere where the Divine Liturgy of the Sunday was celebrated, but also during the days of Bright Week, was read the Pascal greeting of his Beatitude, Archbishop of Tirana and all Albania, Anastasios. There were also watched the television coverage of the services also of the reception in the Archdiocese of Tirana, which helped emotionally all the orthodox flock of the Diocese of Gjirokastra.
Correspondent of Ngjallja
Translated by Gabriela Bezhani and Nathan Hoppe
