This year, on the feast of Dormition, Archbishop Anastasios chose to be not in the large parishes of Albania but in a small area in the suburbs. For three consequent days He went to several villages which belong to the Metropolis of Gjirokastër.

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    On August 13, together with the Metropolitan of Gjirokastër, His Grace Dhimitri, Archbishop Anastasios was in the village of Bularat and headed the service of Paraklisis to Virgin Mary in the church of St. Athanasios. Lots of faithful came to the church on that day after listening to the news that His Beatitude was going to be there. Several of them were emigrants who had come from abroad, mostly from Greece. All of them acknowledge and show respect for the sacrifice that Archbishop Anastasios has done. Many years ago, unlike them, he followed the contrary direction and came from Greece to Albania to restore the churches which were ruined and destructed during the period of atheism in our country.      
      
    At the end of the service Archbishop Anastasios talked about the bright figure of Virgin Mary, her life and her role in the Orthodox Church. He said that we pray to the Mother of God to fill our spirit and heart with joy, because our faith is not one of sorrow and melancholy but of joy and gaiety because its source is Jesus Christ. He encouraged the faithful to pray continuously to Virgin Mary and to have her as a model of obedience and humility in their everyday behavior. 

    In the evening of that day the faithful gathered together in the spiritual center of the church and after treating themselves with the traditional gliko, they had a warm conversation with His Beatitude and talked about their worries and joys. They expressed also their thanks about everything that Archbishop Anastasios had done for them during the years, such as the restoration of St. Athanasios church, the building of the water supply which brings water to the village from the mountains, the consolidation of the electricity net, and the construction of the girls’ dormitory which invigorates life in their village.
 

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   The next day His Beatitude visited the village of Derviçan which church maintains the name of the All Holy Virgin Mary. He leaded the Vespers and carried out the rest of the church services related to the Feast of Dormition. In His preaching, Archbishop Anastasios emphasized that the orthodox people have courage and a daring spirit and are very enthusiastic in their heart. So when all the others see the negative aspects of reality and try to take our attention away, we still insist and hope. But our hope is not in vain since it has its roots deeply grounded on our faith and is supported by our prayers. He said that the orthodox faith does not have to do with love only but also with joy which Christ brings to us through the prayers of the All-Holy Virgin Mary.
 

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   On Sunday, August 15 when all the orthodox Christians celebrate the feast of Dormition, Archbishop Anastasios was in the community of Dhrovjan, a small village in Gjirokastër to head the Liturgy which took place in the church of St. Nicolas and in which a large number of faithful took communion.

   The atmosphere within and outside the church was welcoming and joyous. Everyone had something to tell about the Archbishop and lots of thanks to give. Some of the youth who had come from abroad said that they felt proud about the work that Archbishop Anastasios had made for the Church in Albania.
 
 
 
 
Journalist of “Ngjallja” newspaper

Translated by Juliana Kodheli
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