Addressed to INSTAT and Aleanca Kuqezi (Red and Black Alliance), Berat 01.16.2013
 
  For information:
– Mr. Bujar Nishani, President of the Republic of Albania
– Mrs. Josefina Topalli, Speaker of the Albanian Parliament
– Mr. Ettore Sequi, Ambassador of the European Union in Albania
– Mr. Alexander Arvizu, U.S. Ambassador in Albania
– Mr. Eugen Wollfarth, head the OSBS Presence in Albania
– Diplomatic Corps accredited in Albania

    At the end of December 2012, were given by INSTAT with too much delay the results of the Census, and ridiculous figures by 6.7% for the Orthodox faith. A few days later, in the media, began an aggressive campaign by Aleanca Kuqezi (Red and Black Alliance) of Kreshnik Spahiu and Lisien Bashkurti against Archbishop Anastasios. Recently, cruelly were destroyed Onufri’s frescoes, a monumental global value of the 16th century, in the church of St. Premte in Valsh of Elbasan. This reminds us where years ago were destroyed frescoes in the churches of Voskopoja, and looting that continue to dozens of other Orthodox churches. All these affect to us as descendants of our ancestors who painted the frescoes, iconostasis and church items that are still preserved in our churches of Berat. And all this took place on the 100th anniversary of the independence of Albania, for which the Albanian Orthodox Christians made a colossal contribution, from Naum Veqilharxhi, Konstandin Kristoforidhi, Jeronim De Rada, Çajupi, Asdreni with the National Hymn, Jorgji Karbunara, to His Grace Fan Noli, His Grace Kristofor Kisi and hundreds of other Orthodox patriots.

    All these events show a constant war against our Orthodox Church leaders and, consequently, to the Albanian Orthodox Christians. Obvious is also the small representation of the Albanian Orthodox Albanians in state bodies, such as the Parliament, in the Government, in the Local Government, in Military, Police, in SH.I.SH, and other state institutions. And more specifically in our city of Berat, where the Orthodox are about 40% of the population, their representation is discriminated, very low, and there is no orthodox person steering in the Prefecture, in the County Council, in the Municipality, in the Court, in the Prosecutor’s Office, in Law Enforcement and other local institutions.
     We Orthodox believers of Berat, being proud for the old faith of the Albanians, saved with so many sacrifices by our ancestors, strongly protest against INSTAT Census and the statements of the leader of Aleanca Kuqezi, as follows:
    1) 6.7% of the Orthodox in Albanian is unrealistic, minimized with malice and gross. So all figures of Albanian Christians (Orthodox, Catholic and Evangelical) decreased dramatically to 17%, and it occurs at the time when it is spoken with passion for the entrance of Albanian in European Union. All previous recordings, made during the last century – in 1923 – at the time of the monarchy, at the time of Italian invasion and communism, where religion was noted in the passport, show the number of Orthodox Christians in Albania 3-4 times higher. To test as mentioned above, it is sufficient to see civil records of the past and present, which are located in our state archives. Even foreign encyclopedias such as Italian and German derive Orthodox number in Albania to 22% – 24%.
    In a survey with 1305 Orthodox believers in our city resulted that 718 people, which is 55% of the respondents, were not interviewed or were not asked about religion. Many of the respondents indicated that their data was marked with a soft pencil that can be removed easily and did not get their signature. All these actions enabled the manipulation and distortion of data. So, the methodology that is used by INSTAT, extreme delay of the publication of the data, as well as the pressure exerted on the public and the media from the Aleanca Kuqezi and several other nationalist parties led to defrauding of the real number of the Albanian Orthodox. This is done with bad intention to reduce further the number of Orthodox Albanians in the state organs of the Republic of Albania. Orthodox believers of Berat strongly protest against INSTAT and do not recognize this religious data, and we support the decision of the Church Clergy-Laity Council of Orthodox Autocephalous Church of Albania.  
    2) The rejection of the results of Census by the Holy Synod and by all the Orthodox believers caused different statements by Aleanca Kuqezi and by certain circles, which have launched an attack with defamation of the untruths, against our honorable Archbishop, His Beatitude, Archbishop Anastasios. Their folly reaches so far as to propose the replacement of the Archbishop, abolishing the title “Gjergj Kastrioti”, decorated by the President of the Republic, the creation of new saints, etc. These circuits support and advertise in newspapers and on TV a false priest Nikolla Marku, a former seminary student who was excluding for stealing, that has occupied and strongly holds the Church of St. Mary in Elbasan. But none evil attempt, by anyone, can not eclipse the extraordinary contribution of Archbishop Anastasios. The work itself and its actions in these 20 years speak about this thing. Because of his personal contribution in Berat, as in the entire country, our Church was rebuilt and flourishes every day. We are witness for so many investments in our city: full restoration of Metropolis building, St. Thomas Church burned at the time of the dictatorship, the Church of St. Spiridon, and so many other churches. But above all, the citizens of Berat, are forever grateful for the construction of the new magnificent Cathedral of St. Demetrios with its impressive iconostasis.
    Our archbishop is wise, spiritual leader, loved and respected by all the Orthodox believers, who have elected him an honorary citizen of Tirana and Korça. His contribution is concrete in our city, and it is proposed that the City Council to give him the title of “Honorary Citizen of Berat.” He has contributed in the health care sector with medicaments to the hospital in Berat, with the opening of the kindergarten in the teaching sector, in the culture sector with many beautiful activities for young people, and for the social care with the opening of the kitchen for people in need. But above all, he has given a tremendous contribution in interfaith dialogue for peaceful coexistence between people of different religions in our country. He is a prominent personality therefore rightly he is estimated by the political, scientific and religious personalities and have appointed him in leadership positions such as the World Council of Churches, etc.. He is also decorated with many international awards and titles from many prestigious institutions in many countries.
    His bright personality gives honor to our Church, for all people and our country. The Orthodox believers of Berat, who knew to preserve in centuries the early medieval Gospels, the famous codex, the epitaph of Gllavenica, the great icons of Onufri and other prominent iconographers, churches and all religious facilities – are proud to have Archbishop Anastasios at the head of our Church. We wish him good health, long life and success, humbling ourselves with respect before him and his work.
 

 

 

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