On November 25, on the 13th Sunday of St. Luke, our Church celebrated the feast of the great Saint, Catherine. Present in Vlora for the celebration was also the Bishop of Berati, Vlora and Kanina, His Grace Ignati. After the Morning Prayer service the Divine Liturgy was celebrated, led by the Metropolitan and assisted by Father Kostandin Prifti and Deacon Anastas Vrapi. During the sermon of the day, His Grace spoke to the believers about Saint Catherine’s life. He said, “My dear brothers in Christ, in the era of a new idolatry, such as our era, where people worship idols and admire contemporary small people, in an area like this we especially need the flame of faith and love of Christ. We see this flame in the heart of St. Catherine. Let us pray to God to make His miracle. To ignite in our hearts the fire of divine love. And especially to stir the hearts of our youth, so that in our era there will be new saints, contemporary saints, and the name of God will be glorified.” We are in the joyful atmosphere of the celebration of 100th Anniversary of the Declaration of Independence and the Raising of the Flag by Ismail Qemal Bey Vlora. The Orthodox Church has a special service which is dedicated to the national flag, the Doxology of the Flag, which takes place in all our churches. After the Divine Liturgy, in the presence of representatives of religious communities, local government, political parties, intellectuals and many believers, the Service of the Doxology of the Flag was celebrated. The Service was led by His Grace Bishop Ignati, with the participation of other clergy such as Father Kostandin Prifti, Father Ilia Qirjo, Father Sotiraq Prifti, Father Dhimitër Kushi, Father Luka Gjergji, Father Spiro Bulika and Deacon Anastas Vrapi. At the end of the Service, Father Kostandin Prifti welcomed the participants..
Special emotions were conveyed to the participants by the children of the kindergarten of the Church who improvised the raising of the flag. They sang the national hymn of the flag and some patriotic songs. Their characteristic garments, their angelic voices and manner of interpretation made the participants applaud for them and embrace them.
A cocktail was provided for the participants during which they were welcomed by his Grace Ignati. For many of the guests this was their first time to attend such a Service. They didn’t even know that this service existed, but in the end they thanked the Metropolitan and were delighted that the Orthodox Church has a Service for the national flag.
Atë Spiro Bulika
