Thirty years since the beginning of a wonder which no one could imagine
The 16th of July marks thirty years since the moment when a very important event, for the resurrection of our Church after the long period of severe atheist persecution, took place. On July 16, 1991, His Beatitude Anastasios arrived in Albania. He was the Exarch of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, which is the Mother Church that granted the autocephaly to the Orthodox Church of Albania, and also the Metropolitan of Andrusa at that time as well as the Archbishop of the Orthodox Church in Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania, and a very well-known theologian and missionary.
From that moment on, a difficult path would begin, full of mystery and challenges. There were no churches in our country and only a few elderly clergymen had remained. Also, administrative facilities were lacking, there was no property or income, and no financial support from anyone, not even from the government.
On the other hand, this day would also be the beginning of an extraordinary journey that no one could imagine before, the beginning of a spiritual and physical resurrection. The damage that was done to our church was enormous but also the grace of God which managed to restore everything from the beginning was as much enormous. Right after that day, the restoration of the cult objects started as well as of the administrative buildings and schools, where the future clergy and catechists would get their education. In addition, Archbishop Anastasios would contribute to the whole country through the social initiatives and employment opportunities that he provided to hundreds of people, which helped in the development of the country’s economy.
The journey still continues with the same rhythm and has done much progress in contributing to a prosperous future for the Orthodox Faith. And as this journey continues, we will always remember the 16th of July which marked not only the beginning of great restoration work but also of a wonder which became well known in the whole world.
Archbishop Anastasios remembers that day like the following:
Our first visit and travel to Albania
His reception by the orthodox faithful at the airport and in the Annunciation Church in Tirana, was paschal and impressing. With lightening candles in their hands, the people would chant Christ is Risen troparion. At the airport, Father Zef Pellumbi, the Romano-Catholic priest in Tirana was present in the reception as well as representatives of the Bektashi community who held their welcoming speech. No member of the Albanian government was there.
I stayed in Tirana for six weeks (from 16 July to 27 August), and was initially accompanied by professor G. Papazahu (until August 5, 1991) and Father Georgios Leonardhos (until August 10th, 1991) and then from August 10th, 1991 by ieromonach Dhimiter Sinaiti and doctor Pan Mavrudhi. During this time, we visited thirty cities and villages where the most important centers of the Orthodox Church were located, and celebrated the Divine Liturgy, preached the Word of God, conducted church services such as unction, blessing of water, and talked to the clergy and the local church councils conveying the blessing of the most Gracious All-Holy Patriarch Demetrius.
During our stay in Tirana
During our stay in Tirana, we intended to connect to the orthodox communities and especially with the Church Council and the new intellectuals of the country. On the other side, we tried to contact the political bodies and the personalities from the other religious communities.
Our contact with the Orthodox faithful
On Saturday, July 20, on the feast day of Prophet Ilia, the first Divine Liturgy was celebrated in the Annunciation Cathedral Church in Tirana where lots of people participated. It was the first hierarchical Liturgy after many years of persecution. The next day (on Sunday, July 21st), a solemn Divine Liturgy was celebrated in the same church. The greeting speech was delivered by the honorary theologian, Professor Dhimitër Beduli, who has been the director of the Hierarchical School and “Christian Life” periodical of the Orthodox Church of Albania.
During the Divine Liturgies, which were celebrated on Saturday and Sunday, I conveyed the fatherly blessings of the most Gracious All-Holy Patriarch Demetrius and explained the purpose of my mission, and preached about the Gospel of the day. Baptisms of twenty-one people of different age groups followed.
In the afternoon, together with professors Y. Popa and S. Qirko, we visited Nr.1 Hospital of Tirana, where we were received by the director, Mr. L. Ceka. The purpose of our visit was to explain the interest and efforts of the Orthodox Church for human health in general. “We hope to be able to bring a significant amount of medicine from Greece. Appropriate actions have already been taken by the accompanying professor, Mr. G. Papazahu”.
On Monday afternoon, July 22, we visited the offices of the Albanian Red Cross and discussed the best possible distribution of aid sent by the Church of Greece. We note that by this time about 100 tons of food had already been shipped.
On Tuesday, July 23, we went to Durrësi. Before that, we visited the ruined site of the Holy Monastery of St. Vlash, an old Orthodox spiritual center, where we prayed and preached. Next, we went down to the reconstructed church of St. George, which had been turned into a seaside entertainment center and club. Afterwards, we had lunch with the members of the Church Council and discussed about significant issues of the church community.
After a six-day absence (July 24-29), due to my visit to Korça, on Tuesday, July 30, we discussed with Mr. Dhimitër Beduli the theologian and Mr. Aleko Dhima, the President of the Church Council of Tirana to consider the final issues of the First General Clergy-Laity Assembly of the Orthodox Church. Finally, we visited two locations within Tirana to assess the suitability of the location for the construction of the Theological School.
On Wednesday afternoon, on July 31st, the Church Council of the Orthodox Church of Tirana hosted an official lunch in honor of the Patriarchal Exarch and his companions. Some of the present people there were Mr. Gramoz Pashko, the Deputy Prime Minister, prof. dr. Sali Berisha, Chairman of the Democratic Party, prof. dr. Skënder Gjinushi, Chairman of the Social Democratic Party, Mr. St. Mallikurtis, Ambassador of Greece, and Mr. G. Miku, Ambassador of Romania.
The First General Clergy-Laity Assembly
On Thursday and Friday, August 1st and 2nd of the same year, the First General Clergy Laity Assembly was gathered in the Cathedral Church of Tirana. Members of it were the clergy and the representatives of various ecclesiastical dioceses. A total of thirteen clergy and thirty laity people from the four old episcopates of Tirana, Korca, Berati and Gjirokastra.
During the proceedings of the First General Clergy Laity Assembly, the basic problems of the Autocephalous Orthodox Church of Albania were discussed such as the ordination of new priests, the re-establishment of ecclesiastical councils, the issues regarding church property, the return of churches and monasteries, the publications, the construction of ecclesiastical schools and the opening of course centers in Orthodox catechism. Also, due to the absence of bishops, it was decided to appoint for one year, four Hierarchical Representatives for each of the old episcopate. Respectively, they were: Father Gaqo Petro in the diocese of Tirana, Father Kristo Raci in the diocese of Korca, Father Kozma Qirjo in the diocese of Berati, and Father Mihal Dako in the Diocese of Gjirokastra.
Finally, the General Council of the Autocephalous Orthodox Church of Albania was elected to function on a yearly basis and it would represent the Orthodox Church to the local authorities and decide on basic administrative issues of the Church. The composition of the General Church Council was as follows: His Beatitude Anastasios, Metropolitan (then bishop) of Andrusa and Patriarchal Exarch as the President of the Council; Father Kristo Raci as the First Vice President I; Mr. Sotir Bambulli as the Second Vice President; Mr. Aleko Dhima as the General Secretary; Father Kozma Qirjo as treasurer; and also Father Gaqo Petri, Father Mihal Dako, Vangjel Capi and Alqi Jani as members of the Council. Special advisers to the Patriarchal Exarch would be Mr Dhimitër Beduli, the theologian on theological and educational issues and prof. Ylli Popa on health and social related issues.
In addition, the General Assembly decided to send an official letter to the Honorary Head of the Mother Church, the Ecumenical Patriarch, which was delivered on 10 August 1991 by the competent persons.
Our Visit to the Orthodox Dioceses
During our stay in Albania we visited all the episcopal sees and almost every city and village which had once been archieratic domains. Starting from Tirana, we visited three more places.
Briefly:
Our first trip (July 24th -29th)
On Wednesday, July 24: The trip to Korça, which lasted several hours. Panegyric reception by thousands of people gathered in the square in front of the metropolitan building, which was recently returned to the Church, and in the cathedral church, which had been turned into a museum. Doxology and speech.
On Thursday, July 25: Divine Liturgy in the village of Boboshtica. The church with beautiful murals of the Macedonian school was preserved as a “cultural monument”. In the evening: A visit to the church of Prophet Ilia in Korça. Half of the church building had been preserved (the frontal part), while the rest was used as a warehouse for telecommunication materials. Conversations with the faithful in the church.
On Friday, July 26, in Pogradec. Divine Liturgy. The Church of the Dormition of Theotokos was used as a machine-shop for years. At the initiative of the Church Council, the church building had almost been reconstructed, but its interior was completely empty. Meeting with the church council.
On Saturday, July 27, in Voskopoja. Divine Liturgy. Meeting with the church council.
On Sunday, July 28: Divine Liturgy in nature, right in front of the metropolitan building and the “Museum”, that is the old cathedral church, to witness the holiness of the place. The ordination of Mr. Joan Trebicka (38 years old), a very serious and modest man, according to the orthodox people of Korça.
On Monday, July 29th : On our way back to Tirana, we stayed for three hours in Elbasan. Unction. Preaching …
