Festive Celebration of the Nativity of Our Lord Jesus Christ
A festive atmosphere of Christmas embedded with light and joy starts to be felt prior to the actual Christmas day due to the respective church services such as the Unction, the Holy Hours, the Vigils and the 40 – day – nativity lent during which the faithful fast for the benefit of their soul.
The cities, the streets, the city squares, the pubs and every single area get decorated with festive ornaments. There are also many church activities that are organized for the children and the orthodox youth, such as the chanting of Christmas Carols, the charity work, the series of visits to the homes of the elderly, to prisons, to the centers for disabled children, etc.
The peak of all events was reached on 25th of December, which is the Nativity Day of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Eternal Word of God who became a Man for our salvation.
The range of festivities started since early in the morning with the Orthos and then Divine Liturgy of St. Basil proceeded at the Resurrection of Christ Cathedral in Tirana. Archbishop Anastasios celebrated Divine Liturgy together with His Grace Nathaniel, Metropolitan of Amantia, Bishop Asti of Bylis and other clergy.
The holy services were broadcast live on the State Television but also on live links and chronicles of some private television channels in order to be attended by the faithful who could not be present at Church.
“The Patience of Hope” Christmas message by Archbishop Anastasios was read by His Grace Nathaniel and Bishop Asti and it highlighted the following,
“The hopeful patience that springs from Christmas is not a weakness, rather it is a mystical power. He transforms even the greatest sorrows and weaknesses of this life, strengthening resistance, fighting spirit, qualitative endurance, support of truth and justice. Apostle Paul, from personal experience, assures us: “… we know that suffering brings patience, patience brings trial and trial brings hope. Hope does not put us to shame” (Rom. 5:3-5). Through patience, the spiritual man makes better use of his mental and sensory powers. Patience, together with silent perseverance, opens paths of passage for various human relationships with no way out, for health difficulties, poverty and social unrest. It leads human life to maturity, that “you must endure to the end, that you may be perfect, complete and without any blemish” (James 1:4).”
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