News from Orthodoxy in AlbaniaOccasional Publication of the Orthodox Autocephalous Church of AlbaniaNumber 1
News from
Orthodoxy in Albania
Occasional Publication of the Orthodox Autocephalous Church of Albania
Number 1, September 30, 1996
Articles in this Issue:
Voskopoje (Moschopolis) – Outburst of Religious Fanaticism
Protest from the Inhabitants of Voskpoje
An Unthinkable Act
A Dangerous Act of Religious Intolerance (Helsinki Report)
How Government Autorities Understand “Return of Church Properties”
Consecration of a New Church in Albania
Several students of a Muslim religious summer school broke into the Church of the Archangel Michael in Voskopoje, Korca and severely damaged 17th and 18th century frescoes on August 11, 1996. Twenty-three frescoes were irreparably damaged when students deeply scratched out the faces of saints, while carving the phrase, “Allah is Great” in Albanian and Arab on several of the frescoes.
Archbishop Anastasios of Tirana and All Albania stated: “This is an incredible act of destruction of 23 rare mural icons from one of the historical churches of Voskopoje and a cultural monument for all of Albania and Europe. It is all the more unimaginable because it was done by students of a religious school. This reveals a perilous sign that religious fanaticism can manifest itself in a dangerous way even in Albania. It is a tragic fact that exquisite frescoes, which survived even the period of atheism, are destroyed in a time of democracy. Furthermore, this venture of murdering, made in cold blood, proves how unprotected even the saints are in their artistic depiction from the hatred and presence of fanatics. It also shows the complete indifference or inability of the authorities to protect religious art treasures. The time is now for all churches, especially our most important property with historical value, to be completely returned to the Orthodox Autocephalous Church of Albania. We are the one who built these churches and who have maintained them for centuries.”
Protest From the Inhabitants of Voskopoje
TO: The Meksi Government, The Ministry of Culture, The Orthodox Autocephalous Church of Albania
DATE: August 21, 1996, Voskopoje
We, the Orthodox and Muslim villagers of Voskopoje, are deeply indignant at the barbaric and unprecedented act that happened in the Church of Saint Michael (a cultural monument) on 11.8.96, where the faces of saints on frescoes were irreparably damaged by fundamentalists with carvings of “Allah, Allah, Allah is great”.
According to Voskopoje authorities and elders of the town, these damages were made by the Arabic school students. Their school was lodged in a holiday center near the church over the summer. For this reason, no group of fundamentalists should be allowed to exist, and these groups will not be accepted in our villages, because they have created religious antagonisms that have never existed in the past.
A BBC Interview with Mr. Maxi Velo, a Painter and Architect Persecuted Under the Hoxha Regime
Question: What is it that makes you worry about what happened?
What makes me worry is that here is an unthinkable act; I mean this damage in the churches of Voskopoje happened only twice. It happened in the Enver Hoxha period and has now been done by fundamentalist janissaries. We must have in mind that this church, built in 1696, is 300 years old this year. Its frescoes were painted in 1722, during the era of the Ottoman Empire.
Ingenious painters decorated these churches during that empire, and now, at the end of the 20th century, we are destroying them. What is worse, we allow them to be destroyed. While it is well known that these people cause damage all over the country, like at Elbasan, it is unthinkable that it is allowed at Voskopoje as well. In my opinion, it is behavior that is done on purpose, and the act of destruction is premeditated.
Question: What are you demanding from the authorities?
Now that the Ministry of Culture and the Institute of Monuments brought a charge, I ask for justice to act with more severity. It should prohibit in a final and absolute way these manifestations of intolerance and barbarism which come from the deserts of fundamentalism and which will have dangerous consequences for us.
The Albanian Committee of Helsinki expressed its concern for the manifestation of religious fanaticism which came about at Voskopoje these last days. This anxiety increased when the Committee discovered that the offenders were young people supported by Arab missionaries. The Committee thought that any offense against traditional tolerance, especially when such an incident is so provocative and fanatical, should worry everyone for the immediate damages caused, as well as for the serious repercussions that can result in the future.
In another instance, the Committee called attention to other manifestations of religious intolerance by other religious missionaries of sects. The Committee expressed concern over some Arab missionaries coming from areas known for their Islamic fundamentalism.
Albania is a land with no historical tradition of religious fanaticism. Albania is a country where three religious communities have lived together in a tradition of tolerance and understanding. In a region where religious problems have often been the cause of tragedies, more attention must be given so that one group does not offend, even in the slightest way, the integrity of another group.
How Government Authorities Understand “Return of Church Properties ”
A series of unjust juridical decisions against the Orthodox Autocephalous Church of Albania have recently opened the way for an attack with shotguns against representatives of the Church. This act occurred when a Church camera team tried to enter the Monastery of St. George, near the village of Tsouka, just outside Saranda. The team wanted to film the condition of the monastery’s exceptional architecture and rare natural environment. They were quickly chased away, however, by armed, illegal settlers who fired three gunshots.
The St. George Monastery, built approximately in the 14th century, is situated on the top of Mt. Demos. Over the past several centuries, it had acquired a good amount of property in the surrounding meadows. The full area of its property extended to 5,000 stremma (about 1/4 of an acre each). All of this was confiscated during the period of atheism. After much effort by Orthodox believers of the region, and especially with pressure from Archbishop Anastasios, the government returned about 10 stremma. Of this property, 2.5 stremma are within the walls of the monastery, and 7.5 are outside its walls.
After the return of the property, laborers of the monastery began various work on the property outside the monastery walls During this period, it came to light that certain state employees had not agreed to the return and compensation of the ecclesiastical property. Thus, these employers organized a plan of occupation by settling 50 families into mud-brick sheds within the boundaries of this exquisite place. The settlers come from other regions and belong to non-Orthodox religion, which is the century old religion of the surrounding villages.
A legal adviser of the Diocese of Gjirocaster reported that the scenario began when the chairman of the court in Saranda twice tried to stop work being done at the Monastery. Both times he brought police who took the workers into custody and transported them to the police office. It should be noted that the laborers had permission to work at the monastery from the urban planning office.
At about the same time the workers began their work, settlers started to arrive in the area with complete maps of the place. They declared that they had received permission to settle in that area from the government authorities.
Later, a polling station for 700 voters was even established in this area for the May 26th elections. Its obvious aim was to make permanent the fabricated condition of affairs. This most recent act of violence and aggression may be the event that helps arouse a favorable ear to the continuing protests of Orthodox believers and clergy.
The Church of the Holy Cross in the village of Patos was consecrated on its feastday, the 14th of September. It is one of the many new churches that have been constructed and established since the fall of communism..
Despite numerous obstacles and difficult circumstances within the past five years, the Orthodox Autocephalous Church of Albania has quickly built, restored and reconstructed many churches in an effort to give a sign of hope to her people. Since 1992, 47 new churches have been built from their foundation, 50 churches have been reconstructed, 90 churches have been repaired, and 30 other churches are in the stage of construction or reconstruction. The consecration of the Church of the Holy Cross represented another continuing step in the resurrection of the Church in Albania
On this feastday of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, the church and the surrounding courtyard were filled with pious believers and curious onlookers. After a procession of the holy relics, together with all the faithful, around the church three times, Archbishop Anastasios of Tirana and all Albania continued the service of consecration within the sanctuary. The Archbishop prepared the holy altar table and placed the holy relics in its center. These holy relics were from some martyrs of another land, who now offer their heavenly presence and continual intercessions for Albania. This is the universality of Orthodoxy!
In the Archbishop’s sermon, he underlined the meaning of the cross as the “new logic of love and sacrifice which is beyond reason and which came to save all people from the absurdities of today’s world.”
Some days earlier, the Orthodox Autocephalous Church of Albania was grieving over the damage of century old frescoes at Voskopoje. Now she rejoices over the consecration of one out of the many new churches blooming like spring flowers in this land that has experienced a long, dark winter. Glory be the name of the Lord!
Historical archive bulletin. Source: http://www.orthodoxalbania.org:80/nb1.htm — Wayback 20001001011449.