Published by the
Orthodox Christian Mission
Center, March 31, 2004
NEWS FROM THE ORTHODOX ARCHDIOCESE OF TIRANA,
ALBANIA
An
Offer with Special Significance
The burning of
churches and mosques, does not promote justice and
peace, and certainly neither progress. On the
contrary, it is a return to times and practices
which led the Balkans to stagnation, divisions,
and tragedies.
Indeed, those who
involve religion in the violence are essentially
violating the spirit of religion. No matter how
much one is in the right, he must respect the
sanctity and the purpose of sacred places of
worship. These should become centers of
reconciliation and peace, and not breeding grounds
for maintaining animosities.
It is only with
peaceful coexistence of the religious communities
that genuine social progress can take place. This
is the principal that we Christians and Muslims
alike have adopted in Albania: to live together
and to cooperate with each other in harmony.
The sobriety of
religious tolerance and courage of love must
overcome the blind hatred that can only lead to an
escalation of conflicts. In the 21st
century, worldwide and particularly in the Balkan
region, we are called – independent of the
national or religious community in which we were
born – to work hard to coexist peacefully, with
mutual respect and solidarity.
With this
conviction, the Orthodox Archdiocese of Tirana has
made the following decision:
We offer $600,000
for the restoration of a church and a mosque in
Kosovo, or the construction of a youth center
there that will promote peaceful coexistence. This
sum comes from the funds that, with great effort,
we have raised for the construction of the
Orthodox Cathedral in Tirana. It will be
dispatched appropriately, so that it be used
equitably, according to the special significance
of this initiative.
Tirana 26.3.2004
+Anastasios
Archbishop of
Tirana, Durres and All Albania
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