More than 170 earthquake victims have been hosted by the Orthodox Monastery of St. Vlash (St. Blaise), in the Durres district of central coastal Albania, since a devastating quake struck the area on Nov. 26, 2019, Orthodoxia News Agency reports.
The shelter is part of a wide-ranging initiative announced by the Archbishop of Tirana and All Albania, His Beatitude Anastasios, activating all of the Orthodox Church’s parishes and monasteries in the country towards collecting and offering relief – including shelter – to those in need, and without any distinction based on religious affiliation.
Some 40 people continue to be hosted at the monastery today, with many having witnessed the complete destruction of their homes.
On Friday, meanwhile, members of the Albanian Orthodox Church’s youth wing visited quake-ravaged sites in the Lac region of northwest Albania, delivering material assistance and offering spiritual support to those in need.
Photography courtesy of Orthodoxia News Agency
