The new National Orthodox Cathedral of Tirana – Albania, was consecrated today, 1 June 2014, by a group of eight Primates of Orthodox Churches from all over the world and by delegates of the Sister Orthodox Churches.
“The consecration service was celebrated by His Holiness Bartholomew, Ecumenical Patriarch, His Beatitude Teofil III, Patriarch of Jerusalem, His Beatitude Irineu, Patriarch of Serbia, His Beatitude Daniel, Patriarch of Romania, His Beatitude Hrisostom, Archbishop of Cyprus, His Beatitude Ieronim, Archbishop of Athens and All Greece, His Beatitude Sava of Poland and by the host of the event, His Beatitude Anastasie, Archbishop of Tirana, Durres and All Albania, together with the four delegations of the sister Churches”, as Aurel Moisiuc, Trinitas Radio station reporter present at the event informed us.
Over 2000 Albanian faithful both from the country and abroad attended the event.
“They all attended the consecration service of the Cathedral of the Resurrection of the Lord of Tirana because this one will be a landmark of Orthodoxy and a symbol of gratitude both for the heroes of the nation and for the entire Albanian Christian nation”, Aurel Moisiuc also related.
In the sermon delivered His Eminence Anastasie, Archbishop of Tirana, Durrest and All Albania showed the contribution of the Albanian people to the achievement of the Cathedral of the “Resurrection of the Lord”, its construction having begun in 2004: “The construction of this cathedral represents the result and effort of the Albanian people both from the country and from abroad in the service of the right faith. It is a gratitude shown to the ancestors and a satisfaction of ours. From now on, it unites the heaven and earth and relates man to God, a great effort and satisfaction crowned today through the presence of the group of Primates of the Orthodox Churches from all over the world”.
His Holiness Bartholomew, Ecumenical Patriarch urged to keep the unity of the nation and faith: “We spend moments of high spiritual experience here in Tirana through the consecration of this cathedral, but we must remain united in the love for the faith that we received. Let us be witnesses of the faith the same as the Saints Apostles showed the spiritual beauty to the world. We must be close to the Church even if we go far away from home, and so we will be close to Christ. This cathedral is a gem to which we must come to thank Christ and have the Holy Communion of Christ, our Lord.”
The consecration service was followed by the Divine Liturgy.
