Photo: Xanthi Morfi/WCC
28 March 2020
Interview with the Archbishop of Albania, former President of the WCC
by Marianne Ejdersten, WCC director of Communication
Archbishop Anastasios of Tirana, Durrës and All Albania shares
his perspective in this E-interview about the way churches are
adapting, both in Albania and worldwide, to the COVID-19 pandemic. As we
pray for the researchers trying to find a treatment, churches can also
emphasize our duty to stay at home while, at the same time, freeing
ourselves from fear and anxiety. We must find ways to assist the sick
directly or indirectly, as we prepare for Easter, and open our hearts to
the light of hope.
In what ways is Your Beatitude seeing churches adapt to life amid the coronavirus outbreak? In Albania, and worldwide.
Archbishop Anastasios: When we were
informed about the spread of the pandemic of COVID-19 in Albania, we
addressed our people (on 12 March and 17 March 2020) insisting that we
must avoid panic, depression, and despair. We noted that composure,
sobriety, and careful concern and constant discipline towards the
instructions and health directives of the responsible governments are
required of us. We announced that we were canceling all services in our
churches, and we advised that the people avoid the traditional embraces,
kissing of holy objects in the church, kissing of hands, and any
physical contact. Every Sunday as well as on Great Feasts, we celebrate
the Divine Liturgy in the chapel of the Synodical Center with closed
doors. These services are transmitted on the radio station of the Church
as well as online. Similarly, the ecclesiastical Services will continue
in the other Dioceses in small chapels with closed doors. We advised
those who are more susceptible, the elderly and children, to remain at
home for a period of time. The churches will remain open during the day
for personal prayer. Faith and love are the most powerful defensive
weapons against the attack of this invisible virus. I know that many
other Churches have also addressed their own faithful in similar ways.
In what ways can churches in Albania be a role model for others?
Archbishop Anastasios: We took some
initiatives, sharing our ideas with the other religious communities of
Albania. But it is too much to say that we are a ‘model’ for anyone.
Every Church in the various countries has special needs and situations
to respond to. We prepared a more general message (20 March) addressed
to the multi-faith society of Albania which was published and
transmitted by the mass media of the country. In this message we added
that we owe wholehearted thanks to those who are tasked with maintaining
public cleanliness, order, and information, and especially to the
healthcare professionals who are on the vanguard of the battle for the
care of the infected. We emphasized that while remaining inside our
homes, let us not permit irritations and conflicts to fester, but let us
cultivate creativity, a peaceful disposition, kindness, understanding,
affection, and love.
We highlighted that all who are faithful, let us
intensify our prayer for the period of this trial to not be protracted,
for the recovery of those who are seriously afflicted, and for the
spread of the pandemic to be limited. Even more, let us pray that God
enlightens the researchers to swiftly determine the proper preventive
and therapeutic processes. Something good will ultimately come out of
this crisis and we hope that human societies will reexamine their values
and priorities.
How can we protect lives? What can we, as church/religious communities do?
Archbishop Anastasios: Primarily we
must emphasize our duty to remain at home according to the directives of
the government and the healthcare authorities. We have to stop travels
and circulation. Let us be vigilant that these measures do not lead to a
personal isolation. On the contrary, let us strengthen each other with
courage, prayer, words, simple acts, silence full of affection;
especially towards those who are at greater risk.
It is important that in the conscience of the community
is the awareness that the services are continuously celebrated in
chapels throughout all the Dioceses, with closed doors – as symbolic
candles. It is not only the coronavirus that is transmittable, at the
same a freedom from fear and anxiety based on faith and love must be
transmitted continuously with a joyful disposition.
What can we do when safe gatherings are no
longer possible or when an increasing number of at-risk persons are
unable to attend services?
Archbishop Anastasios: In countries
where the Church has the possibility to provide television or radio
feeds, we can enhance the transmission of the services though these
forms of media while advising our people to follow these transmissions.
Regarding Sunday School for the children, lessons and videos can be
created online and shared by the parishes. The faithful can also create a
type of home church for this period, praying the services in the small
group of the family, and perhaps together with a neighboring family, in
order that we may celebrate the services together. Another proposal is
to create Bible Study Groups. Other opportunities include singing
together and listening to Church music and hymns together.
What about 'stigma and discrimination’?
Archbishop Anastasios: It would be a
great mistake to discriminate or place a stigma on those who are
infected by this disease. On the contrary, this adventure brings them to
the status of the ‘least of these’ which Christ refers to in his
account of the Last Judgment (Matthew 25). Our attitude towards these
new cases of ‘the least of these’ is our attitude to Christ Himself. We
must find ways to assist the sick directly or indirectly; to help their
families and children if they do not survive. Of course, we also are
obliged to support all the healthcare professionals, who come in contact
with the virus daily, and continuously express our gratitude to them
through prayer and by following their guidelines.
As Albania confronts unprecedented challenges, what can the global fellowship pray for you?
Archbishop Anastasios: The common
prayer for all countries is that we may pass this trial with the fewest
number of victims. This pandemic creates not only infirmities, but also
creates widespread economical consequences, especially devastating for
poorer countries like Albania which has also recently suffered from the
disastrous effects of a great earthquake. The pandemic is not local; it
is global. Therefore, the response must also be with a global solidarity
in order to have a ‘globalization of solidarity.’ The richer countries
have a responsibility to assist the poorer countries, like Albania, that
will suffer more acute consequences of the financial troubles and
social problems.
Since we are in the period of preparation for Easter,
let us remember that the crucified and resurrected Christ offered to His
disciples peace and freedom from fear, promising them that He will
remain with them through all tribulations until the end of time. We must
increase this confidence in His presence and in the fact that He will
not abandon us in our trial. Let us celebrate Easter free of every
syndrome of fear and anxiety, let us resist.
This year we shall not be able to transmit the Paschal
light from candle to candle - as is the custom of the Orthodox Churches.
Let us transmit from heart to heart the light of hope and fearlessness
in our Risen Lord.
Christ is Risen!
The WCC interview produced in collaboration with the Orthodox Autocephalous Church of AlbaniaWorld Council of Churches