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The ideal for the continuance of humanity cannot be the right of the powerful but the globalization of solidarity
Interview by Margarita Pournara, I KATHIMERINI April 12th, Sunday edition
The voice
of Archbishop Anastasios of Albania from the other end of the telephone
exudes as always serenity and wisdom. Either in person or from a
distance, His presence sooths; in all difficult conjectures and even
more so in this unprecedented situation we experience on the universal
level. He Himself is now in confinement, seeing His daily life
drastically changed: “Here
in Albania, we too are adjusting to the government’s orders and the
instructions of the medical authorities. After a discussion with the
members of the Holy Synod we promptly made the proper decisions relating
to the liturgical, educational, catechetical, and charitable ministries
of our Church. What I have learned over the course of a long lifetime
is, asking for God’s help, to look for new pathways out of the gorge of
hardships”.
Further, I asked Him if the compulsory social distancing for us, the citizens, has the features of a temporary monasticism. “It
is worth recalling that the Orthodox monasticism to which you referred
is inspired by three basic principles: obedience, chastity, and
poverty. Something that could be drawn from this great tradition, for
example, would be obedience: obedience to those responsible for dealing
with the crisis, obedience to the experts working on treatment and
research, obedience to the ‘stay home’ injunction. Let our home become
our hermitage. It is not easy. The danger of conflict and strife from
the restrictions is ever-present. As we remain at home, let us not
become isolated. Let us support one another with words, with an
affectionate silence, with a cheerful disposition”.
Struggle for freedom
“We must take care however,” He notes,
“not to confine our interests to our own family. There are many people
facing greater difficulties. Modern electronic media enables us to be
near them. We need to engage in the struggle to banish the fear that
hangs over us. Finally, let us become more moderate in our daily lives.
Your mention of monasticism reminds me of an admirable definition from
the Philokalia: “A monk is one who having been separated from all is also united to all”.
How can we fight the continuous state of fear that came with the pandemic? “Fear is indeed a very dangerous counselor”, underlines His Beatitude, “it
seeps into our thoughts and our volition in many different ways,
sapping our endurance. I believe that the syndrome of fear can be
countered by faith in the God of love, and by practicing love in action.
As St John said: “There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out
fear” (1 John 4:18). As Christians we believe that the sense of the
presence of God frees us from all fear: “Yea, even though I walk through
the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for you are
with me”, declares the Psalmist. And the poet Ioannis Polemis adds:
“Fear not the one who based his hope on faith; in life I saw him do
battle, but always I saw him invincible”.
However,
even if someone suppresses the anxiety about the virus, they dwell with
ominous thoughts about the future of the economy at a moment that a
boost was predicted. How can we face this? “First of all, by not letting these gloomy become the ‘homeowner’ of their minds” he states.
“Obviously, the problem exists. This pandemic is not only spreading
disease, but it is also causing broader economic complications. It is
particularly catastrophic for countries that have recently come through a
financial crisis, like Greece, and countries with limited economies,
like Albania. We hope that all governments will make the right
decisions. The richer countries ought to help the poorer, where economic
and social problems that stem from the crisis will be more acute. The
global wealth-holders – multinational corporations, groups,
organizations, foundations, individuals – ought to act with generosity”.
He continues:
“At this time, the Corona Virus seems to advise: ‘Take a new look at
the values and the type of humanism you boast of having. All you humans
are a single family’. With regard to treatment and dealing with a new
outbreak of the pandemic, no country can succeed on its own. The same
principle should apply to overcoming the economic crisis. This certainty
is, of course, being undermined by various individual, social, and
national interests. Personally, I believe that the truth has its own
dynamic, both in science and in social life, and it will prevail”.
Unprecedented War
He adds:
“The two World Wars brought about radical changes in the life of
mankind, overturning alliances, ambitions, economic theories. I think
that this new unprecedented global war will also play a role in the
rethinking of our values and priorities. World War II was followed by a
series of declarations of human rights, with an emphasis on the
individual. It is obvious that what are needed now are declarations of
human obligations regarding the huge responsibilities for the
destruction of the environment and climate change”.
Our Virtues
- Has the trial that we are going through now helped for the awakening of solidarity? Will it endure in the future?
-
“Great disasters bring out amazing virtues surging forth from the
depths of the conscience of our people, qualities such as decency,
solidarity, and self-sacrifice. You see, the DNA of our people,
influenced by the Christian faith, has concentrated unique values. I
have repeatedly observed that the real enemy of any form of peace is not
war but egocentrism–personal, racial, ethnic, and religious. And the
antidote to this is solidarity inspired by love –the fulfillment of
which was revealed by Christ. The flowering of solidarity is a hopeful
phenomenon. Now, how long it will endure, I do not know. I am however
persuaded that we all have a duty to strive to promote the universal
Christian values”.
Faith, the most effective antidote to every kind of fear
“I ponder
on how pandemic has taken unaware the general staffs of the world’s
largest countries. They had not foreseen this invisible, vehement enemy.
I am persuaded that only a universal mobilization of solidarity will
defeat the pandemic and its side effects. The semantics of reputable
humanism needs to be re-examined. We need a humanism that respects the
psychosomatic unity, of the individual and of the whole human race, and
that ensures justice for all, without exception. The ideal for the
continuance of humankind cannot consist of the right of the strongest
and the globalization of technology or the economy, but rather the
globalization of solidarity. And I think that the contribution of
religion is critical here”.
His Beatitude adds:
“In times of trial the human soul spontaneously seeks a refuge from
pain, seeks protection and consolation, in religious faith. Those of us
who granted to believe, we know that the human being is not the author
of him or herself. There is a Supreme Reality. For Christians He is the
inconceivable and yet truly existing Being, the Triune God of love. His
relationship with humankind is unchanging, and He has given us the right
to ask for His help ‘in all times’ and especially in times of ‘dangers
and sorrows’.
Religious
experience is innate in humankind. Just as water exists in all living
organisms in different forms, so religion exists in all the
civilizations of the world. It exists in its familiar form, or like
water vapor in the atmosphere of indifferent or non-religious
communities. The faith that seems to emerge from the depths of the
Christian consciousness will certainly help people deal with the fear
generated by the pandemic. Those of us who have the gift of faith should
take care to nurture it, with humility, study, and prayer, asking, like
the disciples, ‘Lord, increase our faith’. Faith is the most effective
antidote to any kind of fear. Nor let us forget to pray for those who
find difficulty in believing. That is a duty of love and respect towards
their search.
As
Easter approaches, let us try to live more profoundly the Christian
experience that leads from the pain of the Cross and the anguish of the
Passion to the jubilation of the Resurrection. Therefore, a Blessed
Easter with the resurrectional light of peace and hope in our hearts”