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Orthodox believers celebrated Orthodox Easter today as never before with empty Churches and Cathedrals, while church leaders were asked to stay home and help each other.
The Head of the Autocephalous Orthodox Church of Albania, the Archbishop Anastas Janullatos congratulated the believers on Easter through television ceremonies: "Do not be afraid. This year we will not pass the light of hope from lamp to lamp, but from heart to heart," he said.
Addressing the annual ritual, Archbishop Anastas Janullatos told believers that the surprise and concern caused by the painful COVID-19 pandemic would be countered by the fearlessness that Christ taught us, full of peace and solidarity.
“When the doors were closed, Jesus appeared to the disciples, took away their fear, and gave them peace. Fear is a bad human advisor. It penetrates in different ways in our will, lowering our resistance and creativity. Fear is caused by wars and natural disasters, as well as the COVID-19 pandemic that has rocked the world. Do not be afraid, peace be upon you," he said in his Easter message.
Just like last weekend with Catholic Easter, this Sunday the Churches and Cathedrals of Albania kept their believers away in order to avoid the spread of coronavirus. This is the fifth weekend that Albania is going through with long closures.
Although the head of the Albanian Orthodox Autocephalous Church, Janullatus spoke in Greek language today and was translated while his speech was broadcast on screen.