TIRANA, Dec 25 /ATA/ – Thousands of Albanian Catholics flocked to Christmas Eve Mass after Tuesday midnight at the St. Paul cathedral in Tirana as Christian families throughout the world celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ.
The traditional Christmas Mass was held by the metropolitan archbishop of Tirana-Durres, Monsignor Xhorxh Frendo, who prayed and wished Albanian Catholic believers for more peace, love and grace.
In his Christmas night liturgy, Monsignor Frendo put emphasis on the solidarity shown by Albanians with the affected families in the aftermath of the deadly earthquake that hit the country on November 26, saying “Albanians have solidarity etched on their hearts and foreheads.”
At the end of the Mass, faithful extended their best Christmas wishes for good health and prosperity to each other.
Thousands of Orthodox believers also attended the Orthodox Mass this morning at the “Resurrection of Christ” Cathedral, one of the most important celebrations of their faith and religion. The Mass was led by Archbishop Anastasios Janullatos who prayed for more peace and security and called upon the followers to help the poor and to peacefully cooperate with each other in order to lead a better life within the community.
Christians around the world are celebrating Christmas, which marks the birth of Jesus Christ in Bethlehem on December 25.
In Albania, Christmas celebration started after the fall of the Communist regime in the ‘90s and is one of the most popular festivals and celebrated with great merriment, with all Albania’s religious communities celebrating the occasion with almost equal fervour.
The coexistence among the religious communities is of the most notable characteristics of Albania and its people. The religious harmony is one of the most valuable features of the Albanian nation and religious tolerance is its most remarkable attribute. The religious believers respect one another’s festivities and participate in the joys of each on
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