TIRANA, Dec 25 /ATA/ – Thousands of Albanian Catholics flocked to Christmas Eve Mass after Saturday 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 Arjan Dodaj, who prayed and wished Albanian Catholic believers for more peace, love and grace, stating that the Albanian youth should rediscover the future in their country.
“On this blessed day, the word of the angels resounds with modesty, gentleness and strength: Glory to the Lord and peace to good-willed people on earth. Unity and value for our Albanian family that gathers on these holidays. Albanian youth should rediscover their future in their own land because the future belongs to us,” Monsignor Dodaj said.
“The poor should never give up in the face of the sorrow they sometimes go through their lives. The divine child has a message of peace for the war consequences,” he said.
At the end of the Mass, faithful extended their best Christmas wishes for good health and prosperity to each other.
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.
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