TIRANA, April 17/ATA/ Archbishop of Tirana, Durrës and All Albania, His Beatitude, Bishop Joani, congratulated today the Orthodox believers on Easter.
In a message addressed to the Orthodox believers, Bishop Joani said that, “Easter is commemoration of Resurrection of Lord Jesus Christ and the fundamental truth of our faith and life. If there had been no Resurrection, then our Christian preaching and faith would have been in vain, because only through the Resurrection of the Lord, our human nature received its true significance and meaning”.
Archbishop Joan also commemorated Archbishop Anastasios, who died in January of the current year.
“This Easter we do not have our beloved Archbishop Anastasios among us. But our hearts are comforted knowing that he now intercedes for us before God, for God is not the God of the dead, but of the living. We believe that death is not the end, but the beginning of a new life in God. If we hope in Christ alone in this life, we are the most miserable of all people,” said Archbishop Joan.
Archbishop Joan stated that, “the resurrection of Christ strengthens us and gives us all BELIEF, gives us life from His Life, a holy life, a life that conquers even death itself, a life without end, where the earthly power of death no longer has power.”
Archbishop Joan also pointed at the wars in the world.
“But, we are aware of the hardships of this life. In the world there are injustices and wars, poverty and suffering, illness and death, which can often lead a person to despair. Selfishness and greed have poisoned and deformed relationships between people, alienating and isolating them from each other. The departure from values, from love, justice, compassion and, especially, from the presence of God in our daily lives, creates a spiritual darkness, clouding the human mind and distorting the meaning of life”, emphasized Archbishop Joan.
Archbishop Joan stated that, “If the light of resurrection is lit in our lives, then interpersonal relationships will also be illuminated”.
“Perhaps today, more than ever, our world needs the Easter message because the Resurrection is not just a past event, but a continuous experience for every time, for every generation and for every person, which gives hope, light and joy to our lives and does not allow us to drown in the sea of sorrow. No matter how difficult our problems may be, the Resurrection of Christ promises us a completely different future. /k.s/a.f/p.s./
