TIRANA, April 11 /ATA/ The Archbishop of Tirana, Durrës and All Albania, His Grace Joani, on Saturday conveyed his Easter greeting for the Orthodox faithful, emphasising the peace that flows from the Resurrection of Christ in a troubled world. In his address, he stressed that true peace is not determined by circumstances but by the presence of God in human life.
In his Easter message, Archbishop Joani issued a call for spiritual renewal and urged the faithful to act as peacemakers within society.
“Let us ourselves become peacemakers in a world being destroyed by hatred, greed and selfishness. Yet to be peacemakers, we must first have peace within. ‘Make peace in your heart,’ says St Seraphim of Sarov, ‘and thousands around you will be saved.’ For there is no peace where evil prevails, but only where God is present,” the message stated.
“Today the world is unsettled. Bloody wars continue to cause death and suffering. Entire peoples live under the shadow of fear for the future, and uncertainty knocks at every door. In the midst of this storm, the Risen Christ repeats: ‘Peace be with you.’ This is not merely a polite social greeting, but an ontological reality,” Archbishop Joani said.
He also addressed what he termed a new form of death: the numbness born of indifference, the hardening of the heart, and the spiritual desiccation of a society that has forgotten God.
He stated that for decades efforts were made to eradicate every vestige of faith. ‘Churches were demolished, clergy were martyred, and even the word “God” was proscribed. The Church appeared lifeless, entombed within a sealed grave. Yet it rose again. The stone was rolled away. Faith flourished anew amidst the ruins. Churches were rebuilt.
He observed that communities were re‑established, emphasising that this was not a human accomplishment but the power of the Risen Christ active within history.
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