Easter marks the belief in Christ’s resurrection three days after his crucifixion, following a 40-day period of fasting and spiritual preparation known as Lent.

The Holy Week leading up to Easter includes some of the most significant moments in the liturgical calendar. It begins with Palm Sunday, marking Christ’s entry into Jerusalem, and continues with Holy Thursday, commemorating the Last Supper, and Good Friday, the day of the crucifixion.

Celebrations culminate in the Easter Vigil and midnight Mass, regarded in Christian tradition as the “mother of all vigils,” symbolising the victory of light over darkness and inspiring hope and joy among the faithful.

In Albania, Easter is also marked by family gatherings and traditional meals, where dyed eggs and festive dishes are shared, alongside visits to relatives.

Beyond its religious significance, Easter is widely seen as a moment of reflection, encouraging values such as forgiveness, love, sacrifice and hope. The message of resurrection is often interpreted as a symbol of renewal and new beginnings.

The date of Easter varies each year, as it is determined according to the lunar calendar.

Among the most recognisable traditions are red-dyed eggs, symbolising the blood of Christ and new life, as well as festive tables featuring lamb, special breads and homemade desserts.

Another common custom is the blessing of bread and food during Easter vigils in churches across the country.

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The Eucharistic celebration was led by Metropolitan Archbishop Arjan Dodaj from St. Paul’s Cathedral in Tirana.

A large group of Catholic faithful attended the opening of the Jubilee Year, with hope and God’s grace being the overreaching theme of the Ordinary Jubilee that is celebrated every 25 years.

The Catholic Church held the March of the Citizens of Peace. After the pilgrimage behind the cross, which symbolizes Christ’s victory over evil, the faithful joined the mass to open the Jubilee year.

The Jubilee is a time of transformation from war to peace, from debt to pardon, from conflict to reconciliation, from sin to grace, and from death to life.

During the Jubilee, all truly repented believers, moved by a spirit of charity, purified through the sacrament of confession, refreshed by Holy Communion, and who pray according to the Holy Father’s instructions to gain full forgiveness.

Plenary indulgence is the great forgiveness of sins and guilt applicable to oneself or to the souls in purgatory in the form of penance.

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