By Fr. Elias Makos
Archbishop Anastasios of the Orthodox Church of Albania met with the leader of the Bektashi community in Albania, Edmond Brahimaj, in a very cordial atmosphere.
During the meeting, prompted by recent international developments, the continued commitment of Albania’s religious communities to counteract divisive rhetoric and confront the hostile situations facing the world today was reaffirmed. This enduring dedication serves as a true model of coexistence, a legacy passed down through generations.
Archbishop Anastasios highlighted the significant efforts of the Bektashi leader in fostering religious tolerance within Albania. In response, Brahimaj commended the ongoing interfaith cooperation in promoting cultural, social, and patriotic values within Albanian society. He also reaffirmed his commitment to preserving and furthering the harmonious religious coexistence that has been established.
Avoiding extremes and fanaticism, without drawing dividing lines or fostering exclusions, Archbishop Anastasios exemplifies and promotes the spirit of coexistence through both his words and actions.
The Interreligious Council of Albania, currently chaired by Archbishop Anastasios, serves as evidence that religions, while upholding their doctrinal principles, can collaborate on social issues, with love for humanity as their fundamental foundation.
In Albania, this cooperation, inspired and pioneered by Archbishop Anastasios, recognizes that fanaticism leads not to light but to darkness. Through this approach, societal disruptions have been avoided, and conditions for peaceful coexistence in a multi-religious environment have been secured.
This cooperation, widely regarded as exemplary, has been recognized and praised for its positive outcomes not only in Albania but also internationally.
Genuine respect for the religious freedom and dignity of every individual has been the unwavering principle of Archbishop Anastasios.
In Albania, he sought and succeeded in ensuring that the peaceful voices and actions of religions became the driving force of cooperation, harnessed productively for the benefit of the people.
Religious consciousness, in its diverse forms, holds the potential to contribute significantly to fostering peaceful tendencies and, more broadly, to cultivating mutual understanding.
Archbishop Anastasios’s profound conviction, which also defines his life stance, is that addressing social problems begins within ourselves, from the depths of our being.
It is rooted in humility, forgiveness, and freedom from hatred, bitterness, and jealousy, flourishing through constant communion with God.
