Archival documents, that reveal the religious persecution in Albania during the atheist regime (1967-1990), were presented in the facilities of the European University of Tirana, with the participation of religious representatives. Metropolitan Joan of Korca was also present on behalf of the Greek Orthodox Church.
This material brings to light specific data regarding the persecution of Orthodox and Catholic Christians, Muslims and Bektashi people.
These documents are of great interest for many scholars, who try to bring into view all the aspects of that dark period, when all religions were targeted in order to be eliminated, after the institutionalization of state atheism by decree on November 22, 1967.
The climax of the “war against religion”, which started after the establishment of the communist regime in 1945, was marked.
Christian churches, both Orthodox and Catholic, as well as mosques, were plundered, misused or demolished, and the members of each religion were exiled or imprisoned, while many of them died, either by execution or for not being able to endure the tortures.
The Greek Orthodox Church of Albania was destroyed. During that period, apart from the Archdioceses there were also three bishoprics, 19 Archieratic regions, 330 parishes and 25 monasteries (without Chapters).
All churches and monasteries were shut down; many of them were demolished, while others were turned into museums, warehouses, machine shops, stables, barracks, etc.
The church property (land, sacred vessels, documents) was confiscated by the state (secularization). Any kind of religious expression, such as having icons, lighting candles, Easter eggs, etc. was strictly punished.
