10th anniversary of the establishment of the Metropolis of Apollonia and Fier/ Archbishop Joan strong messages about faith, unity and hope

2026-04-16 16:50:00, Aktualitet CNA

10th anniversary of the establishment of the Metropolis of Apollonia and Fier/

With a solemn mass that lasted more than three hours and with the participation of a large number of believers, the highest body of the Autocephalous Orthodox Church of Albania, led by Archbishop Ioan and the Holy Synod, commemorated the 10th anniversary of the founding of the Metropolis of Apollonia and Fier, as well as the Enthronement of the Metropolitan, His Grace Monsignor Nikola.

During the service, the importance of anniversaries as moments of reflection on the history and contribution of the Church over the years was emphasized.

Archbishop Joan praised the figures who have influenced the revival of the Orthodox Church in Albania, mentioning Archbishop Anastasios and Metropolitan Ignatius, as well as their contribution to strengthening church institutions.

His Beatitude noted that the construction and development of the Metropolitanate of Fier is the fruit of joint efforts and faith, emphasizing that such works are accomplished with the help of God and the dedication of people.

In his message, Archbishop Joan also highlighted the role of the Church as a source of hope and spiritual unity for believers, comparing it to the body of Christ, where each part matters to the whole.

In conclusion, he congratulated the faithful and clergy on the anniversary, expressing the desire for the Metropolis to continue its spiritual and institutional development.

Archbishop Joan's message

Dear Metropolitans,

Holy Fathers and participants in this ceremony.

I would like to thank you all for the contributions you have made. Anniversaries are important, and that is why we often remember, because anniversaries are a call to reflect a little. First of all, to reflect on those who came before us and on the great contribution that everyone has made over the centuries, and especially the people we have known ourselves,

Archbishop Anastasios, Metropolitan Ignatius, who gave all their abilities to rebuild the Church. We always remember them with gratitude, because our work cannot begin today.

We continue, we continue, and we build on the foundations that were laid by our ancestors, starting with the martyrs of the first centuries and ending with the recent martyrs, the young martyrs, who often gave their lives to defend the faith. Therefore, anniversaries are memories, and they remain not only in the past, but also in the present.

And I would like to congratulate the Metropolitan for the initiative to build the Metropolis. I remember when I first told him about the Metropolis, he thought it was very surprising and that it could never be built.

And I said to him: If you start it, you will finish it, because we do not do it by our own strength, but by the grace of God. If we try with all our heart, without a doubt everything will be accomplished.

What is impossible for us is possible for God.

Fear always exists, but the more we fear God, the less we fear others. Because people who fear God are not afraid of people.

And by not being afraid of men, we will undoubtedly begin to do some works that will leave a mark, because God will be with us constantly. No human strength can do this. Nor could the Restoration of the Church here be done by human strength, but by the grace of God.

And the merit of the people who built it was that they had the grace of God. Their hearts were pure and the grace of God descended upon them, enlightened them and helped them on their journey. That is why we always remember Archbishop Anastasios with gratitude for all the contribution he has made.

And another thing we mention in commemorations is that the people of the past are not separate from all these other things that we celebrate. Because in God there is no separation.

Our memorials are not just mourning and lamentation, but are also a deep joy within, because we remember people who made a contribution to God and are alive in God.

And on our anniversaries, we remember all those who were not as if they were not, because they are present with God and pray for us.

Anniversaries give us another impetus for the future, because they mean that our work is not over and we must try until our last breath. And people need this message.

Today the message of the Church is the main message.

All other ideologies no longer give hope. Only God gives hope, which is why at the end of the service when we say farewell, we say: Glory to you, O God, our hope, glory to you.

If we say the words not just with our lips, if we stop to think about them, we will understand that God is the only hope for humanity and his teaching is the only hope to sustain the country, families and to have a righteous life. That is why anniversaries are so important to remember.

On this 10th anniversary, I am very happy that the Metropolitanate of Fier, as it was said to be the heir to a very old, but also new, metropolitanate that began in Fier, now has its headquarters.

For this, I would like to thank all the contributors and, without a doubt, Metropolitan Nikola, who tried with all his heart to build it and succeeded. This is also something else that gives hope to all people.

If we try, we will achieve everything, because if we try for something right, God will not abandon us. If we work for the Church, God will not abandon us. If we work only for ourselves, then perhaps God will abandon us. But if we work for what is right, for the Church and for people, God will always be with us.

I hope you enjoy the new Metropolis, the Metropolis building, and this church, which is relatively new, and we hope that it will be even more beautiful in the future.

You will also give contributions to make icons and other things. Because by giving to God, we do not lose. It may be lost to people, but it is not lost to God.

If we give God one, He will give us ten, because no one can beat God in His generosity. But God asks us to give something and He will multiply it, just as He multiplied the loaves and as He multiplies many things, if we truly bring them before God.

I wish you all once again that God will always be present in this church, that He will enlighten the Metropolitan, the clergy, you and all of us. Because, in the Orthodox Church, success in one place is the success of all Orthodoxy.

We are not divided. Whatever city or village it may be, if it flourishes, the whole Church has flourished. Always keep in mind the analogy that St. Paul makes of the Church. He compares it to a body.

If the hand suffers, the whole body suffers; if the eye suffers, the whole body suffers. And if the hand is healthy, the whole body is happy. Therefore, we should always rejoice in the joy of others and fulfill the famous saying of the Fathers of the Church: Blessed are those who rejoice in the joy of others.

Glory to God for everything.

Christ is Risen - Truly Risen!/ CNA