HIS HOLINESS PATRIARCH KIRILL SENDS MESSAGE TO ARCHBISHOP ANASTASIOS OF TIRANA AND ALL ALBANIA REGARDING THE DESTRUCTION OF ORTHODOX CHURCH IN DHËRMI VILLAGE

October 2015

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia sent a letter to the Primate of the Albanian Orthodox Church, His Beatitude Archbishop Anastasios of Tirana and All Albania, concerning the destruction of the Church of St Athanasius in the village of Dhërmi and the attack on Rev. Christos Pappas, a cleric of the Church of St Charalambos in Sarandë.

His Beatitude Anastasios, Archbishop of Tirana and All Albania

Your Beatitude, Beloved in the Lord Brother and Concelebrant,

It was with deep concern that I learned about the barbarous destruction of the Church of St Athanasius in the village of Dhërmi and the brutal attack on Rev. Christos Pappas, a cleric of the Church of St Charalambos in Sarandë.

These evil deeds committed by extremists pursue the evident goal of undermining interreligious peace in Albania. Experiencing similar sorrowful feelings because of the outrageous acts committed in Ukraine by radical nationalist groups and schismatics, I express my fraternal sympathy with the Albanian Orthodox Church and full support to your work, aimed at preaching the Gospel and strengthening peace in the Albanian society.

I wish Your Beatitude good health and God’s blessed help.

With brotherly love in Christ,

+KIRILL

PATRIARCH OF MOSCOW AND ALL RUSSIA

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