Source: DECR Communication Service
September 26, 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.
Archbishop Anastasios
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 for 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
