“Something good will come out of the COVID-19 trial.” Those were the words of Archbishop Anastasios of Albania from the Resurrection Cathedral in Tirana, who demanded compliance with the instructions and fewer kisses.
“Just as this invisible unknown virus brings about a global catastrophe, so the simple and unseen prayer by millions of faithful people has its potential to annihilate, if nothing else, the viruses of hatred and egocentrism.
He added, “This is the best form of defense towards the new ordeal the humankind currently faces. Undoubtedly, God will bless all these efforts, which seem insignificant, but have a huge impact on the events in the world. We stayed at home. We saw each other thinking with a lot of affection. Even by being deprived of many important things, we better understand how valuable they are. Like the fact that we were deprived of Holy Communion for a long time,” he said to the faithful.
He also sent a message of patience and compliance from Tirana: “Let us praise God for He deemed us worthy to go through many difficulties very well. I want to thank all the brothers because they obeyed my set of instructions with a lot of understanding.
We obeyed the instructions of the state and health authorities because they were very correct. And we have to thank God that in our country we have had far fewer victims than anywhere else. Of course, with a lot of love and affection, we think of our brothers who passed away and the families who suffered. We continue our humble prayer for God to enlighten all those who are struggling scientifically to find a solution to this very difficult pandemic that afflicts humankind.
Everyone is surprised by this strange attack by an invisible enemy who has essentially ridiculed all the so-called national defense systems. In a very convincing way without many words, it reminded us that one nation doesn’t pose a threat to the other, but all humankind is thrown on jeopardy by something unexpected, especially by the virus of egocentrism that afflicts peoples and leads many to poverty. The trial is not over.
We don’t know what is coming. We must be very careful and continue to follow all the necessary instructions. We don’t need kisses and mass gatherings, but much more we don’t need whining and panic. Something good will come out of this trial. We stayed at home. We saw each other thinking with a lot of affection.
Even by being deprived of many important things, such as the Holy Communion, we better understand how valuable they are. Our faith assures us that God will not forsake us. Something good will come out of this trial.”
