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Police-Protester Clashes Reach Courtyard of Tirana’s Resurrection Cathedral
Albania’s Orthodox Church condemned clashes in the courtyard of Tirana’s main cathedral, while Metr. Anastasios called on police to end violence and act within the law.
TIRANA, ALBANIA — Clashes between police and anti-government protesters reached the courtyard of the Cathedral of the Resurrection of Christ in Tirana, prompting the Orthodox Church of Albania to condemn violence at the sacred site and call for dialogue.
In a statement issued October 20, the Church expressed concern over images and video of the confrontation and urged those involved to respect the cathedral grounds. “These places are never fields of confrontation and clashes, nor can such phenomena be accepted within them,” the statement said.
The Cathedral of the Resurrection of Christ is a sacred place of prayer, a place where the holy services are celebrated and where the culture of peace is proclaimed.
The Church emphasized the cathedral’s role as a place of worship and peace, appealing for an end to violence and renewed efforts to establish dialogue. The clashes occurred amid demonstrations demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Edi Rama, who has rejected calls to leave office.
Metr. Anastasios of Korçë also issued a forceful message addressing the conduct of police during the unrest. “The police must immediately return to the framework of legality and abandon every form of violence and arbitrariness,” he said. "Those who abuse state power should know that their responsibility doesn’t end before the law but extends to the judgment of history. They’ll also bear responsibility for any consequences that further escalation of the tension may cause."
Photos: Wikipedia Commons, trip.com, cnn.gr, aljazeera.com, en.panorama.com.al
The confrontation near the cathedral came as unrest spread through central Tirana. Protesters threw Molotov cocktails at police in Skanderbeg Square, while fires and burning barricades were reported elsewhere in the capital. Authorities deployed additional police forces and water cannons as the demonstrations continued.
According to the report, 44 to 45 people were brought in on Monday, October 19. A total of 210 people had been arrested since the unrest began, although only 10 remained detained as of Monday evening.
Previously, the UOJ reported that a bullet missed an Orthodox priest during an attack on a Christian town in Syria.
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