Palm Sunday in Albania: The faithful flock to Churches across the country

By Fr. Elias Makos

On Palm Sunday, Orthodox Christians throughout Albania filled churches from one end of the country to the other, celebrating with faith and devotion the triumphal entry of Christ into Jerusalem.

At the Resurrection Cathedral in Tirana, His Beatitude Archbishop Ioannis of Albania presided over the Divine Liturgy, assisted by the Bishop of Kruja, who delivered the sermon. In his homily, the Bishop emphasised that Christ, through His entrance into Jerusalem, reveals to us the nature of His kingdom—a kingdom not of this world—and invites us to become its citizens.

Palm branches were distributed to young and old alike in the Metropolises of Elbasan, Apollonia and Fier, Berat, Korça, and Gjirokastra.

In sermons delivered throughout the country, clergy reflected on the paradox of the moment: the same people who welcomed Christ as a worldly king with palm branches would, just days later, crucify Him. They would condemn Him not because He failed them politically, but because He challenged them to rise from the tombs of unbelief and spiritual darkness.

Source: Church of Albania