The "Resurrection of Christ" Cathedral, the most attractive point in Korça/ Interesting facts about the construction

2023-10-14 15:12:00, Qyteti im CNA

The "Resurrection of Christ" Cathedral, the most attractive point in

The "Resurrection of Christ" Cathedral in Korça is one of the most valuable buildings in the city, not only for Orthodox believers, but for all citizens and visitors inside and outside Albania.

In a very special interview for CNA, Father Vangjel Sotiri has shown interesting facts about the construction of the Cathedral, its priceless values, as well as the visitors' impressions about it.

The history of Korça Cathedral dates back to 1994, when the first foundation stone was laid.

"Considering that after the closing of the churches, many of the wonderful churches and cathedrals that our city had were destroyed, with the permission of the faith, a new cathedral that would meet the needs of the faithful became necessary. On August 2, 1994 with the funds of gathered from his fortune, Archbishop Anastas began the construction of this church, on this date the foundation stone was laid. In 2002, the construction of the entire building was completed. This building contains the central part of the church where the services are performed, its consecration was made on August 7, 2004. Below is a large hall for various activities offered to the city. The construction area is 711 square meters, the height of the dome is 20 meters, while the height of the bell towers is 22.5 meters. There is something very special I want to say. When this church was decided to be built here in addition to many situations, His Beatitude Archbishop Anastas said one of the expressions that has remained epitomized today "The stones you are throwing at us we will collect and build churches" .

That Vangjel Sotiri considers the Cathedral as the most identifying point of the city, showing the values ??it carries.

"As far as the city is concerned, it has an extraordinary value because it not only replaces other cathedrals that have been because they are also needed and must be returned to the community, but this cathedral fulfills all the needs of the city's believers. Not only that, but it is also a jewel for the city, the most identifying point that the city of Korça has today. The greatest value is the spiritual value for what it offers to believers."

There are many services that are held near the "Resurrection of Christ" Cathedral, while the long-standing history continues to be taught to young people, who will continue the Orthodox faith through the generations.

"The services that take place in this church are all the services that the Orthodox Church offers, starting from various uratas for children and adults, baptism services, coronation services, divine liturgy. Here there is a permanent activity with young people. It is a group of especially dealing with youth catechism and a very large group of children that we have regularly come to this church and offer you what our faith and tradition has. The church in its being is something that continues because God himself says in the gospel that "Upon the rock on which I have founded the church, no one can pull it down", it means that it is something that continues and will continue because for example all these icons that we have here are part of this heritage of citizens yesterday to the believers who started as an initiative from the metropolis of Korça with the first icon that was placed in 2012 and which continues today from different believers from all over Albania but also abroad who with dedication want to give and imitate what their parents theirs did long ago that they were benefactors to the church and to the whole city."

There are three permanent clergy who serve near the Cathedral, there are also many icons inside it. Icons that were donated by the Orthodox believers themselves and the citizens who, in this way, have made it possible to keep alive an invaluable value that this church has.

"In the Cathedral of Korça there are 3 clergy who are permanent, but also other clergy of the metropolis, the main person is the Metropolitan of Korça Monsignor Joani, who celebrates liturgies, various services according to the requests of the faithful, but also for us who serve here is an honor and a blessing above all because when you are part of history we often don't notice how things change, but when you see that for such a short time it is all this identifying work for our city it makes you even more very proud."

Being the main identifying point of the city of Korça, as Vangjeli calls it, the visitors are countless. They are surprised to see hundreds of icons placed in the interior, which have become an integral part of their visits to this church. They take part together with the residents of Korça to spend the holidays in Korça, and the highlights are precisely Christmas and Easter.

"As long as I've been serving here, I've seen visitors ranging from Asia, endless Europeans, Canadians, Americans, Spanish, Italians, Germans, English, Swedes, from Kosovo, North Macedonia, Greece, Bulgaria. It's a great mass of people from who come and look at the Cathedral. For them it is a kind of surprise when they are faced with this situation that in such a short time all this work has been done. A wonderful work, a work that is shaping the lives of many people in the best sense of the word. We who believe in the God of miracles, miracles are not impossible and this is a miracle that we have today in our city."

"Every Sunday is a holiday in the church that gathers a large majority of believers. Let's not forget that Korça is one of the eight cities in Albania that has 5 churches that serve every Sunday. Among the holidays that have a mass of people are Christmas, Day of the Blessed Water on January 6, but the peak of the celebrations is Easter. This holiday is something extraordinary in Korça. You yourself have witnessed the celebrations, the procession of the Epitaphs, the moment of the Resurrection of Christ, but also all the holidays which cover the great week of Easter, because every day has its own intensity, but the climax is Good Friday and the Resurrection of Christ with the lighting of candles and the sharing of Light with each other."

At the end of our interview with Vangjel Sotir, he could not help but make a call to all viewers.

"Let us all be givers, God has been generous with us these years and has given us so many things, let us try to continue what our fathers left. Many dreams we have to build here, this is the place ours, a wonderful country that God has given us, and imitating the behavior of the ancestors, being established in the church and showing kindness, because God has given us enough and with blessings."

The "Resurrection of Christ" Cathedral in the southeastern city is one of the main attractions that Korça offers, and as a staff we invite you to visit it in order not to miss the wonderful view and hospitality./ CNA