Archbishop of Albania: Faith helps overcome fear and despair
Church spirituality, hope and human closeness as a response to growing psychological burdens.
In a conversation, Archbishop Ioannis of Tirana, Durrës and all Albania spoke about the growing spread of fear, uncertainty and depressive states in today's world. While this is not a new phenomenon, such burdens can be gradually overcome through conscious spiritual orientation, lived faith and participation in church life. This was reported by Orthodox Times. In his remarks, the Archbishop distinguished between natural fear, which serves as a protective function, and excessive or unfounded fear, which can take on pathological characteristics. While fear is usually linked to concrete dangers, inner restlessness often arises from concerns about the past or future. In addition to the necessity of medical help, he emphasized the importance of spiritual guidance. The so-called "fear of God" should not be understood as fear, but as reverence and a trusting attitude that gives people orientation and inner stability.
Ioannis described the Gospel, life in the community of believers and especially the sacrament of confession as the Church's essential response to spiritual distress, as a path to inner healing and clarity. As long as a person lives, there is hope for them. In conclusion, the Archbishop called for compassion and active love of neighbor toward people suffering psychologically. An atmosphere of understanding and affection can be crucial in helping to overcome fear and despair.
Previously, the UOJ reported that Metropolitan Mark celebrated a Divine Liturgy in Milan and awarded a distinction.
