Archbishop Joan of Tirana, Durrës and All Albania delivered a strong message of peace and religious harmony during the Jubilee International Conference of the Bektashi Community. In his address, the Archbishop praised the open and continuous communication between the two communities.
The head of the Orthodox Church stressed that the freedom of religion regained after the dictatorship is a valuable asset that must be safeguarded responsibly. He underlined that their shared duty is to prevent religion from being used to divide people, fuel conflicts or justify violence.
At a time when hate speech and polarization are spreading rapidly throughout society, particularly among young people, he made a direct appeal against the misuse of religion. Religious beliefs, he said, should never become a reason for conflict, hatred or violence, but should instead serve as a cornerstone for building Albania’s future on freedom, justice and peaceful coexistence.
At the conclusion of his address, the Archbishop extended his congratulations to the Bektashi World Leader, Haji Dede Edmond Brahimaj, and to all Bektashi believers on their anniversaries, reaffirming the Orthodox Church’s commitment to always maintaining an open hand for communication and cooperation.
Full statement:
The Jubilee International Conference, marking three important anniversaries for the Bektashi Community — the 35th anniversary of the reopening of the Bektashi World Headquarters, the 15th anniversary of the election of Bektashi World Leader Haji Dede Edmond Brahimaj, and the 11th anniversary of the inauguration of the “Odeon” Cultural Complex — gives us the opportunity to extend our sincere congratulations to you.
The reopening of religious institutions following the fall of the atheist regime was a major event for the entire country. After decades of prohibition and persecution, Albanians regained a fundamental right: the freedom to believe, to express their convictions and to organize the life of their religious communities. This freedom is a shared asset that we have a duty to safeguard responsibly.
We belong to different religious traditions, with beliefs and teachings that are not the same. Honest dialogue does not require us to conceal these differences, nor to present our faiths as though they were identical. On the contrary, it requires each person to be sincere in their own faith while, at the same time, remaining open to encountering others with respect, without fear and without prejudice.
Throughout all these years, relations between the Autocephalous Orthodox Church of Albania and the Bektashi Community have been characterized by continuous and open communication. We have come together in moments of joy and in times of difficulty; we have participated in joint activities and meetings; and we have exchanged visits and greetings on the occasion of each community’s religious celebrations. Whenever it has been necessary to convey a message of peace, calm and understanding, we have found one another ready for dialogue and cooperation. The Bektashi World Headquarters has always been open and willing to engage in this communication, and we sincerely appreciate this approach.
These meetings are not merely a matter of institutional courtesy. They convey an important lesson to the believers of our communities and to society as a whole: regardless of which religion a person belongs to or what beliefs they hold, every human being must be respected, listened to and treated with love. Religious belief must not and cannot become a reason for hatred, contempt or violence against others.
Religious peace is not built by remaining silent about differences, but by refusing to allow those differences to become walls of hostility. It is built every day: through measured words, sincere encounters, expressions of goodwill, standing by others in difficult moments, and cooperation on issues that affect all citizens. In this way, religious leaders set an example that faithfulness to one’s own tradition can coexist with profound respect for the freedom and dignity of others.
This responsibility is even greater today, as hate speech, polarization and division are spreading rapidly, particularly among young people. Our shared duty is to prevent religion from being used to divide people, fuel conflict or justify violence. Through our words and our example, we must show that Albania’s future is built on freedom, justice, mutual respect and peaceful coexistence.
The Autocephalous Orthodox Church of Albania will continue along this path: with a clear identity, sincere words and an open hand for communication and cooperation. We hope that, in the years ahead, our relations with the Bektashi World Headquarters will continue in the same spirit of understanding, respect and responsibility towards our society.
Wishing you every success in the proceedings of this conference, we extend our best wishes to the Bektashi World Leader, the Bektashi clergy and all believers of the Bektashi Community on these jubilee anniversaries.
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