Tirana, October 21, 2026
Photo: tanea.gr
The Orthodox Autocephalous Church of Albania has condemned clashes between police and protesters in the courtyard of the Cathedral of the Resurrection of Christ in Tirana, calling on all sides to respect sacred spaces and turn away from violence.
In its statement, the Church says:
The Orthodox Autocephalous Church of Albania, having seen the images from the events that unfolded in the courtyard of the Cathedral of the Resurrection of Christ in Tirana, expresses its concern and appeals for respect for its holy places.
These places are never fields of confrontation and clashes, nor can such phenomena be accepted within them.
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.
Once again, the Orthodox Autocephalous Church of Albania appeals for abstention from violence and for the pursuit of channels of dialogue.
His Eminence Metropolitan Anastasios of Korçë also issued a message on the violence at the cathedral. In it, he says:
The police must immediately return to the framework of legality and abandon every form of violence and arbitrariness. 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.
The clashes come amid anti-government demonstrations in Albania, where protesters are demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Edi Rama. Rama has rejected the idea of leaving office and says the Antifa organization is behind the unrest.
In Tirana’s Skanderbeg Square, protesters threw Molotov cocktails at police, who responded with shields. About 44 to 45 people were detained Monday, and 210 have been detained since the first day of the unrest.
The video below shows footage from the cathedral:
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