'LIFE IS BEST EXPLAINED BY STORIES'

28TH. NOVEMBER 2010 'LIFE IS BEST EXPLAINED BY STORIES'.
Saturday evening, the 20th., was special. We were eight nationalities to which we added a further element with our Renewal of Vows in French. Afterwards, we shared an informal meal to celebrate!

When returning from the city centre on Sunday afternoon, Kliti, our architect, said we were very near the former Catholic Church. So, of course, I requested to see it!
A retired actress, who has been awarded Actor Emeritius, told us its history. When put out of use, it was converted into four apartments and these are still in use. With the arrival of democracy, the City Council offered the site of our present church at the edge of the city, by way of compensation.

Today and tomorrow are two holidays. Both commemorate the gaining of freedom from other countries, one on the 29th. November 1944. This accounts for my hearing the same song many times on Friday, as I returned in the furgon from Tirana. The song -'Let us live free'. The person beside me said its the most meaningful anthem for his peers - all in their 30's. It was composed just as another freedom, that followed the problems of 1997, arrived!

Another crumb of history! On Wednesday next, the Official Process for the canonization of a Bishop and 37 clerics, including one Orthodox, will be formally closed and the Process will move to Rome and continue. They were all martyred. One lived in Maliq, about 20kms. from here and there were local witnesses available to the Process team. Hopefully, we will hear about this darker side of our story in due course.

In the meantime, happy Advent! Gezuar!