Mayor of Tirana Erion Veliaj has announced the reconstruction of several places of worship in the capital as well as the construction of a new Evangelical Church on the New Boulevard.
Veliaj met with leaders of all religious faiths in the country for a Christmas dinner. During his speech, he said that after 30 years since the fall of communism, the Orthodox Church and the Municipality of Tirana have resolved several issues relating to mortgages and property issues. As such the Church of Procopius will be provided with a permit by the Municipality.
During communism when religion was prohibited, many religious sites were burned and destroyed and the land was seized.
He also announced that there would be a new Catholic Church dedicated to Saint Mother Theresa including a shrine to her.
In addition, the Mayor said they were close to a decision on building a new Evangelical Church in the New Boulevard area.
Veliaj added, “True, Tirana has a lot of construction and I get a lot of criticism for it, but I believe that the biblical principle of salt also works in construction. The salt does not need to be much, but it should be enough and with a little, it gives flavour to a dish. Even though these three faiths are in a huge city, i believe they are just like salt for the dish that is cooked with the souls and in our community.”
