Replies

Interesting, the Vatican gets it right this time!

Even Albanian Christians have a hard time with what has been done in Kosovo, to the extent that they know about it. Here was a translation of a Russian interview with two different Albanians, one Christian and one Muslim, from Julia Gorin's blog:

The young Dr. Spiro is an unusual case. He is a passionate Orthodox believer who wears an icon on his key chain and has an image of Christ on his mobile phone.

“As an Orthodox Albanian, how did you feel when Albanians burned old Serbian monasteries in Kosovo?” I asked.

“When was that?” Dr. Spiro asked. “I didn’t hear about that!”

“It can’t be!” I said. “The whole world knows.”

Dr. Spiro was quiet. Then he replied slowly: “We’re praying for our Serbian brothers. That’s all we can do to help them. Albania was always a Christian nation in spirit. When the Turks arrived, many Albanians didn’t stay their ground and converted to Islam to avoid taxes or make careers. Do you know how the Albanians strengthened their position in Kosovo? The Serbs showed firmness in their faith, and Kosovo was the cradle of their religion and a symbol of their nation. Then the Turks sent Albanian renegades there, who took state positions, power and money. Kosovo ceased to be Orthodox, and became an outpost of Islam.”

Dr. Spiro talks about the Turks’ sly political game as if it was only yesterday. For Dr. Spiro faith is a living passion, not a battle of old feelings and prejudices. But most Albanians treat religion like a profitable trade, or fleeting political game.

My new acquaintance Kleart is a shining example.

“Our belief is the U.S.,” he said. “We’re a small country and believe in whoever is stronger. There was a time when the Soviet Union helped us and was our friend. Now the U.S. is good for us because they’re defending our interests. We’re always on the side of the stronger party.”

“But that’s complete hypocrisy!” I said. “That’s how you traitors once sold Christ!”

“You’re calling us ‘traitors?!’ We were the first Christians in the Balkans! Who am I hearing this from? You, Russians, who weren’t even a nation when we had already converted to Christianity!” he said.

“And then you sold out to the Turks like Judas for 30 shekels! Just to free yourselves from taxes and advance your careers!” I said.

“We were pagans and will die pagans!” he said. “When it was necessary we converted to Islam in order to survive. But just like the Serbs you fuss over your Christianity as if you were never pagans!…Even your emperors bowed their heads before Islam!” Kleart said raising his voice. “They built a mosque in Saint Petersburg as a sign of humiliation before the religion of Prophet Muhammad!”

“What?! The Russian Empire built mosques as a symbol of tolerance!”

“You built them out of weakness! And we, if we need to, will conquer Macedonia with the aid of the U.S., take a piece of Greece, and then go to Belgrade and convert the Serbs to Islam. We always fight for our own well-being, not big ideas!”