Albanian authorities turn an Orthodox church into a museum

Service in the Church of Saint Spyridon in Vuno Himaras. August 24, 2025 Photo: orthodoxianewsagency.gr

On December 18, 2025, Albania’s Ministry of Culture organized a meeting in the village of Vuno in Himara regarding the conversion of the Orthodox Church of St. Spyridon of Trimythous into a museum. This was reported by Member of the European Parliament Fredi Beleri on his Facebook page.

The politician noted that no real public discussion took place, as the aim of the authorities’ representatives “was to inform residents of their intention to restore and transform the Church of St. Spyridon and the surrounding area from a place of faith, historical memory, and Greek education into a museum for the Arbëreshë (Albanians of Central Italy), who have never had any connection to this area.”

Beleri emphasized that “the village’s Greek school was housed in the same building as the church from 1778 until the Second World War, when Greek education was forcibly abolished with the establishment of the communist regime.”

The Member of the European Parliament also pointed out that the government did not consult the leadership of the Orthodox Autocephalous Church of Albania, which is the owner of the land.

“Those who believe that this will change the mentality and faith of the local residents are deeply mistaken,” Beleri stressed. “Let them ask the Uniates, who tried to do the same centuries ago and were left with nothing.”

Earlier, the UOJ reported that the Albanian Archbishop commented on his position regarding the Orthodox Church of Ukraine.

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