Archbishop John of Albania: Distorting Church teaching alters spiritual life

Archbishop John. Photo: media.ngjallja.org

Archbishop John of Tirana, Durrës, and All Albania said that preserving the purity of Orthodox doctrine is of crucial importance to a person’s spiritual life. He made the remarks in a sermon on the Sunday of the Holy Fathers of the Fourth Ecumenical Council, according to the official website of the Albanian Orthodox Church.

The archbishop recalled that the Fourth Ecumenical Council was convened to defend the Orthodox teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ and condemn the heresy of Eutyches, who claimed that after the Incarnation, the Savior’s human nature was absorbed into His Divine nature.

According to the primate, the Holy Fathers understood that this was not merely a theological dispute but a matter touching the very foundation of Christian life.

“If the teaching of the Church is distorted, spiritual life changes as well, and with it, a person’s salvation,” Archbishop John stressed.

He noted that this is why the Church has courageously defended Orthodox doctrine throughout the centuries. At the Council of Chalcedon, the Holy Fathers confessed that Christ has two natures – Divine and human – which exist “without confusion, without change, without division, and without separation.”

The primate of the Albanian Church also turned to the Gospel words, “You are the light of the world,” reminding the faithful that every Christian is called to bear the Light of Christ.

He said that a person cannot bring this light to others without first attending to their own spiritual condition.

“If we do not kindle the light in our own hearts, we cannot enlighten either ourselves or those around us,” the archbishop said.

He emphasized that the Light of Christ is spread not only through words but above all through one’s way of life. If a Christian does not live in accordance with the Gospel, their witness to the faith loses its power.

Concluding his sermon, the primate called on believers to cleanse their hearts of sin, acquire humility, and preserve the purity of the Orthodox faith. Through personal spiritual transformation, he said, a person can become a light to others and help change the world for the better.

As the UOJ previously reported, the Albanian primate outlined possible ways to resolve the issue of the OCU.

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