On Sunday, June 13, 2021, from the Holy See of the Bektashi World Headquarters, the Bektashi World Grandfather, His Grace, Haxhi Dede Edmond Brahimaj, at the same time Chairman of the Inter Religious Council of Albania, traveled to Kurbin Mountain, where he attended and greeted the feast of Shna Ndout, in Lac.
For days, the province of Kurbin and the surrounding areas have been experiencing the great feast of Shen Ndou, for which the faithful never stopped praying even when the communist regime had stopped the sound of the holy altar, and when prayers to God had returned in apathy.
There are days when the believers, who went there and sleep near the mountain. Near the temple they pray and light candles to worship Saint Anton, as they see him, as a hope for life.
George Anthony Frendo, who celebrated the mass of this holy day, said that this is a marked day, for all mankind.
“This holiday attracts not only Catholics, but all faiths,” he said.
While the World Grandfather, His Grace, Haxhi Dede Edmond Brahimaj, at the same time the Chairman of the Interreligious Council of Albania after greeting the occasion said that:
“We congratulate our Catholic brothers on this holy day. “People come here regardless of religion to seek the help of this saint,”.
The full message of the Bektashi World Leader, His Holiness, Haxhi Dede Edmond Brahimaj:
Dear brothers and sisters believers,
Establishing an object of prayer to God like the Church of Laç not only enriches the hearts and souls of believers it is also a sign of salvation for humanity.
The foundation of the Church of Laç is from 1300 dedicated to St. Mary, and later took the name of St. Anthony in 1557 is an object symbol of the acceptance of the prayers of the Believers. This place of worship in 1971 was destroyed by Communism and rebuilt in 1990 based on its origin as a Franciscan church, in this church have served priests as; Stjefën Gjeçovi, Vinçenz Prenushi, Klement Miraj, Robert Ashta, and Zef Pllumbi.
The Franciscan Church in Laç was rebuilt earlier but took the name of St. Anthony from 1557 who was a personality who protected the poor and guided the poor in the right path of God. Also the statue of St. Anthony as a resting place has been placed in Poland since 1649.
St. Anthony is of Portuguese origin who later came to Sicily and then to Bologna where he died, his proof that he lived is the book of the Portuguese Empire, which talks about St. Anthony, and his Miracles.
Churches named after St. Anthony in the world are in Padua, Italy as well as his birthplace in Portugal, San Antonio Texas United States, New York City Manhattan, a church in Naples that took the name of St. Anthony since 1688, Pope Benedict XVI converted a cathedral in the name of St. Anthony in 2007 in Italy for the sake of the holy works of this saint. There are also places named after St. Anthony in Asia and Africa.
Antonio throughout the arc of his earthly existence has been a man who conformed to the will of God in everything. This is how we honor it because we have noticed that a special grace of God’s goodness is placed in it. This Kindness has enriched him with admirable gifts prompting him to have an extraordinary activity in the 40 years of his earthly existence. This force of his that is created by the will of God that 8 centuries ago continues to act even today, as evidenced by your presence here in this blessed and special place not only for Catholics but for all Albanians everywhere they are.
This feature of the love that all the people have for St. Anthony is also distinguished in how the desire to trust in the prayer and help of this special Saint is instilled in the spiritual sensitivity of the people. It is especially worth remembering the night of June 12, 1990 when the totalitarian regime was at its end, the Albanian people have filled this mountain with many, many people spending that night in prayer and trusting the future of our country.
The figure of St. Anthony is truly a figure that makes us also be together by connecting with the poor side of our country, with the simple, with the afflicted, with the most recent, with those who need that, God to manifest his miracle as he manifested it through the life of St. Anthony, and as he says in the Qur’an that I give reasons good people to be your helpers and leaders of mankind like the Prophet Muhammad with his Ahl al-Bayt. So we are here with Monsignor Frendon, my brother and you my brothers, as a sign of thanksgiving to God for his closeness that does in our human life. For intimacy with people of good will, for intimacy with people seeking peace, for intimacy with those people who like St. Anthony believe in God, love man and share everything with them, pray and become causes of peace by following the example of all the Prophets who are the example of peace and the right path.
May God and the Saints accept our Prayers be Blessed!
Amin! ”
