Citizens from Vushtrria Baptized in Pristina, Gjergji: Peace and Love Must Guide Us

Several residents of Vushtrria were baptized today at the “Saint Mother Teresa” Cathedral in Pristina, one day after the ceremony blessing the foundation stone of the new church in Zogaj, Vushtrria.

The blessing of the foundation stone had been scheduled for August 18, but the Prizren-Pristina Diocese announced that the ceremony had been banned by a decision of the Kosovo Police.

The Prizren-Pristina Diocese described the decision as “unconstitutional, unlawful and unjustified.”

To avoid an escalation of the situation, Bishop Monsignor Dodë Gjergji, together with several priests and believers, blessed the foundation stone one day earlier, on August 17.

During the baptism ceremony, the Bishop of Kosovo said that the Church did not want to dwell on comments about recent events. According to him, the response to such situations should be based on peace, love and wisdom.

Gjergji said that the Church did not seek confrontation with its brothers and that, despite opposing decisions that hinder it, it would continue to act as a “daughter of peace” and a “daughter of love.” He said the future is built with patience, wisdom and love, without giving up one’s identity and chosen path.

The Bishop also emphasized that every person in Kosovo should have the opportunity to freely choose their religion without being opposed by others. According to him, freedom is demonstrated when a person makes their own choice and that choice is accepted and embraced.

Speaking about interfaith coexistence, Gjergji said that hatred should not be answered with hatred. He stressed that Christians should not follow the example of those who incite division because, as he put it, “we are different.”

He recalled that Albanians of different faiths have lived together for centuries. Gjergji said that Muslims and Catholics had maintained their relations even during difficult historical circumstances, giving one another the opportunity to live and believe according to their own choices.

The baptism ceremony took place on the day dedicated to Saint Florus and Saint Laurus, who, according to Christian tradition, are considered early Christian martyrs in Ulpiana.