Melanie with her English class at St. Vlash
Melanie Continues her Work as a Teacher
In Albania, the Communist regime's malice toward religion was focused, in particular, on clergymen. The ranks of Orthodox clergy were decimated during this period. In the 1940's, 440 Orthodox priests served the Church. In 1967, all of the Church's activities were outlawed and all of her facilities were 
closed. Priests who were caught performing their duties for the Church were killed or imprisoned.
By 1990, when priests were allowed to serve again, there were only 22 Orthodox priests alive in Albania . Because of this near absence of clergy, Archbishop Anastasios made the proper training and ordination of new priests one of his top priorities upon his arrival in 1991. In 1992, the first class of students began their training in a theological seminary opened in an old, run-down hotel in Durres. In 1996, the school relocated to new facilities (see picture) at the St. Vlash complex near Durres. Women, who will serve as lay leaders in the Church, also now receive theological training at the school.
After we arrived, Father Luke Veronis and Peter Sakellariou, missionaries who teach languages at the
Resurrection Theological Academy, recruited Melanie to teach English to the Albanian seminarians. There was a shortage of English teachers at the school. The seminarians must learn either English or Greek because it allows them to read more advanced theological texts that have not been translated into Albanian. When Melanie heard that there was a lack of English teachers at the seminary, she stepped up to fill this role. Melanie completed her first year at the end of June 2004 with great success. Now just finishing the first semester of her third year, Melanie is again teaching advanced English to second and third year students.
Melanie has also been recruited to teach English at the Orthodox Church Youth Center for two evenings a week. This will allow her to have contact with Albanians not directly associated with the church.
