Albanian Synod appoints new leader to replace Archbishop Anastasios

Tirana, March 17, 2025

Photo: romfea.gr   

The Holy Synod of the Orthodox Autocephalous Orthodox Church of Albania elected a new primate on Sunday to succeed the Archbishop Anastasios of Albania reposes in the LordHis Beatitude Archbishop Anastasios of Tirana, Durrës, and All Albania reposed in the Lord this morning at the age of 95.

“>recently departed Archbishop Anastasios, who led the resurrection of the Church over the course of more than three decades.

The day began with a Synodal Divine Liturgy at the Cathedral of the Resurrection of the Lord in Tirana, led by His Eminence Metropolitan John of Korçë, who served as Locum Tenens following the repose Abp. Anastasios.

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Following the service, the hierarchs gathered to elect the new Archbishop. By unanimous vote, the lot fell to Met. John, who was a close associate of Abp. Anastasios for 32 years, the Albanian Church reports.

He served as hierarch of Korçë for 27 years. The Church writes:

He distinguished himself for his pastoral work and his contribution to the reconstruction of the Church, the cultivation of theological education, and the strengthening of the Church’s charitable activities. He excelled in his theological studies in the U.S. and returned to Albania to contribute alongside Archbishop Anastasios in the reconstitution of the dissolved Church of Albania. Since 1993, he has served as a Professor at the Theological Academy of Durrës, translator of numerous theological texts, and author of the first Dogmatics manual in the Albanian language. He founded the magazine Tempulli (Temple), represented the Church in inter-Orthodox and inter-Christian meetings, and was honored with distinguished titles for his contribution to culture, education, and interfaith dialogue.

The election of Met. John was then publicly announced in the cathedral. The multitude of faithful who awaited the news proclaimed “Axios!” for their new primate.

Abp. John will be formally enthroned as primate of the Albanian Church on March 29.

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Abp. John was born in Tirana on January 2, 1956. His family was Bektashi. In his youth (1979), during the period of relentless religious persecutions, he was secretly baptized by the heroic priest Fr. Cosmas Kyrios, later Bishop of Apollonia, and joined a small secret group of the then-underground Church. He studied psychology at the University of Tirana and during the years 1979-1990 worked in the rehabilitation department for patients through occupational therapy at the Psychiatric Hospital of Tirana. His father had been characterized as an enemy of the regime since 1944, which persecuted all religious communities, and he himself was often in danger of being arrested. In 1990, he escaped to Italy and from there to Boston, where, with a scholarship from the Albanian community, he studied Theology at the Holy Cross Greek Orthodox Theological Seminary and received the postgraduate title MTS (Master of Theological Studies) with a high distinction. In 1992, when Albanians were leaving the country en masse, wishing to contribute to the reconstruction of the Church of Albania, he announced to Abp. Anastasios his decision to return, who encouraged him cordially, and in September of the same year appointed him as a professor at the Theological Academy of the Orthodox Autocephalous Church of Albania.

On February 27, 1994, he was ordained a deacon and on December 4 of the same year a priest, while in 1995, at the urging of Abp. Anastasios, he continued postgraduate theological studies again at the Holy Cross School in Boston. He distinguished himself for his high performance (1995-1996) and his name was recorded in the National Dean’s List, along with the names of the best students of all U.S. universities. In 1996, he received the rank of archimandrite and in 1997 the postgraduate academic title Master’s of Theology with high distinction. He served as Dean of the Theological Academy of the Orthodox Church during the years 1996-1998, when he was ordained Bishop and elected Metropolitan of Korçë (6/20/1998), without ceasing his teaching.

His advanced knowledge of English, French, Italian, and Greek, as well as his familiarity with Latin and Hebrew, facilitated his engagement with translations into Albanian of important theological works and patristic texts, such as the supreme dogmatic treatise of St. Basil the Great “On the Holy Spirit.” At the same time, he wrote the first Dogmatics manual in Albanian, which is an official publication of the Orthodox Church, translated many books into Albanian, and published articles in academic journals abroad and in Albania, as well as in newspapers and magazines of wider circulation.

In 2000, he founded and has since directed the magazine Temple, one of the most serious academic journals, with articles by well-known intellectuals, researchers, and specialists in Albanian studies from Albania and abroad. He is the chairman of its editorial committee and simultaneously publishes scientific articles concerning culture, archaeology, philosophy, theology, history, art criticism, and translation problems.

He has represented the Orthodox Autocephalous Church of Albania in many inter-Orthodox meetings, as a rapporteur and as a member of committees for the drafting of texts, declarations, and messages. For a decade, he participated in the preparatory committees for the drafting of the texts of the Holy and Great Council of Crete as well as the final texts of the Council in Crete (2016). He has also been a member of notable working groups of the World Council of Churches and especially in the Joint Working Group with a five-year term, which drafted the definitive text of cooperation between the World Council of Churches and the Roman Catholic Church. At the same time, for many years he has represented the Orthodox Autocephalous Church of Albania in the important bilateral dialogue of the Orthodox Churches with the Roman Catholic Church as well as of the Orthodox Churches with the Ancient Oriental Orthodox Churches.

He has been invited as a speaker at many national and international conferences, where he developed topics of theological, historical, and philosophical content. He has also given lectures at universities, theological schools, seminars, and inter-Christian and interfaith conferences.

In the city of Korçë, he contributes to its social, educational, and cultural progress by steadily cultivating the spirit of peaceful coexistence of religious communities. He frequently gives lectures and participates in academic discussions at the University of Korçë and other notable schools in the region, emphasizing to young people the value of patriotism and their creative contribution to the progress of modern Albanian society. Furthermore, on his initiative, for the relief of the weaker residents of the city, a feeding center has been operating daily for 27 years.

The long-standing and multifaceted ministry of Metropolitan John in Korçë has been recognized by the city authorities. On July 23, 2003, he was proclaimed Honorary Citizen of the Region of Korçë with the rationale: “For the exceptional contribution to the cultivation of religious tolerance and understanding. Academic, publisher, translator of theological books in the Albanian language. Helper in the emancipation and fraternization of the citizens of the Region of Korçë and beyond.” On August 18, 2008, he was named “Honorary Citizen” by the City Council: “For outstanding services in the rebirth of faith as well as for the many works in the humanitarian and social sector.” On July 23, 2018, the Fan S. Noli University of Korçë awarded the Metropolitan the title of Honorary Doctor (Doctor Honoris Causa) as “An outstanding personality of the spiritual and religious world, great humanitarian, translator, founder of the magazine Temple, excellently contributing in the field of culture, archaeology, philosophy, theology, history, Albanian studies, etc.; close associate and friend of the Fan S. Noli University, on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of his enthronement as Metropolitan of Korçë.”

On May 29, 2019, the Municipality of Tirana honored him with a Certificate of Gratitude characterizing him: “As a value with national and international dimensions, as the quintessential example for the promotion of peace, harmony, and religious coexistence. With respect and great gratitude for his overall exceptional contribution to the service of society and people in need.”

Since 1998, he has been shepherding the historical and particularly important Holy Metropolis of Korçë, which includes the regions of Pogradec, Devoll, and Kolonjë, in a God-pleasing manner.

On March 16, 2025, His Eminence Metropolitan of Korçë John was unanimously elected Archbishop of Tirana, Durrës and all Albania, succeeding the late Archbishop Anastasios.

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