Orthodox Community Grieves the Burial of Archbishop Anastasios in Albania (+VIDEO)

Tirana, January 30, 2025

Photo: Radio Ngjalla     

The funeral for the newly reposed primate of the Albanian Orthodox Church, His Eminence Archbishop Anastasios, was served today in the Cathedral of the Resurrection of Christ in Tirana, in the presence of thousands of Orthodox clergy and faithful and various state representatives from throughout the world.

The Archbishop reposed in the Lord on January 25 at the age of 95. He spent more than 30 years raising the Albanian Church up from the ruins of the 20th century and was greatly loved throughout the Orthodox world.

The funeral was led by Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople, with the concelebration of His Eminence Metropolitan John of Korçë, the Locum Tenens of the primatial throne, and the other Albanian hierarchs, reports the Orthodoxia News Agency.

Several other Orthodox primates were also present: Patriarchs Theodoros of Alexandria, Theophilos of Jerusalem, Daniil of Bulgaria, and Archbishops George of Cyprus, and Ieronymos of Athens and All Greece, as well as delegations from the Patriarchates of Antioch, Moscow, Serbia, Romania, and Georgia, and the Polish, Czech-Slovak, and Macedonian-Ohrid Archbishopric Churches.

The service was celebrated in Albanian and Greek.

The first eulogy was delivered by Met. John of Korçë. He spoke about the decisive work of the Archbishop in rebuilding the Church of Albania. “He made no distinctions. He loved everyone,” he emphasized. “Love was the foundation of his work, a foundation that contributed to a just society. He showed light where darkness prevailed,” he added.

“Our country needed the spirit and work of the Archbishop based on the foundations he laid. He taught the importance of dialogue,” he said. Met. John particularly emphasized the Archbishop’s unshakeable faith in God, remaining steadfast in every difficulty with the hope that God would not abandon us. “I thank God for this gift He gave us by bringing us Archbishop Anastasios. His work will be a living example of inspiration for future generations. Despite our human sorrow, he hasn’t abandoned us. Our hearts ache today because we lost a rare chief shepherd.”

Photo:​ Radio Ngjalla     

Thousands of Albanians, Orthodox and non-Orthodox, and people from every corner of the earth have come to the cathedral to receive the Archbishop’s blessing for the last time, with the public veneration that began Tuesday afternoon continuing until the funeral service. The attendance of faithful until the early morning hours was moving, as they came with tears in their eyes to bid farewell, the rainfall in the Albanian capital not deterring them from coming.

A giant screen was set up outside the cathedral to accommodate the overflow of attendees.

Following the funeral, Abp. Anastasios was buried beneath the altar of the cathedral, in a special crypt that he himself had prepared.

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