Latest news with #AutocephalousOrthodoxChurchofAlbania
The Independent
29-03-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Albania's Orthodox Church inaugurates its new Archbishop Joan
Albania's Orthodox Church on Saturday held an inauguration ceremony for its new Archbishop Joan, who succeeded Archbishop Anastasios following his death in January. The ceremony was held at the Cathedral of Resurrection of Christ in downtown Tirana, formally launching Joan's leadership as the archbishop of Tirana, Durres and all of Albania and also head of the Autocephalous Orthodox Church of Albania. Earlier this month a seven-member Holy Synod unanimously elected Joan, the metropolitan of Korca, in the post left vacant after Anastasios' death in January. Albania's religious leaders, top officials and politicians, Orthodox religious leaders from around the world, a Vatican representative and Greece 's ministers of defense and social cohesion attended the ceremony. Hundreds of faithful packed into the cathedral. Bishop Nikolla of Apollonia and Fieri, speaking on behalf of the Holy Synod, said that Joan would continue 'preserving religious harmony and co-existence,' like his predecessor Anastasios, who resuscitated the country's church after the fall of communism. 'Albania's Autocephalous Orthodox Church wants to live in peace with all,' said Archbishop Joan, adding that religious co-existence but should be 'defended and further enriched.' Albanian President Bajram Begaj said the ceremony sends a message 'that transcends borders of faith and invites all goodwill citizens in building up a fairer, more humble, more united and fraternal society." The Orthodox Church of Albania was declared autocephalous in September in 1922, ending its subordination to the archbishopric of Ohrid and the patriarchate of Constantinople. Archbishop Joan, 69, born Fatmir Pelushi, grew up in a Muslim family. He was secretly baptized in 1979 by priest Kosmas Kyrios, who later became the bishop of Apollonia. All forms of religion were banned in Albania for 23 years starting in 1967, when the country was completely isolated from the outside world and the communists seized the property of Islamic, Orthodox, Catholic and other churches. Joan, whose family was persecuted by the communists, joined a small underground church group. He worked at the Tirana Psychiatric Hospital until 1990, when the communist leadership collapsed. In 1990, he fled to Italy and then to Boston, where he studied at the Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology. In 1992, when Albanians fled the poor country en masse, Joan contacted Archbishop Anastasios offering his return to contribute to the church's reconstruction. He is the sixth head of the Albanian Orthodox Church. According to the 2023 census, Orthodox believers in Albania make up about 7% of the 2.4 million population, although the church says the actual number is higher. The tiny Western Balkan country is about half Muslim, followed by the Catholics, Orthodox and other religious communities and nonbelievers, who all live in harmony. ___ Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the AP's collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content.
The Hill
30-01-2025
- Politics
- The Hill
Thousands of Albanians pay last respects to Orthodox Christian Archbishop Anastasios
TIRANA, Albania (AP) — Thousands of Albanians gathered in the capital on Thursday to pay their last respects to Archbishop Anastasios, who revived the country's Orthodox Christian Church after the fall of the country's communist party in 1990. Anastasios, who was the Archbishop of Tirana, Durres, and All Albania and also head of the Autocephalous Orthodox Church of Albania, died on Jan. 25 in Athens. He was 95. There was a somber mood as people massed in the streets around at the Cathedral of the Resurrection of Christ in downtown Tirana for Anastasios who led the church after he reestablished it in 1991. All forms of religion were banned in Albania for almost 50 years from the the mid-1940's, when the country was completely isolated from the outside world. The communists had also expropriated the property of the established Islamic, Orthodox, Catholic and other religions. Albanian's leaders and visiting Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis were joined by representatives of Orthodox clergy from around the world. Albanians and world religious leaders also attended the funeral service. It took two days for Anastasios's funeral procession to reach the capital by car after it entered the country through its southern border with Greece. A similar service was held at the main Greek orthodox Church cathedral in Athens before the procession travelled to Tirana. Born Anastasios Yannoulatos in Piraeus, Greece on Nov. 4, 1929, he arrived in Albania in 1991, immediately after the collapse of the communists that had ruled the country since the mid-1940s Anastasios has been praised for rebuilding the church from the ground up, building hundreds of churches, establishing educational and charitable institutions, and educating a new generation of clergy,. According to the 2023 census, Orthodox Christians in Albania make up about 7% of the country's 2.4 million population, although the church says the actual number is higher. Half the population of tiny Western Balkan country identifies as Muslim with Orthodox and Catholic Christians making up much of the remainder the remainder. The Albanian Orthodox Church will elect Anastasios' replacement.
Yahoo
30-01-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Thousands of Albanians pay last respects to Orthodox Christian Archbishop Anastasios
TIRANA, Albania (AP) — Thousands of Albanians gathered in the capital on Thursday to pay their last respects to Archbishop Anastasios, who revived the country's Orthodox Christian Church after the fall of the country's communist party in 1990. Anastasios, who was the Archbishop of Tirana, Durres, and All Albania and also head of the Autocephalous Orthodox Church of Albania, died on Jan. 25 in Athens. He was 95. There was a somber mood as people massed in the streets around at the Cathedral of the Resurrection of Christ in downtown Tirana for Anastasios who led the church after he reestablished it in 1991. All forms of religion were banned in Albania for almost 50 years from the the mid-1940's, when the country was completely isolated from the outside world. The communists had also expropriated the property of the established Islamic, Orthodox, Catholic and other religions. Albanian's leaders and visiting Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis were joined by representatives of Orthodox clergy from around the world. Albanians and world religious leaders also attended the funeral service. It took two days for Anastasios's funeral procession to reach the capital by car after it entered the country through its southern border with Greece. A similar service was held at the main Greek orthodox Church cathedral in Athens before the procession travelled to Tirana. Born Anastasios Yannoulatos in Piraeus, Greece on Nov. 4, 1929, he arrived in Albania in 1991, immediately after the collapse of the communists that had ruled the country since the mid-1940s Anastasios has been praised for rebuilding the church from the ground up, building hundreds of churches, establishing educational and charitable institutions, and educating a new generation of clergy,. According to the 2023 census, Orthodox Christians in Albania make up about 7% of the country's 2.4 million population, although the church says the actual number is higher. Half the population of tiny Western Balkan country identifies as Muslim with Orthodox and Catholic Christians making up much of the remainder the remainder. The Albanian Orthodox Church will elect Anastasios' replacement. By Llazar Semini, The Associated Press
Associated Press
30-01-2025
- Politics
- Associated Press
Thousands of Albanians pay last respects to Orthodox Christian Archbishop Anastasios
TIRANA, Albania (AP) — Thousands of Albanians gathered in the capital on Thursday to pay their last respects to Archbishop Anastasios, who revived the country's Orthodox Christian Church after the fall of the country's communist party in 1990. Anastasios, who was the Archbishop of Tirana, Durres, and All Albania and also head of the Autocephalous Orthodox Church of Albania, died on Jan. 25 in Athens. He was 95. There was a somber mood as people massed in the streets around at the Cathedral of the Resurrection of Christ in downtown Tirana for Anastasios who led the church after he reestablished it in 1991. All forms of religion were banned in Albania for almost 50 years from the the mid-1940's, when the country was completely isolated from the outside world. The communists had also expropriated the property of the established Islamic, Orthodox, Catholic and other religions. Albanian's leaders and visiting Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis were joined by representatives of Orthodox clergy from around the world. Albanians and world religious leaders also attended the funeral service. It took two days for Anastasios's funeral procession to reach the capital by car after it entered the country through its southern border with Greece. A similar service was held at the main Greek orthodox Church cathedral in Athens before the procession travelled to Tirana. Born Anastasios Yannoulatos in Piraeus, Greece on Nov. 4, 1929, he arrived in Albania in 1991, immediately after the collapse of the communists that had ruled the country since the mid-1940s Anastasios has been praised for rebuilding the church from the ground up, building hundreds of churches, establishing educational and charitable institutions, and educating a new generation of clergy,. According to the 2023 census, Orthodox Christians in Albania make up about 7% of the country's 2.4 million population, although the church says the actual number is higher. Half the population of tiny Western Balkan country identifies as Muslim with Orthodox and Catholic Christians making up much of the remainder the remainder. The Albanian Orthodox Church will elect Anastasios' replacement.
The Independent
30-01-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Thousands of Albanians pay last respects to Orthodox Christian Archbishop Anastasios
Thousands of Albanians gathered in the capital on Thursday to pay their last respects to Archbishop Anastasios, who revived the country's Orthodox Christian Church after the fall of the country's communist party in 1990. Anastasios, who was the Archbishop of Tirana, Durres, and All Albania and also head of the Autocephalous Orthodox Church of Albania, died on Jan. 25 in Athens. He was 95. There was a somber mood as people massed in the streets around at the Cathedral of the Resurrection of Christ in downtown Tirana for Anastasios who led the church after he reestablished it in 1991. All forms of religion were banned in Albania for almost 50 years from the the mid-1940's, when the country was completely isolated from the outside world. The communists had also expropriated the property of the established Islamic, Orthodox, Catholic and other religions. Albanian's leaders and visiting Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis were joined by representatives of Orthodox clergy from around the world. Albanians and world religious leaders also attended the funeral service. It took two days for Anastasios's funeral procession to reach the capital by car after it entered the country through its southern border with Greece. A similar service was held at the main Greek orthodox Church cathedral in Athens before the procession travelled to Tirana. Born Anastasios Yannoulatos in Piraeus, Greece on Nov. 4, 1929, he arrived in Albania in 1991, immediately after the collapse of the communists that had ruled the country since the mid-1940s Anastasios has been praised for rebuilding the church from the ground up, building hundreds of churches, establishing educational and charitable institutions, and educating a new generation of clergy,. According to the 2023 census, Orthodox Christians in Albania make up about 7% of the country's 2.4 million population, although the church says the actual number is higher. Half the population of tiny Western Balkan country identifies as Muslim with Orthodox and Catholic Christians making up much of the remainder the remainder. The Albanian Orthodox Church will elect Anastasios' replacement.
