Thousands of faithful in Albania revere the body of the late Abp Anastasios
Funeral service in the Metropolis of Gjirokastër. Photo: UOJ
On January 28, 2025, the body of the Primate of the Albanian Orthodox Church, Archbishop Anastasios, who passed away in an Athens hospital on Saturday, was transported from Greece to Albania, according to the Greek edition of UOJ. At the Kakavijë border crossing, a large crowd of mourners gathered to bid farewell to the departed hierarch, whom many referred to as "their father".
On the other side of the border, in the towns of Derviçan and Gjirokastër, believers tearfully scattered laurel branches over the hearse and sang Paschal hymns. The first memorial service, led by Metropolitan Dimitrios, was held in the Metropolis of Gjirokastër, attended by clergy and students from schools established by Archbishop Anastasios.
By 4:00 PM local time, the procession will arrive in Tirana, where the body will remain for public veneration until Thursday. The funeral service is scheduled for Thursday at 11:00 AM. It will be presided over by Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, with the participation of Patriarch Theophilos of Jerusalem, Patriarch Theodoros of Alexandria, Archbishop Ieronymos of Athens, and representatives of all Local Churches.
The Albanian Church has declared a five-day mourning period until January 29. Archbishop Anastasios' ministry as the First Hierarch of the Church continued for over 30 years. He played a pivotal role in the revival of Orthodoxy in Albania after decades of communist persecution.
Previously, the UOJ published the Testament of Archbishop Anastasios regarding Ukraine.
Read also
Sand for construction of Yermak’s residence brought from cemetery, MP says
MP Yaroslav Zhelezniak said that sand illegally removed from a cemetery in Ukrainka was used in the construction of the elite Dynasty cooperative in Kozyn.
Italian court recognizes family with three parents as legal
In Bari, the appellate court ordered authorities to register an adoption according to which a child is listed as having two "fathers" and one mother.
Archaeologists discover biblical Bethsaida on shore of Sea of Galilee
Researchers have discovered a first-century residential house beneath the apse of a Byzantine church and a mosaic inscription mentioning the Apostle Peter.
Israeli soldiers receive jail terms for mocking statue of the Virgin Mary
Those involved in the act of sacrilege in the village of Debel will spend several weeks behind bars for desecrating a statue of the Mother of God.
Serbian Church officially receives back land of 15th-century monastery
An agreement was signed in Belgrade transferring the territory of the ancient Vojlovica Monastery to the Banat Eparchy.
Pat Daniel comments on conflict between Phanar bishop and community in Turkey
The Bulgarian Primate believes that the hierarch of the Constantinople Patriarchate should not have forced the Bulgarian community in Edirne to serve in Greek.