Archbishop Anastasios of Albania laid to rest in Tirana

Funeral service of Archbishop Anastasios in Tirana. Photo: UOJ

On January 30, 2025, the Resurrection Cathedral of the Albanian Orthodox Church held the funeral service for its Primate, Archbishop Anastasios. The Albanian branch of UOJ broadcasted the service live on Facebook.

The burial service was led by Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, assisted by Albanian hierarchs: Metropolitan Demetrios of Gjirokastër, Metropolitan Antonios of Elbasan, Metropolitan Astios of Berat, Metropolitan Nikolaos of Apollonia and Fier, Metropolitan Ioannis of Korça, Metropolitan Nathanail of Amantia, and Metropolitan Anastasios of Krujë.

Also present in prayer were Patriarch Daniel of Bulgaria, Patriarch Theophilos of Jerusalem, Patriarch Theodore of Alexandria, Archbishop Ieronymos of Athens, Metropolitan Niphon of Târgoviște (Romanian Patriarchate), Metropolitan Anthony of Volokolamsk (Russian Orthodox Church), as well as abbots from the Athonite monasteries of Simonopetra and Xenophontos.

Among the attendees were the President of Albania, Bajram Begaj, Prime Minister Edi Rama, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, and other political figures from Greece and Albania.

The vast Resurrection Cathedral was completely filled, with thousands of people praying outside in the square.

After the funeral service, bishops and priests carried the coffin by hand to the burial site in the crypt beneath the cathedral.

Earlier, the UOJ reported on the Testament of Archbishop Anastasios of Albania regarding Ukraine.

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