Patriarch Bartholomew congratulates new Albanian Archbishop

Patriarch Bartholomew. Photo: Facebook of the Patriarchate of Constantinople

Patriarch Bartholomew. Photo: Facebook of the Patriarchate of Constantinople

The head of the Church of Constantinople immediately after receiving the news in Phanar about the election of the new head of the Albanian Orthodox Church sent him his congratulations, the website of the Albanian Church reports.

"As soon as we received at the Phanar the news of your worthy election to the Archbishopric Throne of Albania, we hasten to extend our heartfelt congratulations to you. Awaiting Your Honorable Letters of Peace, we remain with deep respect and love in the Lord, wishing you a long and illustrious primatial ministry! Axios!!" the message says.

The congratulatory message is dated March 16, 2025 – the same day that the Holy Synod of the Albanian Orthodox Church elected Metropolitan Joan of Korça as the new Primate.

Let us recall that earlier Patriarch Daniel of Bulgaria, Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and Patriarch Daniel of the Romanian Church also addressed their congratulations to the newly elected Albanian Archbishop.

Metropolitan Victor offers condolences to families of shelling victims

The ruling hierarch of the Khmelnytskyi Eparchy expressed condolences to the families of those killed in the Russian attack on Khmelnytskyi on October 19.

Pope urges Zelensky to ensure safe evacuation from Oleshky

During a phone call, the pontiff raised concerns about the dire situation in the Kherson region town and discussed humanitarian aid for its residents.

Kharkiv Metropolitan offers condolences to victims of Nova Vodolaha strike

Metropolitan Onuphry expressed condolences to the families of those killed in a Russian strike on Nova Vodolaha in the Kharkiv region.

Metropolitan of Berlin blesses aid fundraiser for UOC convent in Donbas

An Orthodox community in Cologne has called on the faithful to help nuns facing severe hardship due to the fighting.

Dumenko: Mazepa returned to Lavra thanks to Zelensky

The OCU head said the installation of a bust of Hetman Ivan Mazepa at the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra was made possible by Zelensky and the Ukrainian Institute of National Memory.

Patriarch Bartholomew hits back at petition against his Bulgaria visit

The Phanar head called opponents of his visit "zealots" with "zeal not according to knowledge" and said they would not succeed in disrupting his trip to Bulgaria.