Georgian Patriarch Ilia congratulates new head of Albanian Orthodox Church

Patriarch Ilia of Georgia. Photo: Georgian Church website

Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia, Ilia II, sent a congratulatory message to the newly elected Metropolitan Ioannis of Tirana and Archbishop of All Albania.

In his message, Patriarch Ilia II, on behalf of the Georgian Orthodox Church and himself personally, warmly congratulated Archbishop Ioannis on his election as the Primate of the Albanian Church.

"May the Lord grant you health, longevity, spiritual strength, and wisdom to fulfill the great responsibility entrusted to you so that you may become a worthy successor to the labors of His Beatitude Anastasios," the message reads.

The Patriarch expressed hope that during Metropolitan Ioannis’s tenure, the ties between the Churches would be further strengthened and that his archpastoral ministry would be fruitful, bringing spiritual joy both to his flock and to all of Orthodoxy.

"May our Lord Jesus Christ and the Most Holy Theotokos help you," Patriarch Ilia II concluded, signing the letter as Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia, Archbishop of Mtskheta-Tbilisi, and Metropolitan of Bichvinta and Tskhum-Abkhazia.

Earlier, UOJ reported that the World Council of Churches congratulated the new Albanian Primate.

Read also

Shevchuk tells Budanov of UGCC’s “state-building role”

The head of the Uniates told the head of the Presidential Office that his Church was ready to partner with the state and presented him with a book on the work of special services in the Church.

Authorities decline to disclose Ukraine’s population size

The State Statistics Service acknowledged that it has up-to-date population estimates for the country, but has decided not to make them public.

Lithuanian govt vows to protect Orthodox Church from Russian intelligence

Lithuania’s Foreign Ministry has called for curbing the influence of Russian intelligence services on the Church, while an adviser to President Nausėda warned against labeling the entire structure a security threat.

During Ramadan, Patriarch Theodoros hosts Islamic iftar at his residence

Patriarch Theodoros of Alexandria hosted a meal for Muslim workers breaking their fast in the courtyard of the Patriarchate and thanked a sheikh for his “brotherhood.”

Lawsuit filed against Patriarch of Constantinople

A Turkish official has accused Patriarch Bartholomew and dozens of clergy of “illegal activity” and violating the Treaty of Lausanne.

OCU cleric buried with Church Slavonic funeral shroud

In the Ternopil Eparchy of the OCU, a cleric was buried under a funeral shroud bearing inscriptions in Church Slavonic.