Albanian Archbishop concelebrates with Patriarch Bartholomew at the Phanar
Archbishop Anastasios and Patriarch Bartholomew at the Phanar. Photo: Press Service of the Ecumenical Patriarchate
On June 15, 2025, the Feast of All Saints, Archbishop Anastasios of Albania concelebrated the Divine Liturgy with Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew at the Church of St. George on the Phanar. The service was broadcast live on Facebook by the press office of the Ecumenical Patriarchate.
In his remarks following the Liturgy, Archbishop Anastasios spoke about the tragic consequences of Albania’s atheist regime, which led to “the destruction of hundreds of churches and monasteries, the imprisonment, torture, and deaths of many clergy and faithful, the banning of all religious services, and even of private prayer.”
“Our Church reached the gates of hell. The regime declared Albania the world’s first atheist state, believing it had completely erased all religious presence from the country. But the promise of our Lord Jesus Christ – that the gates of hell shall not prevail against the Church – proved stronger than all devious human machinations and the horrors of persecution,” the Archbishop emphasized.
He noted that “after decades of brutal atheism and persecution, we have witnessed a miraculous rebirth.”
“We had no grand cathedrals or organized programs, but we had love and purity of heart. We came to understand that the Gospel cannot be imposed – it can only be offered,” Archbishop Anastasios said.
On the eve of the service, June 14, during a meeting with Patriarch Bartholomew, the Archbishop highlighted that “this peaceful visit of the newly elected Orthodox Primate, in accordance with custom, represents his first visit to the sister Local Orthodox Churches, beginning respectfully with the Most Holy Ecumenical Throne, which holds the honorary primacy among the Autocephalous Orthodox Churches.”
He also expressed his conviction that “the coordinating role of the Ecumenical Patriarchate is a guarantee of unity in the Holy Spirit among all the brother Orthodox Churches, serving as a testimony to Orthodoxy and a shining forth of its truth in today’s turbulent world.”
As previously reported by the UOJ, the Albanian Primate is making a peace visit to Constantinople.
Read also
TRC detains multi-child father and UOC deacon in Lutsk
Deacon Andriy Virny of the Three Holy Hierarchs Church had an official deferment and three children, however TRC employees detained him, insulting him for his affiliation with the UOC.
Usyk: Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra proves the antiquity of the Ukrainian nation
Speaking in the United States, the world champion described the Kyiv monastery as evidence that the Ukrainian nation has lived on its land for thousands of years.
UOC priest wounded in drone strike in Bilopillia
Priest Maksym Andrukhov sustained shrapnel wounds to his arm, head and leg; his mother Valentyna was also injured.
Culture Ministry allows possibility of handing Lavra’s “Afghan” church to OCU
The Ministry of Culture is ready to consider handing over to the OCU the Resurrection Church of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra, known as the “Afghan” church.
In Cyprus, enthronement of new Metropolitan of Paphos held amid protests
The enthronement of the new Paphos hierarch was performed by Archbishop Georgios of Cyprus at St. Theodore’s Cathedral.
Official complains that believers are defending monastery in Kremenets
The director of the Kremenets Reserve complained that a large number of believers gathered at the monastery to support the monastic community during an attempted inspection.