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November 4, 1929, birthday of the late Archbishop, Anastasios

2025-11-04 21:45:00, Aktualitet CNA

On November 4, 1929, Anastas Janullatos was born in Piraeus, the man who dedicated his life to service and Orthodoxy, and who became the spiritual father and highly respected restorer and reformer of the Autocephalous Orthodox Church of Albania.

His Eminence, Anastas passed away at the age of 95 this year, but left behind his extraordinary works and contributions to the Autocephalous Orthodox Church of Albania, the believers, and Albania.

His Work

In 1991, he was appointed by the Ecumenical Patriarch, Patriarchal Exarch in Albania. In June 1992, he was elected Archbishop of Tirana, Durrës and all Albania and on August 2, 1992, he was enthroned in the Church of the Annunciation in Tirana.

Through numerous difficulties, he rebuilt the Autocephalous Orthodox Church of Albania from the ruins, reorganized more than 400 parishes, founded the Theological Academy "Resurrection of Christ" in Durrës (1992) and two ecclesiastical Lyceums; educated and ordained 159 clergy.

He founded 50 youth centers in different cities. He took care of the translation and publication of liturgical books and other religious books. 155 new churches were built, 63 others were restored and more than 160 existing churches were repaired, as well as 75 church centers (Bishopric and Metropolitan Buildings, schools, medical centers, hostels, youth camps, etc.).

The total construction work amounts to about 500 buildings. He carried out charitable works, distributing hundreds of tons of food, clothing and medicine. He founded a monthly newspaper and three magazines, as well as a radio station. He took care of the construction of the Church's workshops (printing house, candle factory, carpentry, icon workshops and their restoration).

At the same time, it developed pioneering programs in the fields of education, health, social care, rural development, culture, and ecology.

He founded the Diagnostic Medical Center Archived April 1, 2019 at the Wayback Machine with 24 specialties in Tirana and 4 medical centers in other cities, also the Theological Academy, two Vocational Training Institutes, from 2010 in Tirana the "Logos" University College Archived June 3, 2019 at the Wayback Machine, a vocational high school, 5 primary and secondary schools, a girls' boarding school and 20 kindergartens in different cities.

He took care of the construction of roads, waterworks, bridges, the repair of public schools, etc.). During the critical period of Kosovo (1999), he organized a wide humanitarian program, which helped about 33,000 refugees in different parts of Albania. He connected the Church of Albania with international church organizations. He is a founding member of the Interdenominational Bible Society of Albania and the Interreligious Council of Albania.

During the political tensions between Greece and Albania, he contributed to their mitigation and the rapprochement of the two countries. On October 24, 2008, according to Article 10 of the Constitution of the Republic of Albania, Archbishop Anastas Janullatos signed the Agreement provided for by the Constitution between the Autocephalous Orthodox Church of Albania and the Council of Ministers, which was subsequently ratified by the People's Assembly and on January 22, 2009, was decreed by the President of the Republic, Mr. Bamir Topi, and became State Law No. 10057/22.1.2009, an agreement that regulates the relations between the State and the Autocephalous Orthodox Church of Albania according to the legal regime of Albania, which is administered and regulated according to the new Statute approved in November 2006, in the special Clerical-Laity Assembly, in Durrës.

Through his initiatives and work, thousands of people have been provided with jobs, serious works of social structure have been created, and the Orthodox Church of Albania has become a multi-dynamic spiritual factor and a factor of progress.

He was an initiator in the renewal of missionary efforts in the Orthodox Church. A scholar in the field of the History of Religions and interreligious dialogue. At the same time, he was known for his efforts as a peacemaker in the Balkans.

His contribution to the field of science, to contemporary Christian witness, to rapprochement with other Christian denominations, to interreligious dialogue and to peaceful coexistence between peoples and religions, is universally recognized. He has been awarded many decorations and prizes from various countries./ CNA