Escape to America, meeting Father Liolin and studying in Boston/ Archbishop Joani recounts his life

2025-03-26 21:57:00, Aktualitet CNA

Escape to America, meeting Father Liolin and studying in Boston/ Archbishop

The Archbishop of Tirana, Durrës and all of Albania, His Beatitude Joani, has told how he traveled to America, the studies he completed there and his acquaintance with Father Artur Liolini.

His Beatitude Joani has confessed that together with his godfather, Petro Zheji, after the opening of the embassies, they went to Italy in 1990. At the American embassy in Italy, His Beatitude and Petro Zheji received a visa for America and then across the ocean were provided with a Green Card.

Archbishop Joani says that in America he contacted Father Artur Liolini , the leader of the Albanian Orthodox Church in Boston, who helped him obtain a scholarship from the Albanian Archdiocese of America.

“ In 1990, after the embassies opened, we were allowed to get passports and I went to Italy, together with Petro Zheji and a cousin of his. There we were accepted as refugees and received visas at the American embassy. In America we were given a Green Card. There I contacted Father Artur Liolini, who helped me get a scholarship from the Albanian Archbishopric of America, from a foundation created in memory of Bishop Theofan Noli. In America, for the Orthodox churches, there are two important theological schools: Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology in Boston, under the jurisdiction of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, and Saint Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary in New York, under the jurisdiction of the OCA (Orthodox Church of America). Since the Albanian Archbishopric of America is headquartered in Boston, I studied in that city. "," said Archbishop Joan.

His Beatitude Joani, in the interview, also made a summary of the study cycles he completed in Boston , the city where the Albanian Archbishopric of America is headquartered.

“ In Boston, I graduated with “High Distinction” in the MTS (Master of Theological Studies) in 1993. In 1995 I went back to pursue further studies at the Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology University in Boston. In 1997 I graduated with “High Distinction” in the MT (Master of Theology, an advanced master’s degree, equivalent to a candidate of sciences) also at Holy Cross, Boston ,” His Beatitude said./ CNA