First interview as Archbishop/His Beatitude, Joani talks about baptism during communism

2025-03-26 20:13:00, Aktualitet CNA

First interview as Archbishop/His Beatitude, Joani talks about baptism during

On March 16, 2025, His Beatitude Joan Pelushi was elected Archbishop of Tirana, Durrës and all Albania. His Beatitude was elected head of the Autocephalous Orthodox Church after Archbishop Anastasios passed away.

His Beatitude, John is elected Archbishop of the Albanian Orthodox Church
March 16, 11:38

In his first interview as Archbishop, His Beatitude Joani recounted how he came across the New Testament during his high school years, at a time when atheism was prevalent in Albania. Archbishop Joani says that he initially read the New Testament in French and after reading it, something profoundly changed in his soul .

First interview as Archbishop/His Beatitude, Joani talks about baptism during

His Beatitude states that after coming into contact with the Gospel, he decided to be baptized, which happened a short time later by Father Cosmai. The Archbishop of the Autocephalous Orthodox Church, His Beatitude Joan, also spoke about his acquaintance with Father Cosmai and who introduced him to him.

“ My youth during atheism was more or less like that of all young people at that time. We grew up without the presence of institutional faith, but in the soul of each person different things are felt and happen, because we are not copies. Everyone has their own uniqueness and their own path. Our life has a continuity, where our past influences the events that happen to us now, or in the future. My first encounter with faith occurred in 1974, when I was in the fourth year of high school. I had just learned French and I came across a book - the New Testament - in French. The person who gave it to me did not know what book it was. When I read it, something changed deeply in my soul. The way it was written, the simple but very profound words of God, convinced me of its truthfulness. These are psychological truths. Even when someone tells you something, often the way they say it convinces you that it is true.

At that time, no faith was practiced, at least among the young people I knew. It wasn't that I practiced a faith and then turned away. My contact with the Gospel was my first faith. That's when I decided to be baptized, which I did a little later. I didn't tell my parents, not because they were against it, but because I didn't want to scare them. But my mother understood.

I got to know Father Cosmai through some believing sisters living in Korça, known as the Cico sisters, whom we met from Theofan Popa. Together with Petro Zheji, who became my godfather, we visited them often. We also visited Father Cosmai, who lived in the village of Bestrovë in Vlorë ”, His Beatitude expressed.

During his first interview as Archbishop, His Beatitude Ioannis also revealed his baptism, which was done in secret due to the regime .

His Beatitude said that his baptism took place in the basement of Father Cosmas' house, but nevertheless, from an ecclesiastical point of view, there was no deficiency and it is just as valid as baptism in the Church .

" In normal times, baptism is done in church, while in times of persecution, baptism is done in secret. From an ecclesiastical point of view, it lacks nothing and is equally valid, whether it is done by a canonical priest or bishop. I was baptized in the basement of Father Kozma's house. It was him, my godfather and I, while Father Kozma's son, Ilia, who is today a priest in Vlora, stood guard outside the house ," said Archbishop Joani./ CNA