The Holy Synod elects the new Metropolitan of Korça

2025-09-16 12:26:00, Aktualitet CNA

After the meeting, the Holy Synod elected the new Metropolitan of Korça, Mr. Anastas.

The Graceful Synod of the Autocephalous Orthodox Church of Albania, under the leadership of His Beatitude, Archbishop of Tirana, Durrës and all Albania, Mr. Joan, met today, September 16, 2025, at the Synodal Center of the Graceful Archbishopric of Tirana, in accordance with the Statute of the Church, and held the following elections:

He elected with full votes as Metropolitan of Gjirokastra, His Grace, the current Metropolitan of Amantia, Mr. Nathanail. The enthronement of the new Metropolitan will take place on September 20, 2025, at 11:00, in the Cathedral Church of the Resurrection of Christ, in Gjirokastra.

He elected with full votes as Metropolitan of Korça, His Grace, the current Bishop of Kruja, Mr. Anastas. The enthronement of the new Metropolitan will take place on September 27, 2025, at 11:00, in the Cathedral Church of the Resurrection of Christ, in Korça.

Following this, the two newly elected Metropolitans gave the great message in the chapel of the Synodal Center.

Metropolitan of Korça Mr. Anastas (Mamaj)

His Grace, Metropolitan of Korça, Mr. Anastas (Mamaj), was born in Vlora, in 1979. He completed his studies at the Department of Greek Language at the Faculty of Philosophy of the University of Athens (1999), graduated from the “Ismail Qemali” University of Vlora and received a degree in Business Administration (MSc) (2001-2005). He later studied at the “Resurrection of Christ” Theological Academy (2017) and at the Department of Theology and Culture at LOGOS University College, where he received a degree (BSc) in Social Theological Studies and Religious Sciences (2023).

In the years 2005-2009 he held important positions at the Italo-Albanian Bank and from 2009 to 2017 he held management positions at Union Bank. From 2006 to 2014 he was a member of the Clerical-Laity Council of the Orthodox Church of Albania and a close associate of the late Metropolitan of Berat, Vlora and Kanina, Mr. Ignat.

He was ordained deacon on January 22, 2018 by His Beatitude, Archbishop Mr. Anastas, was ordained priest on October 20, 2019, and received the title of Archimandrite on August 9, 2020.

From 2017 to the present day, he contributes to the administration of the church property and economic activities of the Church of Albania. He is the Executive Director of the University Institution “LOGOS”, representative of the Archbishop on the Executive Council and member of the Administrative Council of the “Orthodox Evangelization Clinic” Foundation. He is also an advisor to the “Frymë Dashurie” Educational Institution and since December 3, he serves as Protosingjel of the Archbishopric of Tirana and Durrës. In addition to his native language, he speaks Greek and Italian./ CNA