32 years since the Enthronement of Archbishop Anastas, as Archbishop of Tirana, Durrës and all of Albania

2024-08-02 15:34:00, Kulturë CNA

32 years since the Enthronement of Archbishop Anastas, as Archbishop of Tirana,

Today, Friday, August 2, 2024, 32 years have passed since the Enthronement of the first Archbishop after the proclamation of freedom of belief and the start of a new period of resurrection from the ruins of our martyred Church.

The enthronement of the Archbishop was carried out after a series of negotiations with the competent Albanian authorities, in the "Evangelization of the Virgin Mary" Cathedral Church in Tirana, on August 2, 1992, in the presence of all the clergy (survivors of the fierce communist persecution), as well as the laity from all dioceses of Albania.

32 years since the Enthronement of Archbishop Anastas, as Archbishop of Tirana,

This moment marked the renewal of the Autocephaly of the Autocephalous Orthodox Church of Albania, put into question by the total destruction caused by the communist regime. This event was the announcement of the good news that the Church of Albania was alive and no one would be able to stop the spiritual work enlightened by God for the benefit of the entire Albanian society.

The year 1992 found an Orthodox Community with few churches that had escaped destruction, no administrative facilities, no clergy and believers forcibly kept away from the Church and educated to deny God.

32 years since the Enthronement of Archbishop Anastas, as Archbishop of Tirana,

Since that time, the Archbishop started the work exactly where he had stopped, in the formation of the clergy and the rebuilding of the churches, to extend it more and more in many other fields, social, educational, educational, cultural, etc. It was precisely this persistence, dedication and rare ability that attracted the trust, appreciation and love of the Orthodox believers, who appreciated him as the most suitable person to continue this work even further.

32 years since the Enthronement of Archbishop Anastas, as Archbishop of Tirana,

The Church already has at its head an outstanding Chief Shepherd, who not only reborn and resurrected it from the grace of atheism, but also made it equal and recognized in the world in all sister Orthodox Churches and beyond.

Thus, today as thanks to God in the Church of the "Evangelization of the Virgin Mary" in Tirana, the panegyric Divine Liturgy was performed with the participation of His Beatitude Prof. Dr. Anastas, Metropolitan of Korça Hirësi Joani, Metropolitan of Fier Hirësi Nikolla, Metropolitan of Amantia Hirësi Nathanael, Bishop of Asti and also present in the Church was the Metropolitan of Elbasan Hirësi Andoni as well as clergy from the gracious Archbishopric.

32 years since the Enthronement of Archbishop Anastas, as Archbishop of Tirana,