Archbishop Anastasios; A year of absence, an eternal presence

2026-01-25 16:36:00, Opinione Fortlumturia e Tij, Kryepiskopi Joan

A year that our Church experiences the absence of our beloved Father, brother, and fellow priest. The annual commemoration is not a formal obligation, it is a spiritual need, a need to stop, to reflect, to remember, and to gratefully thank the Triune God for all and to draw strength from His grace.

The departure of a great man always leaves a sadness and a void. But for us who believe in God, in the Resurrection of Christ and in the eternity of the soul, we have a consolation, because God is not the God of the dead, but of the living.

The commemoration of Blessed Archbishop Anastasios is not simply a nostalgic return to the past, it is the conscious choice to keep alive the legacy he left us. Not as a museum exhibit, but as a guide for the present and the future and as an opportunity for inner meditation and for the orientation of our lives.

The words of Saint John Gojarti: "Those we love and lose are not where they were before, they are now wherever we are," fit Archbishop Anastasios perfectly. We believe and feel his presence, and this gives us hope, courage, and relief.

The blessed Archbishop left us teachings and words that continue to illuminate our lives. I will quote some of these precious teachings and words. “Liturgy after Liturgy”, because worship does not end in the Church, it continues as a ministry in the world. “Love has no boundaries”, “The Church does not close in on itself” and “it is not only for itself, but for all people, whoever they may be”, because all people are created in the image of God.

He said: “Always on the journey”, “Faith is not a static possession, but a dynamic journey towards God”. These were not just slogans, they were his life. He preached what he lived and lived what he preached. In a world full of words but without deeds, his life was the strongest proof that words and deeds must be inseparable, because faith without deeds is dead, teaches us Saint James. His words: “The oil of faith should not be used by either side to inflame conflicts, but to heal wounds and calm hearts”, now known to everyone, have now become a leitmotif when talking about the role of religion in the conflictual world we live in today. He often said: “The resurrection is not just a dogma, it is an experience that transforms life”.

This is exactly what we saw in Albania: A Church that seemed dead was resurrected not by human strength, but by the grace of God working through people full of faith, who love God and serve him.

The life and work of Archbishop Anastasios will always be a living example and a constant inspiration not only for us today, but also for generations to come.

On this first anniversary of his repose, I would like to express our boundless thanks and gratitude for all that you have done for us and for our Church. We pray that God will give us the strength and wisdom to continue the bright path of Blessed Archbishop Anastasios, for the greatest honor we can pay him is to walk together on that path and in the same spirit.

Eternal and blessed be his memory.

*Speech of Archbishop Joan on the anniversary of the death of Blessed Archbishop Anastas (1929-2025, held on January 25, 2026, at the “Resurrection of Christ” Cathedral, Tirana