Archbishop Anastasios of Albania, a revered spiritual leader and humanitarian, has passed away at the age of 95 at Evangelismos Hospital in Athens, where he had been hospitalised since early January.
The archbishop was airlifted to Athens from Tirana on 3 January following complications with his health. He underwent emergency laparoscopic surgery to address gastrointestinal bleeding and was placed in intensive care under intubation. Despite medical efforts, his condition deteriorated in recent hours.
His health struggles began on 30 December when he was admitted to a hospital in Tirana with a fever.
Born Anastasios Yannoulatos in Piraeus on 4 November 1929, he was a distinguished theologian and scholar. A graduate of the University of Athens with a doctorate in theology, he furthered his studies in religious and missionary studies as well as ethnology at the universities of Hamburg and Marburg in Germany. His academic journey also included research at Makerere University College in Uganda as a scholar of the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation.
Archbishop Anastasios was ordained as a deacon in 1960 and became a priest in 1964. In 1972, he was consecrated as the Bishop of Androussa and served as the general director of the apostolic ministry of the Church of Greece from 1972 to 1991. His crowning achievement came in 1992 when he was appointed Archbishop of Albania. Taking on the monumental task of rebuilding the Orthodox Church of Albania after it had been dismantled under the oppressive Hoxha regime in 1967, he revitalised the Church, expanding its influence in health, education, social welfare, rural development, environmental protection, and cultural preservation.
In recognition of his contributions, Archbishop Anastasios was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize in 2000 by 33 members of the Academy of Athens and prominent Albanian figures. His efforts were globally acknowledged, particularly in fostering interfaith dialogue, promoting peaceful coexistence, and advancing contemporary Christianity.
A scholar of international renown, he was an emeritus professor at the University of Athens and an honorary member of the Academy of Athens. He held honorary doctorates from 19 academic institutions across Greece, the United States, Romania, Cyprus, Georgia, Albania, and Italy. Additionally, he served as an honorary senator of the European Academy of Sciences and Arts, honorary president of the World Conference of Religions for Peace, and honorary professor at the University of West Attica.
Archbishop Anastasios leaves behind a profound legacy of spiritual leadership, intellectual achievement, and unwavering dedication to peace and unity.
