A solemn funeral service was held on Thursday, 30 January at the Cathedral of the Resurrection of Christ in Tirana for Archbishop Anastasios of Albania, a revered figure in the Orthodox Christian community. The Ecumenical Patriarch, Bartholomew, presided over the ceremony, which was attended by dignitaries including Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama and Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis.
Archbishop Anastasios, originally from Piraeus, Greece, passed away in Athens on 25 January at the age of 95. His legacy in Albania is profound, particularly for his role in restoring the country’s Orthodox Church after decades of repression under communist rule. Arriving in 1991, he oversaw the reconstruction of churches, established educational and charitable institutions, and trained a new generation of clergy.
The service was conducted in both Albanian and Greek, reflecting his commitment to fostering unity between the two nations. Prime Minister Rama acknowledged his transformative impact, while Prime Minister Mitsotakis described him as a bridge between communities.
Following the ceremony, mourners paid their final respects before the Archbishop was laid to rest in the cathedral’s crypt. The Albanian Orthodox Church is expected to select his successor in the near future.
