In a televised interview with journalist Blendi Fevziu on the popular Albanian political program “Opinion,” Archbishop Ioannis of Albania spoke about his predecessor, Archbishop Anastasios, expressing deep admiration for his life, work, and spiritual legacy.
Having served alongside him for 33 years, Archbishop Ioannis recalled their first meeting in Boston in 1992, arranged through his professor at the Boston Theological School — later Archbishop of America Demetrios Trakatellis — who was closely connected to Archbishop Anastasios and his missionary vision.
“Archbishop Anastasios spoke to me about his work in Albania,” Archbishop Ioannis said, adding that only a few months later he returned to Albania and was ordained a clergyman, recognizing the tremendous efforts of Archbishop Anastasios in rebuilding the Orthodox Church of Albania after decades of suppression.
“His vision was to build a strong local Church,” he emphasized. “The day of my ordination as Metropolitan was a day of great joy for Anastasios.”
The interview, broadcast in two parts, also covered Archbishop Ioannis’ early life, his experiences during the communist-era persecution of faith, his flight from Albania after the fall of the regime, his years of work in Italy, his theological studies in the United States, and his journey to the archiepiscopal throne.
Archbishop Ioannis also shared his vision for the future of the Orthodox Church of Albania — one rooted in peace, cooperation, and harmonious coexistence among the country’s diverse religious communities.
By Fr. Elias Makos / Translated by: Konstantinos Menyktas
