In a revealing interview with distinguished Albanian journalist Ferdinaro Samardzi, Archbishop Ioannis of Albania spoke openly about his decision to embrace the path of the priesthood and to return to Albania at a time of profound uncertainty for the country and its Church.
Archbishop Ioannis explained that although he had the opportunity to remain in the United States, where he had pursued his theological studies, he had already made a firm decision to return once the Orthodox Church of Albania was restored. This choice was made despite his parents’ objections, as the early 1990s were marked by instability and unpredictability in Albania.
As he noted characteristically: “I had no reason to remain in America when my country needed me. What America could offer me was not what I wanted. I did not want wealth or comfort. The reason I wanted to become a hieromonk was precisely to serve God.”
A decisive moment that shaped his future was his first heartfelt meeting and conversation in the United States with Archbishop Anastasios of Albania, who at the time was Metropolitan of Androusa and later became Archbishop of Albania. That encounter proved pivotal for his priestly journey.
Recalling the experience, Archbishop Ioannis emphasized: “When I was a student at a Theological School in America and was participating in a program organizing the ‘Fan Noli’ Library, Anastasios—then Patriarchal Exarch in Albania—came for a seminar and invited me to meet him. When I told him that I would return to Albania after finishing my studies, he was very pleased. In 1992 I spent one month in Albania and was present at his enthronement, and in 1993 I returned permanently, initially working as a teacher at the Clerical School of Durrës.”
His ecclesiastical progression was rapid. In 1994, he was ordained deacon and priest by Archbishop Anastasios. He continued his studies in the United States, was appointed Assistant Dean of the Theological Academy of Durrës in 1996, received the rank of Archimandrite the same year, was elected Metropolitan of Korçë in 1998, and in 2025 became the successor of the late Archbishop Anastasios.
This journey was marked by intense pastoral responsibility, service, and a deep awareness of the difficulties faced, combined with a firm determination to convey to the modern world the hope of life found in God.
Reflecting on the harsh years of enforced atheism, Archbishop Ioannis stressed that he strongly felt God’s presence and was not led astray into denial or disbelief. As he stated in the interview:
“I often say that what God opens cannot be closed by people. If the candle is lit within a person’s soul, if love for God is illuminated, the path will include the Cross but also the joy of the Resurrection. The path does not end at the Cross but at the Resurrection. At that time, people understood the difficult situation, but the joy that life gives surpasses it. Even when it seemed unbelievable that someone could celebrate the Divine Liturgy, God protected us because the period was extremely dangerous.”
Speaking about the late Archbishop Anastasios, he underlined that “his vision for a solid Church in Albania with a future was transformed from a dream into reality through his persistent work and great dedication. His vision was a hopeful one, because he always said that without building a stable Church, there would be no future. At the beginning, it was not easy. It was not only about constructing buildings; the most important task was the building of human hearts. The situation was dire, churches were destroyed, educational opportunities were limited, and therefore I believe that the work of Anastasios was an expression of great love for God and for the Church.”
Through this interview, Archbishop Ioannis also conveys a broader message: even if evil appears dominant in our times, it will not prevail. God remains an unbreakable safety net, sustaining humanity with hope and faith.
By Fr. Ilias Makos / Translated by: Konstantinos Menyktas
