The Holy Synod of the Orthodox Autocephalous Church of Albania, under the presidency of Archbishop Anastasios of Tirana, Durrës, and All Albania, met today, December 9, 2024, and unanimously elected Archimandrite Anastasios (Mamaj) as Auxiliary Bishop of the historic Diocese of Kruja.
In accordance with the Church’s Constitution, he will become a member of the Holy Synod.
The ordination of the newly elected Bishop will take place on December 15, 2024, in the Cathedral of the Holy Resurrection in Tirana.
Biography
The newly elected Auxiliary Bishop of Kruja, His Grace Anastasios (née Enkeled Mamaj), was born on August 6, 1979, in Vlora, Albania, where he completed his primary education.
In 1999 he studied at the Department of Greek of the School of Philosophy of the University of Athens.
He graduated from the “Ismail Qemali” University in his hometown with a degree in Business Administration (MSc) (2001-2005). From 2005 to 2009, he held managerial positions at the Italian-Albanian Bank, and from 2009 to 2017, he held managerial positions at Union Bank.
At the same time, from 2006 to 2014, he was a member of the Clergy-Laity Council of the Orthodox Church of Albania and a close collaborator of the late Metropolitan Ignatios of Berat, Vlora, and Kanina until his death.
In 2017, he attended the Resurrection of Christ Theological Academy and later enrolled in the Department of Theology and Culture at LOGOS University College, where he received a Bachelor’s Degree (BSc) in Social Theological Studies and Religious Sciences in 2023.
On January 22, 2018, he was ordained a deacon by His Beatitude Archbishop Anastasios of Tirana, Durrës, and All Albania. On October 20, 2019, he was ordained a priest, and on August 9, 2020, he was elevated to the rank of Archimandrite.
Since 2017, he has contributed to the management of the assets and financial activities of the Church. He currently serves as the Executive Director of the LOGOS University Foundation, represents Archbishop Anastasios on the Executive Council, and is a member of the Board of Directors of the “Orthodox Evangelismos Clinic”. He is also an advisor to the “Fryme Dashurie” Educational Foundation.
Since December 3 of this year, he has served as Protosyncellus (Chief Secretary) of the Archdiocese of Tirana and Durrës. In addition to his native Albanian, he speaks Greek, Italian, and English.
