LAST UPDATE: 10:56
Metropolitan Ioannis of Korça presides over the Divine Liturgy held at the Holy Cathedral of the Resurrection of the Lord in Tirana, in front of the body of the late Archbishop Anastasios of Albania.
At 12:00 Greek time, the funeral service will be presided over by the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, with the participation of many heads of churches and their representatives.
Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew has already arrived at the Temple, accompanied by Patriarch Theodore II of Alexandria and All Africa, Elder Metropolitan Emmanuel of Chalcedon and Metropolitan George of Guinea, representative of the Patriarchate of Alexandria in Athens. Patriarch of Jerusalem Theofilos is also there.
A giant screen has been set up outside the Cathedral so that those present can follow the funeral service inside the church.
The ceremony will be attended by the Primates of the Orthodox Churches, such as the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, Archbishop Georgios of Cyprus, Patriarch Theophilos of Jerusalem and Archbishop Ieronymos of Athens and All Greece.
Metropolitan Nifon of Târgoviște will also participate on behalf of the Romanian Patriarchate.
Finally, Patriarch Theodore of Alexandria will be present, together with his representative in Athens, Metropolitan George of Guinea.
At the same time, the funeral service will be honored by the presence of the Prime Ministers of Greece and Albania, Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Edi Rama, in recognition of the spiritual and social work of the late Archbishop.
The atmosphere in the Holy Cathedral of the Resurrection of the Lord, where the body of Anastasios has been lying since Tuesday afternoon, was in keeping with the founder of the Autocephalous Church of Albania.
People continued to come in large numbers to venerate the body of the Blessed Archbishop.
The faithful from all over Albania arrived at the Cathedral until this morning with emotion, love and respect for their Archbishop Anastasios.
Many faithful traveled to Tirana from all regions of Albania to pay tribute to their Archbishop who served them with love for 33 years, respecting the dignity of each person.
He was the Archbishop of all those who suffered injustice, who lived in poverty and economic hardship.
This loss is especially felt by the clergy, whom he chose, trained, trusted and supported.
The presence and contribution of the youth was especially felt in the Cathedral these days, as Archbishop Anastasios worked for them to bring fruitful results.
Representatives and leaders of religious communities, with whom the Archbishop has been working for years for inter-religious harmony in Albania, were also present in the Cathedral.
Many public figures, representatives of political parties, members of the government, diplomatic corps and embassies were present.
Photo: Archdiocese of Albania / Translated by Ioanna Georgakopoulou
