With deep emotion and reverence, the Orthodox Church and the people of Albania bid farewell to Archbishop Anastasios of Tirana, Durres, and All Albania at the Funeral Service held today, January 30, 2025, in Tirana.
In his eulogy, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew paid tribute to the late Archbishop’s monumental role in restoring the Orthodox Church of Albania after decades of state-imposed atheism. “A sad duty gathered us today in the Albanian capital! The great pillar of the Orthodox Church in Albania has fallen!” he declared, expressing the profound sorrow of the Church for the loss of such a distinguished hierarch.
The Ecumenical Patriarch underscored Archbishop Anastasios’ pivotal contribution to the Church’s rebirth from the ashes, calling him “the servant of the miracle of the resurrection from the dead of the local Church.” He recalled his relentless dedication to rescuing and reviving the Orthodox flock in Albania, referencing his earlier years as Metropolitan Titular of Androussa and his impactful missionary work in Africa.
Reflecting on the Archbishop’s origins from Lefkada and Kefalonia, Patriarch Bartholomew highlighted his lifelong devotion to theology and mission work, recalling an extraordinary moment from his birth. “Doctors had advised his mother to terminate the pregnancy due to serious risk, yet she chose life. And fortunately! Because the one being carried was this brilliant man, who today, ninety-five years later, lies before us, having charted a luminous ecclesiastical path,” he said with deep emotion.
The missionary legacy of Archbishop Anastasios, both in Africa and later in Albania, remains undeniable. “Holy Churches, Monasteries, Schools, the Hieratic and Theological School, hospitals, and other charitable institutions—these are just a few of his many achievements,” the Ecumenical Patriarch remarked, emphasizing that his pastorate was not without struggles but was marked by perseverance and sacrifice.
Concluding his eulogy, Patriarch Bartholomew expressed confidence that the Church of Albania, with the grace of God and the blessing of the late Archbishop, will elect a worthy successor. “Anastasios, as a personality and as an Archpriest, is irreplaceable! His loss is a great shock to the local Church. But the Mother Church of Constantinople will embrace and support the new Archbishop, whoever he may be, with love and unwavering commitment.”
Translated by: Konstantinos Menyktas
