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In an atmosphere of enthusiasm and joy, Archbishop Ioannis (Pelushi) of Tirana, Durrës, and All Albania, the newly elected Primate of the Orthodox Autocephalous Church of Albania, was enthroned today, March 29, 2025, in the packed Cathedral of the Resurrection of Christ in Tirana.
This historic moment marks a new era for the Orthodox Autocephalous Church of Albania, following the passing of the late Archbishop Anastasios, who for more than thirty years rebuilt the Church from the ruins left by the brutal atheist persecution.
The ceremony began with the entrance of the new Archbishop into the Cathedral, in the presence of representatives from all Orthodox Churches, diplomatic missions, religious leaders, government officials, and a multitude of faithful.
The encyclical of the Holy Synod, appointing the new Archbishop, was read by Bishop Anastasios of Krujë, followed by the official enthronement service and a series of addresses. Metropolitan Nikolaos of Apollonia and Fier was the first to address the new Primate, handing him the pastoral staff on behalf of the Holy Synod.
He was followed by Fr. Alexios Donis, a clergyman of the Archdiocese of Tirana, and then by Metropolitan Emmanuel of Chalcedon, representing Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew. The final address was delivered by the President of the Republic of Albania, Bajram Begaj.
In his enthronement speech, Archbishop Ioannis expressed deep gratitude to God and to all who had contributed to the progress of the Church of Albania.
With particular emotion, he stated: “We thank and honor the martyrs of Illyria, who spread the light of faith throughout the regions we now live in through their blood and lives; the saints who kept the flame of faith alive across the centuries; and the new martyrs, who, during an especially difficult time for our Church and our country, gave their lives to preserve their faith, national identity, and language.”
He made special mention of his predecessors, particularly Fan Noli and Archbishop Anastasios, of whom he said: “Not only did he succeed in rebuilding the Church’s physical structure and infrastructure, but his greatest effort was to cultivate a Church where God is worshipped ‘in spirit and in truth’.”
Archbishop Ioannis outlined seven main priorities for his ministry: the preservation of Holy Tradition, the strengthening of unity within the Church, the balance between the “Gospel of the Kingdom” and the “Social Gospel”, the protection of the values of marriage and family, the preservation and promotion of interreligious coexistence in Albania, the encouragement of young people to love and remain in their homeland, and the cultivation of relationships with other Churches and religious communities.
“Personally, I will try with all my strength to serve the flock entrusted to me by God, always bearing in mind the words of the Lord: ‘The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve’,” concluded His Beatitude.
The enthronement ceremony of the new Primate of the Orthodox Autocephalous Church of Albania was attended by the President of the Republic of Albania, Bajram Begaj, the Speaker of the Parliament, Elisa Spiropali, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Infrastructure, Belinda Balluku, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Igli Hasani.
Representing the Greek government were the Minister of National Defence, Nikos Dendias, and the Minister of Education, Religious Affairs and Sports, Sofia Zacharaki. The Holy See was represented by Archbishop Flavio Pace, accompanied by high-ranking Vatican officials. Several Orthodox Churches were also present.
Among the representatives were Metropolitan Emmanuel of Chalcedon and Metropolitan Serapion of Paramythia, Filiates, and Giromeri from the Ecumenical Patriarchate; Metropolitan Seraphim of Zimbabwe and Angola from the Patriarchate of Alexandria; Metropolitan Ignatius Al-Houshi of France, Western and Southern Europe from the Patriarchate of Antioch; Metropolitan Nektarios of Anthidona from the Patriarchate of Jerusalem; Metropolitan Nestor of Korsun and Western Europe from the Patriarchate of Russia; Bishops Theodosios of Raška and Prizren and Arsenios of Niš from the Patriarchate of Serbia; Archbishop Nifon of Târgoviște from the Patriarchate of Romania; Metropolitans Seraphim of Nevrokop and Gregory of Vratsa from the Patriarchate of Bulgaria; Metropolitan Gerasimos of Zugdidi and Tsaishi from the Patriarchate of Georgia; and Bishop Christophoros of Karpasia from the Church of Cyprus.
Also present was Metropolitan Ioustinos of Nea Krini and Kalamaria, Athanasios of Sisanion and Siatista, Nektarios of Corfu, Kallinikos of Kastoria from the Church of Greece, Bishop Paul (Tokajuk) from the Church of Poland, Archbishop George of Michalovce and Kosice from the Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia, Bishops Joseph of Tetovo and Gostivar and Jacob of Stobi from the Church of North Macedonia, and Bishop Nikodimos of Boston from the Orthodox Church in America – OCA.
Following the enthronement ceremony, an official luncheon was held.
Who is the new Archbishop
Archbishop John, born Fatmir Pelushi in 1956 in Korçë, served the Orthodox Church there as Metropolitan following his enthronement in 1998.
In interviews, he has revealed that during the years of religious persecution in atheistic Albania, he developed a strong interest in spiritual matters. In 1975, he first encountered Christianity through a French copy of the New Testament, which a friend gave him under the pretext of helping him learn French.
This discovery led him to further exploration at the National Library of Tirana, where he secretly borrowed books on various religions. His next step, taken at great personal risk to himself and his family in an era of intense persecution, was to join a secret group of Christians who gathered in private homes in Korçë. In the same clandestine manner, he was baptized by Fr. Kosmas and received the name Ioannis.
After the fall of the communist regime, he was given the opportunity to study at the Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology in Boston, through a scholarship established by the Albanian-American community in memory of Bishop Fan Noli. He graduated in 1993 with a Master of Theological Studies. At that time, the late Archbishop Anastasios had already begun the monumental task of restoring the Orthodox Church in Albania.
Responding to his call, Ioannis returned to Albania to assist in this mission. In 1994, he was ordained a deacon, and later that same year, a priest, by Archbishop Anastasios.
He went on to serve as a lecturer and dean of the Theological Academy of the Albanian Orthodox Church, and in 1996, he was appointed director of the Theological School of Durrës, receiving the rank of archimandrite
On July 18, 1998, he was elected Metropolitan of Korçë and was enthroned shortly thereafter.
