In a message filled with warmth and spiritual solidarity, Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia congratulated Archbishop Ioannis of Tirana, Durrës, and All Albania on the occasion of his enthronement as Primate of the Orthodox Autocephalous Church of Albania.
Patriarch Kirill extended “warm fraternal congratulations and heartfelt good wishes,” noting that the entire Russian Orthodox Church rejoices with its “beloved sister—the Albanian Orthodox Church—on this glorious occasion.” Quoting Scripture, he emphasized the unity of the Orthodox faithful: “If one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it” (1 Cor. 12:26).
Highlighting the shared historical experiences of persecution under atheist regimes, the Patriarch stated that both Churches “have tasted the bitterness and deprivation” of such hardships but also “the impressive revival of church life after the fall of godless regimes.” He underscored the “common historical experience of martyrdom and confession,” and praised the Churches’ mutual support through prayer and shared faith.
Patriarch Kirill warned of the challenges facing the Church today, including the secular world’s attempt “to push religion out of the public sphere, diminish its value, undermine spiritual and moral principles, and break the chain of tradition.” In this context, he expressed confidence that the Churches would “continue to cooperate closely, bearing witness together to the eternal Gospel truths.”
He also expressed hope that under Archbishop Ioannis’s leadership, the Albanian Church will continue to “make a significant contribution to preserving Orthodox unity” and uphold the purity of the faith and the Church’s canonical order, just as it did under the late Archbishop Anastasios.
Concluding his message, Patriarch Kirill invoked the intercession of the Theotokos and the saints of Albania, praying that the Lord “may strengthen and enlighten” Archbishop Ioannis in his “difficult and responsible ministry.”
