Today, July 20, 2026, Archbishop Ioannis of Tirana, Durrës and All Albania presided over the Divine Liturgy at the Holy Church of the Annunciation of the Theotokos in Tirana.
The feast of the Prophet Elijah coincided with the 28th anniversary of the ordination of Archbishop Ioannis to the episcopal rank, which was performed by the late Archbishop Anastasios in this very same Holy Church. After half a century of an atheistic regime, on July 20, 1998, the first Albanian Bishop was ordained, and the Holy Synod of our Church was established.
For 27 consecutive years (1998–2025), Bishop John served as the Shepherd of the Holy Metropolis of Korçë. In 2025, by decision of the Holy Synod of our Church, he was elected Archbishop of Tirana, Durrës, and All Albania.
The festive homily for the occasion was delivered by Metropolitan Gregory of Korçë. At the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy, Bishop Ignatius offered a heartfelt greeting, in which he stated: “Today is a special day of celebration, because on this very day, 28 years ago, the Grace of God, through the blessed hands of the late Archbishop Anastasios, raised you to the episcopal rank.
Such events hold particular significance because through the unbroken succession of the episcopal order, the presence and continuity of the Church of Christ on earth are safeguarded.
During those difficult years, when everything had been devastated and destroyed by the iron hand of the totalitarian regime, you undertook a heavy and demanding task: to accept a throne of sacrifice and self-denial, out of love for the flock of our Lord Jesus Christ.
All of us need to remember those first years, which demonstrated most profoundly how heavy the Cross of Christ was after the atheistic onslaught that showed no respect even for the holy temples of God.
Your sacrifice, your labor, your toil, your self-offering, your patience, your exhaustion, the countless hours of work and study, the Holy Services and Divine Liturgies, as well as your pastoral care for the flock, strengthened and tested you, proving that when the Cross of Christ is accepted with free will, it is transformed into a source of joy.
We share this joy with you today as well, concelebrating under your presidency, with the participation of the people of God and with the love of all those who, for various reasons, are far away from us.
Allow me to wish you many blessed and healthy years, filled with the Grace of God, not only for you personally, but also for the entire flock of Christ and for the glory of the Triune God.
Many years, Your Beatitude! With humility, we venerate your right hand.”
For his part, Archbishop Ioannis emphasized that an anniversary should not be regarded as a moment of personal glory, but rather as a constant reminder of the responsibility to fulfill every ministry entrusted by the Lord, with love, humility, and devotion.
Following the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy, all the faithful had the blessing of meeting their Chief Shepherd, Archbishop John, and expressed their warm wishes and gratitude to him, proclaiming: “Many years, Your Beatitude!”
