On Sunday, March 30, 2025, Archbishop Ioannis of Albania presided over his first Divine Liturgy as the new Primate of the Orthodox Autocephalous Church of Albania. The service was held at the Cathedral of the Resurrection in Tirana, in the presence of the members of the Holy Synod—Metropolitan Nikolaos of Apollonia and Fier, Metropolitan Antonios of Elbasan, Metropolitan Astios of Berat, Metropolitan Nathanael of Amantia, and Bishop Anastasios of Krujë—as well as representatives of Orthodox Churches who had attended the enthronement ceremony the day before.
Following the Divine Liturgy, Archbishop Ioannis offered a Trisagion service at the tomb of his predecessor, the late Archbishop Anastasios, whose visionary leadership and tireless efforts over three decades restored and revitalized the Church after years of brutal atheist persecution.
Archbishop Ioannis was officially enthroned on Saturday, March 29, marking a new chapter for the Orthodox Church of Albania. In his enthronement address, he laid out seven key priorities for his ministry: preserving Holy Tradition, strengthening ecclesial unity, balancing the “Gospel of the Kingdom” with the “Social Gospel,” safeguarding the values of marriage and family, fostering interreligious coexistence in Albania, encouraging young people to love and remain in their homeland, and cultivating 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’,” the Patriarch concluded.
