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3mo ago

Archbishop Anastasios, Leader of Albanian Orthodox Church, Dies at 95

The Greek-born archbishop revived Albania's Orthodox Church after decades of communist suppression, fostering interfaith harmony and rebuilding religious institutions.

01 December 2022, Albania, Tirana: Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier (r), Peter Zingraf (l), Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany to Albania, and Anastasios Yannoulatos, Archbishop of Tirana, Durres and all of Albania, meet for talks in the Orthodox cathedral. President Steinmeier visits the countries of Northern Macedonia and Albania during his four-day trip to the Balkans. Photo: Bernd von Jutrczenka/dpa (Photo by Bernd von Jutrczenka/picture alliance via Getty Images)
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Overview

  • Archbishop Anastasios passed away in an Athens hospital due to multiple organ failure after being transferred from Tirana for treatment of a viral infection.
  • He led the Orthodox Church of Albania for over 30 years, revitalizing it following the fall of the country's communist regime, which had banned religious practices.
  • During his tenure, Anastasios oversaw the construction of over 150 new churches, the restoration of religious monuments, and the translation of liturgical texts into Albanian.
  • He was an advocate for interfaith dialogue in Muslim-majority Albania, promoting peaceful coexistence and social development through charitable and educational initiatives.
  • Albanian President Bajram Begaj and Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis praised his legacy, highlighting his contributions to religious and cultural harmony.