Albania’s Interfaith Council Opens 2026 With Renewed Call for Dialogue and Unity

The first meeting of the Interfaith Council of Albania in 2026 was recently held. Photo: Orthodox Times

TIRANA — The Interfaith Council of Albania has held its first meeting of 2026, reaffirming its shared commitment to strengthening interfaith dialogue and preserving peaceful coexistence as a defining achievement of Albanian society.

As reported by the Orthodox Times, the Council brings together the leaders of Albania’s major religious communities, including the Orthodox Church, the Muslim Community of Albania, the Catholic Church, the Bektashi Community, and the Evangelical Brotherhood. In line with its annual rotation of leadership, the presidency for 2026 has been assumed by Edmond Brahimaj, head of the Bektashi Community of Albania.

Archbishop John of Albania notably grew up in a non-practicing Bektashi Muslim family before converting to Orthodoxy as a young man.

During the meeting, members approved the Council’s strategic action plan for 2026–2028 and discussed coordinated efforts to address common social, educational, and cultural challenges. Participants emphasized cooperation rooted in mutual respect for each community’s doctrinal principles while promoting shared social responsibility and harmony.

The Council noted that its presidency was last held in 2024 by its founder and co-creator, the late Archbishop Anastasios of blessed memory. Widely regarded as an exemplary model of interfaith collaboration, the Interfaith Council of Albania continues to draw both domestic and international recognition for demonstrating how religious communities can work together for the common good without compromising their theological identities.

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