Abp. John Highlights the Enduring Legacy of Abp. Anastasios

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TIRANA, ALBANIA — The First International Scientific Conference honoring the late Abp. Anastasios opened this week in Tirana, marking one year since his passing. The event features keynote presentations and addresses from Abp. John of Albania and greetings from Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew. The conference will conclude Saturday, with a hierarchical Divine Liturgy and memorial service at Tirana Cathedral on Sunday, January 25, the anniversary of Anastasios’s death.

Abp. John highlighted Anastasios’s decades-long mission to revive the Orthodox Church of Albania, emphasizing his dedication, humility, and theological insight. He praised Anastasios’s efforts in interreligious dialogue, especially with Islam, noting that the late Archbishop used faith to promote peace, reconciliation, and human dignity. Leaders from the Bektashi community also lauded his commitment to dialogue and bridge-building, calling him a moral and spiritual point of reference in times of division and change.

Patr. Bartholomew described Anastasios’s legacy as a living example of evangelization, humility, and cooperation. He encouraged young theologians to study the archbishop’s work to strengthen the Church and interfaith understanding. The conference underscores Anastasios’s enduring impact on Albania and the global Orthodox community, celebrating a life devoted to faith, service, and reconciliation.

Previously, the UOJ reported that Abp. John stated that the Albanian Orthodox Church is a key pillar in Albania's role in the EU. 

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