OPEN LETTER/ Come to the dialogue and listen to me speak, otherwise I will cut off your scholarships, you will rot in prison. Please!

 Kliko këtu për të tjera
Voxpress:

The Archbishop of Albania, Anastas Janullatos, passes away

2025-01-25 08:03:47Aktualitet SHKRUAR NGA REDAKSIA VOX

The Archbishop of Albania, Anastas Janullatos, passes away

The Archbishop of Tirana, Durrës and All Albania, Anastas Janullatos, who rebuilt the Orthodox Autocephalous Church of Albania from the ruins, passed away at the age of 95. Since January 3, Archbishop Janullatos had been hospitalized at the 'Evangelization' hospital in Athens, while the Orthodox Autocephalous Church of Albania announced in a Facebook post that Janullatos passed away at around 07:30 on January 25, 2025.

"The Archbishop of Tirana, Durrës and All Albania, ANASTASI, has passed away." The Autocephalous Orthodox Church of Albania, with deep sorrow, announces the passing away of the Archbishop of Tirana, Durrës and All Albania, His Beatitude, Anastasius. The Archbishop passed away today, January 25, 2025, at 08:30 in the morning, at the age of 95, at the "Evangelismos" Hospital in Athens, as a result of the insufficient functioning of many organs. Previously, he had been treated for several days at the "Hygeia" Hospital in Tirana.

We invite the Orthodox believers of the Church of Albania to pray for the repose of the soul of the deceased Chief Shepherd. His Beatitude, Archbishop Anastasios, was the rebuilder and reviver of the Autocephalous Orthodox Church of Albania, which he completely raised from the ruins after the fall of the atheist regime. With his divine vision and tireless work, he rebuilt church life from the foundations, built hundreds of churches, created educational and charitable institutions, and formed a new generation of clergy, offering an uninterrupted and sacrificial service for more than 33 years. May his memory be eternal,” the Autocephalous Orthodox Church writes.

Janullatos was hospitalized in Tirana on December 31 and then sent to Athens, due to bleeding in the digestive system.

Archbishop Janullatos was one of the important hierarchs of the Orthodox Church and had friends from all over the world. He was born in Piraeus, Greece, on November 4, 1929, and was the Archbishop of the Orthodox Church of Albania since 1992. Meanwhile, in 2017 he had received Albanian citizenship.

In 1991, Anastas was appointed by the Ecumenical Patriarch as Patriarchal Exarch in Albania. His first visit to Albania was made on July 16, 1991 by Anastas Janullatos. A group of Orthodox believers, as well as well-wishers and clergy of other faiths, came to welcome him at the "Rinas" airport, but no representative of the Albanian government.

He was enthroned as the head of the Albanian Autocephalous Orthodox Church on August 2, 1992, a full 33 years ago at the age of 63, resisting the 1994 referendum where the then government introduced an article into the draft law that prohibited religious leaders with foreign citizenship from exercising religious duties. On November 6, the referendum was defeated by popular vote. For His Excellency, coming to Albania was the third part of three periods of life.

Through many difficulties, he rebuilt the Autocephalous Orthodox Church of Albania from the ruins: more than 400 parishes were reorganized; the Theological Academy “Resurrection of Christ” was founded in Durrës, two ecclesiastical Lyceums were established; he educated and ordained 159 clergymen. He founded 50 youth centers in different cities. He took care of the translation and publication of liturgical books and other religious books. 155 new churches were built, 63 others were restored and more than 160 existing churches were repaired, as well as 75 church centers. The total construction work amounts to approximately 500 buildings.

The Cathedral of the Resurrection of Christ, located in the center of Tirana, which is the third largest Orthodox church in Europe, is one of His Grace's gifts to the Albanian people. It was officially opened on June 24, 2012, to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the revival of the Albanian Orthodox Church and the election of Archbishop Anastasios Janullatos.

His Grace connected the Church of Albania with international church organizations and was a founding member of the Interdenominational Bible Society of Albania and the Interreligious Council of Albania.

During the political tensions between Greece and Albania, he contributed to their mitigation and to the rapprochement of the two countries. Through his initiatives and work, thousands of people were provided with jobs; serious works of social structure were created and the Orthodox Church of Albania became a multi-dynamic spiritual factor and a factor of progress.

Archbishop Anastasios was a profound scholar in the field of the History of Religions and interreligious dialogue. His significant contribution to the Christian Hierapostolate, to Theology, and to the peaceful coexistence of peoples and religious communities is universally recognized.

In 2000, after the proposal of the Athens Academy and many Albanian personalities, he was a candidate for the Nobel Peace Prize. He has been awarded many decorations and prizes from different countries.


Në përputhje me standarded JTI

Video

SHIKO KANALIN NE YOUTUBE
×