The body of the late Archbishop Anastasios of Tirana, Durres, and All Albania is scheduled to arrive in Tirana today, January 28, 2025, at 4 p.m. local time (5 p.m. Greek time). The Cathedral of the Resurrection of Christ will host the reception, where his body will be displayed for the faithful to pay their respects.
His body will be at the Cathedral for public veneration throughout Tuesday night and all day Wednesday. The Funeral Service is set for Thursday, January 30, at 11 a.m. local time (12 p.m. Greek time), following the Divine Liturgy.
Tributes in Greece
Believers from Greece and Albania visited the Metropolitan Church of the Annunciation in Athens over the weekend to pay their respects to Archbishop Anastasios. Archbishop Ieronymos of Athens and All Greece led a Trisagion service for the repose of his soul following the Divine Liturgy.
Representatives from the Ecumenical Patriarchate, the Patriarchate of Alexandria, and the Sinai Archdiocese attended the service, including Metropolitan Theodoretos of Laodicea, Metropolitan Georgios of Guinea, and Archbishop Damianos of Sinai.
The Archbishop’s body departed from Athens on Monday morning, accompanied by clergy and representatives from the Church of Greece, for Albania.
Mourning Declared in Albania
The Holy Synod of Albania announced a five-day mourning period in honor of Archbishop Anastasios and appointed Metropolitan Ioannis of Korçë as Locum Tenens of the Archdiocesan Throne.
Farewell from the Greek Minority
The Greek Minority in Albania is holding Trisagia in various locations to pay tribute to Archbishop Anastasios. Many members of the minority are expected to attend the Funeral Service and burial in Tirana.
Attendance of Greek Leaders
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Archbishop Ieronymos of Athens and All Greece are planning to attend the Funeral Service in Tirana to honor Archbishop Anastasios’ legacy.
A Life of Service
Archbishop Anastasios passed away on January 25, 2025, at the age of 95. He is remembered for his dedication to rebuilding the Albanian Orthodox Church and his significant contributions to global Orthodoxy.