The Holy Synod of the Orthodox Autocephalous Church of Albania, under the leadership of Archbishop Anastasios of Tirana, Durrës, and All Albania, convened on December 9, 2024. They unanimously elected Archimandrite Anastasios (Mamaj) as the Auxiliary Bishop of the historic Diocese of Kruja. Following the Church’s Constitution, he will also become a member of the Holy Synod.
The ordination of the newly appointed Bishop is scheduled to take place on December 15, 2024, at the Cathedral of the Holy Resurrection in Tirana.
Biography
The newly appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Kruja, His Grace Anastasios (formerly known as Enkeled Mamaj), was born on August 6, 1979, in Vlora, Albania, where he completed his primary education.
In 1999, he pursued studies at the Department of Greek at the School of Philosophy, University of Athens. He later obtained a degree in Business Administration (MSc) from the “Ismail Qemali” University in Vlora (2001-2005).
His professional experience includes managerial positions at the Italian-Albanian Bank from 2005 to 2009, and at Union Bank from 2009 to 2017. Additionally, he was actively involved in the Clergy-Laity Council of the Orthodox Church of Albania from 2006 to 2014, and worked closely with the late Metropolitan Ignatios of Berat, Vlora, and Kanina until his passing.
In 2017, he enrolled at the Resurrection of Christ Theological Academy and later pursued studies in Theology and Culture at LOGOS University College, earning a Bachelor’s Degree (BSc) in Social Theological Studies and Religious Sciences in 2023.
He was ordained as a deacon by Archbishop Anastasios on January 22, 2018, later ordained as a priest on October 20, 2019, and elevated to the rank of Archimandrite on August 9, 2020.
Currently, he serves as the Executive Director of the LOGOS University Foundation, represents Archbishop Anastasios on the Executive Council, and is a board member of the “Orthodox Evangelismos Clinic”. He also provides advisory support to the “Fryme Dashurie” Educational Foundation.
Since December 3 of this year, he has been serving as the Protosyncellus (Chief Secretary) of the Archdiocese of Tirana and Durrës. In addition to his native Albanian, he is proficient in Greek, Italian, and English.