Archbishop of Albania to visit USA at invitation of Constantinople Church

Archbishop Ioannis. Photo: Orthodoxia News Agency

On February 6, 2026, it became known that Archbishop Ioannis of Tirana, Durres and all Albania will visit the USA. The upcoming visit of the hierarch is reported by Orthodoxia news agency.

Archbishop Ioannis's trip will take place at the invitation of the head of the Greek Archdiocese of America, Archbishop Elpidophoros. The visit is timed to coincide with an international theological conference in the USA.

On this topic Archbishop Ioannis chosen as person of year 2025 in Albania

As part of the visit, the Archbishop of Albania will deliver a keynote address at the International Conference organized by the Huffington Ecumenical Institute at Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology.

The conference titled "Anastasios: Archbishop, Theologian, Missionary" will take place from March 2-4, 2026, and will be dedicated to the first anniversary of the death of Archbishop Anastasios, the longtime primate of the Albanian Orthodox Church.

Speaking about the upcoming visit, Archbishop Elpidophoros stated that he considers it a great honor to receive Archbishop Ioannis, who will share his reflections on the legacy of Archbishop Anastasios, who played a key role in the revival of the Orthodox Church in Albania after the period of atheistic persecutions.

Earlier, the UOJ wrote that Archbishop Elpidophoros spoke about "diversity in the Body of Christ" at a prayer service with the participation of Catholics, Protestants, and an openly lesbian female bishop.

Read also

Lavra reserve head estimates damage to Dormition Cathedral at €15 million

Maksym Ostapenko said restoring the Dormition Cathedral would take at least a couple of years and require major funding.

DESS official says state should not govern the Church

A DESS official called for cooperation between the state and the Church for the benefit of citizens.

Poltava court upholds mobilization of Protestant pastor

A court in the Poltava region ruled that a prior criminal conviction and religious beliefs do not exempt a person from military service.

Ostapenko: Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra would not exist without Soviet-era reserve

The reserve director spoke about the Soviet museum’s role in saving the monastery, while stressing the need to rethink its history.

Metropolitan Anthony criticizes DESS order on Boryspil Eparchy

The UOC chancellor rejected officials’ findings, pointing to procedural violations in the DESS review.

Two more parishes in Sloviansk reregistered under OCU

The organizer behind the transfer of UOC communities in Sloviansk said the reregistration of churches would continue.