Albanian Primate congratulates Patriarch Bartholomew on anniversary

Archbishop Joan of Albania congratulated the Ecumenical Patriarch on his jubilee. Photo: a screenshot from the ertweb livestream

The Primate of the Albanian Orthodox Church Archbishop Joan delivered a congratulatory address to Patriarch Bartholomew on the Greek island of Imbros. Together with the Primate of the Church of Alexandria, he concelebrated with the Ecumenical Patriarch at the Divine Liturgy marking the 65th anniversary of his ordination to the diaconate, reports the UOJ in Albania.

"The priesthood is indeed exercised on earth, but it belongs to the order of heavenly things," Archbishop Joani cited Saint John Chrysostom. "Therefore its weight cannot be measured by human standards." In his address, the Albanian Primate recalled that over the years of his ministry Patriarch Bartholomew organized the Council of Crete, resumed services in Cappadocia, and opened Greek schools on Imbros.

Archbishop Joani then gave special attention to the history of the revival of the Albanian Church following the period of state atheism. During that critical time, the Patriarchate of Constantinople sent the late Archbishop Anastasios to Albania as Patriarchal Exarch.

"The Church of Albania had been persecuted, desolate and seemed dead," Archbishop Joan testified. "Its churches and monasteries had been closed, plundered, alienated or destroyed. Worship had been prohibited by law." It was precisely the labors of Archbishop Anastasios that laid the foundation for the restoration of an autocephalous Church in the country.

Archbishop Joan stated that the faithful of Albania are ready to promote peace and the unity of Orthodoxy. "The place we wish to have is that of Aaron and Horus," the Albanian Primate emphasized. "When Moses' hands became heavy, held them up." According to the Archbishop, this is the position of those who support and work for the reconciliation of the Church.

As the UOJ previously reported, the Primates of Constantinople and Albania made a pilgrimage together.

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