“The consolidation of real Autocephaly and the fullfillment of ecclesiastical hierarchy is without a doubt a work of Archbishop Anastasios”, said His Grace John.
 
    On the Sunday of St. Thomas, on 15 April, in “Annunciation of Theotokos Mary” Church in Tirana, numerous faithful participated in the Divine Liturgy and also celebrated the 70th anniversary of our Autocephalic Orthodox Church.
     
    12 April 1937 is a very important date as Archbishop Anastasios said, “for the life of our Church.” On this date we celebrate the TOMOS assignation of Autocephaly from the Ecumenical Patriarchate.
 
    In this festive and synodical Divine Liturgy that was lead by the members of the Holy Synod, His Grace John, Metropolitan of Korça, read the TOMOS before the present faithful.
 
    “Our Church received her own place in the constitutional system of the Orthodox Church”, said Archbishop Anastasios later. If we didn’t have this TOMOS, we wouldn’t be known officially as an Autocephalous Church.
    
    Further more, His Grace John said, “Consolidation of true Autocephaly and fulfillment of ecclesiastical hierarchy is without a doubt a work of Archbishop Anastasios. I believe that what has been written, is not false, but the contrary is true because Archbishop Anastasios has always been the protector, consolidator and invigorator of our Autocephalic Church.
    
   
    As the Archbishop said, “Autocephaly doesn’t mean to be independent from the other churches, because we are related dogmatically, but Autocephaly means to be self-governing in relation to every other community inside and outside the country, as was emphasized in TOMOS.
    “Having this opportunity today”, said Bishop John, “I would like to express my thanks to the Archbishop for his great work not only for the reconstruction of the Church, but in strengthening and the consolidation of the Autocephaly. May God give him a long life for the betterment of our Church and the Christianity throughout the world”.
 
    During the Divine Liturgy, Spiro Kostoli, professor of Ecclesiastical Byzantine Music at the Theological Academy “Resurrection of Christ”, was ordained deacon.
 
 
Luljeta Pjetri
Translated by Robert Pelushi and Melanie Linderman