On Sunday, September 25th, 2016, the consecration of the new Cathedral dedicated to St. John Vladimir took place in the town of Bar, Montenegro. The Consecration and the Divine Liturgy were presided over by His Beatitude Patriarch Teophilos III of Jerusalem having as concelebrants Patriarch Irinej of Serbia, His Beatitude Archbishop Anastasios of Tirana and All Albania, Metropolitan Amfilohie of Montenegro in addition to representatives from other local Orthodox Churches. The parts of the services led by Archbishop Anastasios were all performed in the Albanian language. Present at this celebration, which turned into a holiday for the neighboring countries, were thousands of Orthodox believers as well as state and local authorities.
In addition, The St. John Kukuzel Byzantine Choir of the Autocephalous Church of Albania participated in the services, chanting in Albanian. On Saturday, this choir also performed at the plateau in front of the Cathedral in a concert of Byzantine Choirs that had gathered on the occasion.
Archbishop Anastasios was accompanied by His Grace Nikolla, Bishop of Apollonia, His Grace Nathanail, Metropolitan of Amantia (both of whom participated in the services) and other clergy from the Orthodox Church of Albania.
