Archbishop Anastasios Declared “Citizen of Honor” in Larissa
“Larissa and the City Council of this city welcome you with respect, joy and full of emotions. Undoubtedly, your visit here is a special honor to our city, to the capital of Thessaly with an 8,000 year-history.” With these words, the Mayor of Larissa, Mr. Apostolos Kallojanis, addressed his Beatitude Archbishop Anastasios on the occasion of handing over the title “Honorary Citizen” to him. He also stressed out that, “Our city is an open city, both geographically and culturally. The geographical position and dynamics of its vast fields have brought about an open multicultural society. This city welcomes you today. It is clear to all of us, members of the City Council and to our citizens, that Larissa accords at this moment the title “Citizen of Honor” to a great and unique personality, with international radiation and with a great ierapostolic and social endeavor; and to a Hierarch who has devoted his life to the ecclesiastical, ierapostolic, human, scientific and creative work, having always on focus the person in need.”
His Beatitude Anastasios, Archbishop of Tirana, Durres and all Albania, who was deeply thrilled by such a reception, emphasized in his speech that “the nobility and the dynamism characterizing the inhabitants of Larissa is present everywhere. I am surprised with this flow of nobility and delicacy.”
Referring to developments in the Balkans, Archbishop emphasized that “while others are building walls, we believe in bridges, because bridges have both beauty and perspective. We live at a difficult age. And in our age we must show resistance to decadence. And resistance is nothing but quality. And you serve this quality in the best way you can in many aspects.”
At the end of the ceremony the Mayor of Larissa had a surprise for everybody announcing that he would propose to the City Council that the main pedestrian bridge over the Pinios River bears the name of Archbishop Anastasios.
Worth-noting is the warm reception that His Beatitude Anastasios, the Archbishop of Tirana, Durres and All Albania received in this city; a reception which was enriched also by the sounds of the City Philharmonic that accompanied Archbishop Anastasios during his arrival in the Municipality Office.
Present at the ceremony were also the Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Food Development, Mr. Vasilis Kokalis, representing the Government, the Metropolitan of Larissa and Tirnavo, His Eminence Ignat, other Deputies, the Prefect of Larissa, several Mayors of Larissa Municipalities, and the Albanian Ambassador in Greece, Mrs. Ariana Hobdari.
Archbishop Anastasios from St. Ahillios Church: “Maintain Yourselves Witnesses of the Gospel and of Jesus Christ”.
In the Holy Metropolitan Church of St. Ahillios of the Metropolis of Larissa, an official reception and Doxology were organized in honor of the Archbishop of Tirana, Durrës and All Albania, His Beatitude Anastasios.
His Beatitude along with the accompanying group, was warmly received by Metropolitan Ignat and the Metropolitan of Elassona, His Eminence Hariton.
Then the panegyric Doxology followed during which Metropolitan Ignat welcomed the Primate of the Church of Albania.
In his greeting speech, Archbishop Anastasios, thanking the Metropolitan of Larissa for his hospitality, referred to the ierapostolic work in Albania and, concluding his word, invited all the faithful to remain “Witnesses of the Gospel and of Jesus Christ.”
Archbishop Anastasios: “We do not share the same language, but we are all sons of the same God.”
Very exquisite moments were spent on Wednesday noon at the refugee camp at Kucoheri during the visit of Archbishop Anastasios there. The Church’s Hierarch was warmly received and deeply impressed by the warmth of the little children who came to embrace him and kiss his hand.
Archbishop Anastasios, referring to their drama, asked them during the conversation they had together to continue to believe and hope for better days, emphasizing that, “We do not share the same language, but we are all sons of the same God.”
A Stop at Meteora
Archbishop Anastasios was received at the entrance of the Holy Monastery of St. Theodore, at Meteora, by the Metropolitan of Ioannina, and the Acting Metropolitan of the Holy Metropolis of Stagona and Meteora, His Eminence Maksimos. Then, a Doxology followed in the church and afterwards a memorial service was conducted at the tomb of the late Metropolitan of Stegonas and Meteora, His Eminence Serafim.
