Fordham University conferred on January 28, 2014, (when in Albania were the early morning hours of 29th) an honorary doctorate degree of Humane Letters, the highest honor of the University, to His Beatitude Archbishop Anastasios of Tirana, Durrës and All Albania.
This ceremony was attended of about 500 people, members of the foundation board of the University, students, clergy, personalities, believers, etc., many came from afar, despite the freezing cold temperatures. Present were also the Archbishop of the Orthodox Church of America, His Beatitude Demetrius; the Metropolitan of Korca, His Grace John; the Archbishop of Boston, New England, and the Albanian Archdiocese, His Beatitude Nikon; the Bishop of the Albanian Orthodox Diocese of America, His Grace Bishop Ilia Katre etc..
This ceremony was opened by Dr. Stephen Freedman, who made the opening speech, stressing that University considers itself blessed to be a home for Orthodoxy and have the only Orthodox Studies program in the United States. Than he invited the President of Fordham Fr. Joseph M. McShane, S.J. to present in details the work of Archbishop Anastasios in many years.
“Today, Fordham is proud to honor His Beatitude, Anastasios, Archbishop of Tirana, Durrës and All Albania, as an inspirational leader who is always willing to go where God calls him, as a great contemporary hierarch of the Orthodox Church, an outstanding scholar and a visionary theologian, and his strong support for coexistence with people of all faiths,” said the President of the University.
The president continued his speech with a brief biography of Archbishop Anastasios, and further emphasized his work in Africa, the major achievements there when he included the establishment of the Patriarchate Seminary, where 62 African men where elevated to priesthood, and were blessed 42 readers from eight African tribes. Then he spoke for the great challenge when the Ecumenical Patriarchate appointed him as Archbishop of the Orthodox Autocephalous Church of Albania. Fr. Joseph M. McShane, S.J. spoke for the achievements of the Church over the years, distinguish the construction of the new Cathedral “Resurrection of Christ”, in Tirana, one of the largest in the world, the construction of the Religious Academy in Durrës, from which emerged 145 new clergy, the establishment of the orphanage “Home of Hope”, various schools and the University “Logos”.
Mr. Joseph M. McShane, S.J also highlighting the charitable work of the Church not only for the believers, but for all Albanians. Under the leadership of Archbishop, the Church distributed hundreds of tons of food and supplies for the refugees of all faiths during the crisis in Kosovo. Tirelessly the Archbishop has given his contribution to ease the tensions in the Balkans and for this in 2000 he was elected a candidate for the Nobel Peace Prize.
The speech of the President also noted the achievements of Archbishop Anastasios in the academic field. His Beatitude has studied the world religions: Christianity, Hinduism, Buddhism, Taoism, Confucianism, Islam and African religions – in different countries. His commitment for the inter-religious dialogue has given him an international recognition. He speaks four foreign languages and reads five. He is the author of many publications, including also a study of the Islam in 1975, first published in Greece and the first by an Orthodox Christian theologian. At the conclusion of his speech the President, Fr. Joseph M. McShane, S.J. and Nora Ahern-Grose, Secretary of Fordham University Board of Trustees conferred the honorary doctorate degree of Humane Letters to Archbishop Anastasios.
In the ceremony greeted also the Archbishop of the Orthodox Church of America, His Beatitude Demetrios. The keynote speech in this ceremony was held by Archbishop Anastasios, who said with so much humility that I am simply a candle before the saints. “Sharing the Good News in a Multi-Religious Country: Theological Reflections on Other Religions”, was the theme which he shared with all the participants.
His Beatitude said: “The good news is that the Son of God, the Word became man and was resurrected and is always with us. Christian faith states that the incarnation of God is love and at the same time provides divine grace. Obviously everyone is free to accept or reject these teachings, but Christian relations continue to preach with love that the freedom to love is not limited by the religion of others … We have realized that to maintain a dialogue of understanding between different religious communities are very important these values: the protection of the natural environment, the opposition of the violence anywhere, reconciliation, development, global justice and peace in the world locally and internationally.”
… “So, we are called to offer all the colors of the spectrum of light: the Light of peace, the Light of justice, the Light of truth, the Light of creativity, the Light of hope, the Light of the resurrection, the Light of love… The mission and the primary task of the Church is to transmit in every corner of the planet the full spectrum of the light of the Risen Christ, to unite all the people with the source of the Word, of Love, and Light, Christ”, concluded his speech His Beatitude Anastasios.
Many participants from different states of America and various Orthodox jurisdictions were welcomed by Fordham University in the reception organized for this occasion.
29.01.2014
The Press Office of Orthodox Autocephalous Church of Albania
