From 1767 to 1937

From 1767 until 1937

    The fourth period (1767 – 1937) stretches from the abolition of the autocephalous status of the Archbishopric of Ohrid to the canonical grant of autocephalous status to the Orthodox Church of Albania. The key event in this period was the formation of the Albanian State in 1912. During this period there was a reorganization of the metropolises and episcopates. New churches were built, and from time to time systematic attempts were made to spiritually awaken the Orthodox people. The greatest figure of this time was Saint Kozmai i Etolisë (Saint Kosmas Aitolos), who was also active in this region between 1775 and 1779, ending his historical missionary work in martyrdom in 1779 in Berat. Thirty years later another saint, Nikita Arvaniti, “from the Arvanite region” (Arbëria), probably from Spathia, preached Christ and was martyred in the region of Serres-Drama-s, in 1809 (in Greece).
    During the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries serious efforts were made to translate the Holy Bible into Albanian. Notable to mention is the Monk Gregory Kostandinidhi, who later became the Bishop of Durrës. He translated the Old and New Testaments, using an Albanian alphabet of his own invention. Unfortunately, this translation was lost. In the nineteenthhttp://www.orthodoxalbania.org/English/Brief History/BH Book4bpic.htm century, Gregory Gjirokastriti, (Bishop of Evias), published a translation of the New Testament in Albanian, written in the Greek alphabet. A translations by Konstandin Kristoforidhi was made later in the Geg dialect (in 1869) and in the Tosk dialect (in 1879), initially using the Greek alphabet. Prominent archpriests of this period were the Metropolitans of Durrës, Grigor Kostandinidhi, Voskopojari, (1767 – 1772 and Krisianthi from Madita (1821 – 1823), one of the investors of a new method (Byzantine) Church music; and the Metropolitans of Drinopoli, Dositheu (1760 – 1799); Gavriili Sifniosi (1799-1827); Joakimi from Hios (1828 – 1835), who was twice elected to the ecumenical throne (1860 – 1863 and 1873 – 1878).
    With the creation of the Albanian state in 1912, a new phase began for the Orthodox Church. The coming of political independence brought repeated demands requiring the independence of all religious communities by the centers that were in other countries. A crucial role was played by the Albanian Diaspora in America and Europe, with their various societies:  such as the Drita Fellowship [The Light], founded in 1886 in Bucharest. Of particular importance was the work of Fan Noli (Theofan Stiljan Noli) who translated many ecclesiastical texts into Albanian, insisting that these texts to be used in worship; later he held leading positions, initially in the Church, as Metropolitan of Durrës, and then in the Albanian state, as Foreign Minister and Prime Minister in 1924.

The Orthodox Autocephalous Church of Albania was declared autocephalous initially by the Congress of Berati, which was held from 10 – 12 September in 1922. The Congress’ decisions were recognized by the Albanian State, which had also prompted it to be developed. The Congress appointed a Supreme Council of the Church which was to lead the Church temporarily. In February, 1929, the Holy Synod was created composed of: Visarioni (Xhuvani) (who was [ordained] a Bishop in Serbia in 1925) as Archbishop of Albania and supervisor of the Metropoly of Korça, Agathangjeli (Çamçe) Metropolitan of Berat, Ambrozi (Ikonomi) Metropolitan of Drinopoli and Efthimi (Kosteva), Assistant to the Archbishop. On 29 June 1929, at the second Clergy-Laity Congress held in Korça, they voted for the “Statutes of Orthodox Autocephalous Church of Albania”. The Ecumenical Patriarchate refused to accept these un-canonical actions, but was willing to allow self-administration and the use of the Albanian language in worship, in preaching, and in Church education. However because of political developments and of the diverse risks from the West, the Patriarchate did accept also to discuss the issue of autocephaly. The Patriarchate sent the well-known Metropolitan of Trapezunda, Krisanthin, who later became the Archbishop of Athens, to Albania for talks with the Albanian authorities. Krisanthi accepted granting the autocephaly and suggested the following actions.
    In order to normalize the relations with the Ecumenical Patriarchate, in May, 1936, in Korça a Laity-Clergy Congress was called in which the representatives of all dioceses participated. The Congress asked forgiveness from the Patriarchate and there were negotiations in Athens (March 13, 1937). This extension of the Church’s anomaly was very difficult and unfavorable for the develop¬ment of the spiritual life of the Orthodox Church of Albania. The clergy suffered a great deal as a result of various pressures and economic hardship. The population remained divided for a long time, after the nationalism dimension had been complicated by riots. And then the Uniate and Protestant groups tried to benefit from this mess.