On June 24, 1992, after the advent of democracy, the Ecumenical Patriarchate elected Metropolitan Anastasios, as the first Archbishop of Albania. This would also mark the canonical start of the rebuilding of the Autocephalous Orthodox Church of Albania from its ruins.
On this occasion, in the Resurrection of Christ Cathedral in Tirana, a Pan-Orthodox Liturgy was celebrated by Archbishop Anastasios and the Metropolitan Joan of Korça, Metropolitan Dhimitri of Gjirokastra, Metropolitan Andon of Elbasan, Metropolitan Nathanail of Amantia, Bishop Asti of Bylis as well as other clergy from the Archiepiscopate and the other metropolitan areas.
His Grace Andoni delivered the sermon on the occasion of the celebration of the Nativity of St. John the Baptist.
In the end of the Liturgy, on behalf of the Orthodox faithful, Metropolitan Joan of Korça congratulated the Archbishop on the occasion of this celebration. Archbishop Anastasios, on the other hand, reminded the younger people about the course of those historic days until his acceptance of the duty and warmly thanked the participants for their wishes and support.
