The year 1992 had two historical dates for our Church which was resurrected from the ashes of Communism: June 24, 1992, the election of Archbishop Anastasios as head of the Autocephalous Orthodox Church of Albania and August 2 – his Enthronement.
This year, on August 2, 2018, the 26th anniversary of the Enthronement of Archbishop of Tirana, Durrës and All Albania, His Beatitude Anastasios, as Archbishop of the Autocephalous Orthodox Church of Albania was commemorated at the Resurrection of Christ Cathedral in Tirana where a panegyric Divine Liturgy was celebrated on this occasion. It was presided over by Archbishop Anastasios, who celebrated together with the members of the Holy Synod and clergy from the archiepiscopate and the metropolises.
In the conclusion of Liturgy, Archbishop Anastasios recalled the importance of this day to the Orthodox Autocephalous Church of Albania, marking its full canonical revival after the long atheistic darkness. His Beatitude emphasized that these days are not merely a reminder of a past event, but an opportunity and a time for seeing and moving forward. And the best way to do this is through new projects and achievements. The Archbishop mentioned the opening of the Faculty of Human Sciences at the Logos University College, within which the branch of Theology will operate. Next, he mentioned the efforts which are being made to increase income assurance opportunities that will guarantee the economic autocephality of our Church; the opening of the Virgin Mary House of Love, that cares for older women, as well as the efforts being made to build the Church Museum in the premises of the Resurrection of Christ Cultural Center inside the cathedral building.
On behalf of the Synod and the Orthodox faithful, Archbishop was congratulated by Metropolitan Ignat of Berati and received lots of wishes and flower bouquets by the youth of the summer camps, the faithful, etc.
After the Divine Liturgy, in the hall of the Cultural Center, a conference was held where all the clergy and catechists from the Archiepiscopate and the Metropolises participated. During the conference, there were discussions and references on spiritual topics and practical problems. The main speakers were representatives from each diocese and a young man from the Byzantine Music School. The conference was opened and closed by Archbishop Anastasios, while the moderator of the event was the Metropolitan of Korca, His Eminence Joan.
