After a twelve-day medical treatment in the Intensive Care Unit of the “Evangelismos” Hospital, the Archbishop of Tirana, Durrës and all Albania, Anastasi, will continue the necessary medical treatment at home, in Athens.
Praising God for his recovery from such a serious challenge, Archbishop Anastasios expresses his gratitude to the doctors and medical staff of the Intensive Care Unit, which functions under the direction of Professor Mrs. Anastasia Kotanidhu.
His Beatitude expresses his heartfelt thanks to His Holiness Bartholomew, the Ecumenical Patriarch for the very precious brotherly congratulations; to their Beatitudes, Patriarch of Alexandria, Mr. Theodore; Patriarch of Antioch, Mr. Joan; Patriarch of Jerusalem, Mr. Theophilus; Patriarch of Moscow, Mr. Kirill and also to his Beatitude Chrysostom, Archbishop of Cyprus; his Beatitude Jeronim, Archbishop Jeronim of Athens, as well as many other hierarchs. Archbishop Anastasios warmly thanks His Grace Bujar Spahiu, the President of the Muslim Community, Mr. Haxhi Dede Edmond Brahimaj, the Bektashi community leader, and Mons. Angelo Masafra the Metropolitan Archbishop of Shkodra.
He also expresses his heartfelt thanks for the warm support of His Excellency Mr. Ilir Meta, President of the Republic of Albania; Mr. Edi Rama, the Prime Minister of Albania; Mrs. Ekaterini Sakelaropulu, the President of the Hellenic Republic, Mr. Kiriako Mitsotakis, the Prime Minister of Greece; Mr. Prokopi Pavlopoulos and Mr. Kristo Sarcetakis the former presidents of the Hellenic Republic; Mr. Alexi Tsipras, the chairman of the Parliamentary Opposition; Mr. Andonis Samaras, the former Prime Minister; the ministers Mr. Niko Dendias and Miltiadhis Varvitsiotis; and Mr. Miki Theodhoraki. In addition, heartfelt thanks were extended to Mr. Gramoz Ruçi, the Speaker of the Assembly of Albania; to Mr. Erion Veliaj, the Mayor of Tirana; to Mr. Vangjel Dule the chairman of PBDNJ, and to the Albanian and Greek journalists.
Archbishop Anastasios also thanks all his friends, clergy and laity, known and unknown people who supported him with heartfelt prayers and spontaneous expressions of their love during this time.
Silent participation in the pain of God’s people mystically helps to achieve social cohesion. Spontaneous sincere love always gives power to people in their difficult moments. Love is the most precious thing that can exist in the world.
From the Secretariat of the Holy Synod.
Tirana 23 November 2020
