Enthronement Speech of the Archbishop of Tirana, Durrës and All Albania His Beatitude John
Tirana, March 29, 2025
To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood, and has made us kings and priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever (Rev. 1:6). I will praise You, O Lord my God, with all my heart, and I will glorify Your name forevermore. For great is Your mercy toward me. (Ps. 86:12-13)
I
With these words from Holy Scripture, I wish to express my deep gratitude to God for all the good things He has done for me and for our Church. Thanksgiving to God also includes all those people through whom God made these things possible.
We thank and honor the martyrs of Illyria who spread the light of faith in the lands where we live, witnessing with their blood and lives; the venerable saints who kept the light of faith through the centuries; the new martyrs who, in an extraordinarily difficult time for our church and country, gave their lives to preserve their faith, national identity, and language. A long list that we will always remember with honor and gratitude.
During the second half of the 20th century, the Church faced fierce communist persecution. The entire material and human infrastructure was completely destroyed. Churches and monasteries were demolished to their foundations or converted into stables, warehouses, etc. They destroyed the outer walls, but they could not destroy the faith in people’s hearts. Thousands of devout men and women were pursued and persecuted because of their faith, many of whom gave their lives for that faith. It was precisely the testimony of these people that inspired thousands of others to maintain and make the Christian faith the center of their lives, becoming a real example of the Lord’s promise that the gates of hell will not overcome His Church, built on the rock of faith (Mt. 16:17-18).
Throughout history, our Church has passed through fire and water, but You brought us out to a place of abundance (Ps. 66:12). In critical and difficult times, God visited our church, sending enlightened and devout people. On this day, I also want to honor the memory of all my predecessors and their great efforts to care for the flock entrusted to them. From the long list, I would like to mention two distinguished personalities.
In the first half of the 20th century, during a difficult time for our church and country, Bishop Theofan Noli was the right person. He was equipped by God with extraordinary talents; with a courageous character to have the courage to tread unknown paths and open new trails; a good connoisseur of church life and its doctrine; master of many languages and a good expert in church music and passionate about it. He made an invaluable contribution to national awareness and the preparation of autocephaly, as well as church texts. In record time, alone and in the absence of a tradition of church language, he equipped the church with the main books of Orthodox worship. His poetic spirit and broad culture would give his translations an unrepeatable power and beauty.
At the end of the 20th century, when the Orthodox Church, like all other religious communities in the country, was found completely destroyed and its resurrection seemed an impossible mission. But, again, God sent another enlightened person also equipped with many talents – Archbishop Anastas – who made its reconstruction possible. He not only managed to rebuild the walls of the Church and its physical infrastructure, but his main effort was to have a church where God is worshiped “in spirit and truth.” In his vision, buildings were not an end in themselves, but only a means to accomplish the saving work of the church. His public and private preaching has always been love and respect for every human being, spreading a spirit of reconciliation and forgiveness within the Church and beyond, a spirit which we must preserve and continue.
For all these, I think the least we can do is to say thank you and always be grateful, because true faith is not separated from thanksgiving and gratitude. Nothing is more pleasing to God than a grateful and thankful spirit… Gratitude adds nothing to God, but brings us closer to Him – writes St. John Chrysostom. The more gratitude we have, the closer God will be to us. And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him – St. Paul teaches us (Col. 3:17).
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But thanksgiving, like any deep feeling, cannot be just a feeling, but is also an action. What shall I render to the Lord for all His benefits toward me? – the Psalmist asks himself (Ps. 116:12). This question is also addressed to us today. I am aware of the great weight on my weak shoulders. Only the hope that God is He who gives power to the weary and increases the strength of the weak (Is. 40:29), gives us courage and strength to continue tirelessly our efforts to fulfill this holy mission to His Church.
Every time has had its challenges. The century in which we live with new technologies, loss of traditional values, cultural and religious pluralism, presents new and different challenges for the entire human community in general, and from these challenges, undoubtedly, our Orthodox Church cannot be excluded either. We need to face these challenges, not just simply to defend ourselves, but also to find original and creative solutions as part of our responsibility at this time.
Although times and answers cannot always be the same and methods may be different, the spirit that describes them must always remain the same – love for God and for all people, whoever they may be. Our vision, efforts, and focus should be:
1- Preserving and protecting the holy Tradition and faithfulness to the teachings of the Lord, transmitted from the apostles to our days, because only by relying on the values that flow from the teaching of the Lord can we renew our spiritual life. Today’s world suffers from the lack of this life, and its absence also brings the absence of cultural and intellectual life, impoverishing our life and society.
2 – Strengthening unity within the Church is an essential need to fulfill its purpose. Only if we are united can the Church be strengthened and its witness for Christ to the world will be credible. Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation – the Lord teaches us – and a house divided against a house falls (Lk. 11:17). Unity is preserved only where there is joy, peace, and love between one another. Therefore, brethren – writes St. Paul – rejoice, be comforted, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you (2 Cor. 13:11).
3 – The priority of the Church has always been the Gospel of the Kingdom of God. But it understands this Gospel of the Kingdom as important in this life as well. Therefore, it has strived to maintain balance, without opposition and without choosing one and neglecting the other, between the Gospel of the Kingdom, which includes pastoral work for the salvation of man, and the “Social Gospel,” which includes care for all, especially those who are poor, in need, in sickness, in loneliness and marginalized, because both aspects are important and interconnected. If you do not find Christ in the beggar at the doors of the Church – says St. John Chrysostom – you will not find Him in the communion cup.
4 – As is known and accepted by all, the family is the initial cell of social life. The Orthodox Church teaches that a healthy family is built on the sanctity of marriage, as a fundamental, undisputable, and inalienable doctrine. It is more than necessary to say that today’s society needs to rediscover the inalienable values of marriage and family. Because it often happens that in the name of progress and development, traditional values and connections have been destroyed, severely damaging the family, marriage, and the human person itself. Faith in God is a guarantee for preserving these vital values for humanity and for having a healthy family and society.
5 – When speaking about religion in Albania, religious coexistence is always mentioned, which is a great treasure of our country. But like everything else, coexistence is not static. Nothing in this world is immune to changes, movements, growth, and losses. Previous generations laid the foundations and developed this tradition. It is our duty today and those who will come, to continually preserve and strengthen it, because like any wealth, it must be protected and further developed for the good of all.
6 – We must encourage, with love and wisdom, especially young people, to love their country and not abandon it, because it is impossible to love God and not love the country that gave birth to and raised you and the people who live in it. Sacrifices for others cost, but they will bring joy and fulfill their lives, because a life without joy is a crippled life.
7 – The Autocephalous Orthodox Church of Albania will be friendly and desires to live in peace with everyone, following the advice of St. Paul: If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men (Rom. 12:18). It will strive, within its modest possibilities, to promote and have an active participation, both in the pan-Orthodox dialogue and in dialogue with all others.
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Personally, I will try with all my strength to serve the flock that God has entrusted to me, always keeping in mind the words of the Lord that the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve (Mt. 20:28). I will try to be ready to listen and to consult with clergy and laity and for pastoral visits to all dioceses. To bear the weight of this responsibility, I pray to our Lord Jesus Christ, the Founder of the Church, to give me enlightenment, strength, and wisdom to fulfill this difficult but holy duty.
Finally, I would like to express my gratitude to the members of the Holy Synod, who trusted and elected me. I thank all representatives of other Orthodox churches, state authorities, diplomatic representatives, all clergy and faithful of our church, as well as friends and well-wishers, for their presence and pray that God protect our Church, enlighten our people, and bless our country. Amen!
