Tirana, January 1, 2026
With splendor and particular devotion, the festive Divine Liturgy was celebrated today at the Resurrection Cathedral of Christ in Tirana, on the occasion of the Feast of the Circumcision of the Lord and the commemoration of Saint Basil the Great. The Divine Liturgy was celebrated by the Archbishop of Tirana, Durrës and All Albania, His Beatitude Archbishop Joan, together with His Eminence Metropolitan Asti of Berat and clergy of the Archbishopric.
Archbishop Joan in his sermon emphasized the significance of today’s dual feast – the Circumcision of the Lord and the commemoration of Saint Basil the Great, who represents an eternal model of a bishop, not only for his pastoral work, but especially for his social contribution, which is an essential parameter for the life of every Christian. Referring to the beginning of the new year, he pointed out that, although New Year’s Day is not a religious feast, the Church in her wisdom sanctifies every aspect of human life, because everything that God touches is transformed into something holy.
His Beatitude referred to the universal search for happiness by people, recalling the example of Solomon, who despite his immense wealth came to the conclusion that “vanity of vanities, all is vanity”. As he explained, material goods cannot satisfy the human soul, as we learn from Saint Augustine: “O Lord, you made us for yourself, and our soul finds no rest until it rests in you”. Without spiritual life, human existence begins to wither – said the Archbishop, emphasizing that today throughout the world people are desperate; even when they are rich, because they lack spiritual nourishment. He also recalled the ancient Christian proverb that there is no sad saint.
He particularly referred to the words of the Apostle Peter addressed to Christ: “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life”, emphasizing that only the words of the Gospel are words of life that give joy and light to the soul.
His Beatitude addressed special counsel to all ages: to children, to let the seed of the Gospel take deep root in their hearts; to young people, to be careful about their decisions, because one great mistake can destroy their lives; to the wealthy, to remember that “the earth is the Lord’s and everything in it” and to be good stewards, sharing with others; to families, to preserve their first love and cultivate peace, because without forgiveness nothing endures; and to the elderly, to prepare for the meeting with God. “If God approves our life, we have gained everything, even if we have lost everything in this world. And conversely, if God condemns us, what profit do we have if we have gained the whole world?” – concluded the Archbishop.
Congratulations for the 70th Anniversary of Archbishop Joan
At the end of the Divine Liturgy, the Secretary General of the Holy Synod, Archimandrite Ignat Todri, on behalf of the clergy and the entire flock of the Church, congratulated His Beatitude Archbishop Joan on the 70th anniversary saying:
“Your Beatitude! This is the day the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it! On the occasion of your 70th birthday, allow me with joy and deep gratitude to express and convey to you, on behalf of all brothers and sisters in Christ, the most heartfelt and warm wishes. May the Lord bless you and keep you, for in your being as a hierarch you bear the responsibility of governing and shepherding our Orthodox Church.
Your journey has not been easy until now; born and raised in this city, in difficult times, you knew with wisdom, prudence and boundless desire to preserve in the depths of your heart the unwavering faith in Christ. As a member of the underground Church, in times of great persecution, when prayer and religious practices were forbidden, you managed to keep the flame of faith burning without fear. “The Lord knows those who are his.”
When in the ’90s, the wind of democracy and freedom knocked at the gates of this country, you like all others followed your Odyssey, but the Church of Christ was ultimately your Ithaca. The good hour arrived; the meeting with the blessed and unforgettable Archbishop Anastasios made it possible for your desire to be fulfilled, you surrendered completely to Christ.
After completing your theological studies you were ordained a cleric, while simultaneously being a professor of theology and translator of much-needed ecclesiastical texts. The all-good God in all His wisdom called you to a higher duty, that of shepherding as a bishop. “Grace was poured upon your lips” – says the Psalmist.
As a good and gentle shepherd, equipped with the appropriate qualities, you shepherded the souls of the faithful of the Diocese of Korçë. As a compassionate and caring Father you nourished them with the words of Grace, being with them, for them and among them, tireless and inseparable. There is nothing higher than the service of caring for souls, for the shepherd of the Church is not only a caretaker of bodies, but as overseer and guide of the Church – says the Golden-Mouthed John.
Your Beatitude! Today you stand as the helmsman of our Church, and we all, as part of the Body of the Church, are around you as your beloved sons and daughters in the Lord. Every son and daughter of the Church feels it as an obligation and responsibility to support and stand by you in every good initiative for the advancement of the community and the spreading of the Word of God. “The almighty Lord gives strength to him who serves with humility and supports him in every right step” – says Saint Gregory the Theologian.
Your word, Your Beatitude, has been and remains a precise and well-measured dose in every situation and moment of the journey of the ship of Christ, the Orthodox Church. You have always known how to address everyone without distinction, as an icon of God and sons and daughters of Adam and Eve.
Today, on this important jubilee of 70 years of your life, we all pray that the Grace of the All-Holy Spirit always cover you, keep you, protect you and give you illumination, strength, energy, creativity and readiness to guide us, counsel us, teach us and love us all. May your years be many and blessed! With humility and love we kiss your right hand! Many years, Master!”
Heartfelt wishes were also extended by His Eminence Metropolitan Asti.
Doxology for the New Year
Subsequently, Archbishop Joan led the Doxology for the Beginning of the New Year, during which prayer was addressed to the Lord who is the creator and Lord of the ages to bless the New Year.
The festive reception and the Vasilopita
The festive atmosphere of the day is enhanced by the 70th anniversary of Archbishop Joan’s life, as today, January 1, he celebrates his birthday – a special anniversary that marks not merely an age, but an entire life lived as a living witness of God’s grace, faithfulness to Christ and humble service to the Church and the people.
Therefore, many clergy and faithful subsequently participated in the reception organized at the Synodal Center, near the Cathedral, where according to tradition His Beatitude Joan blessed and distributed to each participant the Vasilopita (Saint Basil’s bread). Everyone extended heartfelt wishes and deep gratitude to Archbishop Joan for the 70th anniversary and for the New Year.
The journey of his life from atheism to the knowledge of the Orthodox Faith during the communist era; from studies in America to returning to Albania to rebuild the Orthodox Church; from his 27-year ministry in the Metropolis of Korçë to the throne of the Archbishop of Albania, testifies to the hand of God with His faithful servant, who follows in the footsteps of the distinguished Fathers of our Church. Many years, Master!
70 years of life and witness
His Beatitude was born in Tirana on January 1, 1956, in an Albania that was closed, persecuted and officially atheist. He grew up in the darkest years of the communist dictatorship, at a time when faith was forbidden by law and religious expression was punished with imprisonment, exile or even death. However, as he himself testifies, “they could not close the door of God”.
His first encounter with Christ occurred in a miraculous way, through reading the New Testament in French – at a time when possessing a Gospel was more dangerous than having explosives. The words of Christ restored the lost joy of childhood and ignited a deep spiritual thirst that would guide his entire life.
In complete secrecy, in 1974, in the basement of a private house in Bestrovë of Vlorë, of the heroic priest Father Kozma, under the constant fear of the State Security, he was baptized and became part of the underground Orthodox Church – a small but living Church, nourished by martyrdom, sacrifice and unwavering faith. In those circumstances, the joy of Christ was experienced with a rare intensity, which Archbishop Joan himself has described as unrepeatable.
After the fall of the communist regime, he studied theology in the United States of America at Holy Cross Theological Seminary in Boston, supported by the Albanian Orthodox Church, but with a clear promise: to return to the homeland as soon as the Church reopened its doors. And so he did.
In an Albania destroyed spiritually and materially, he returned to serve, choosing difficulty and sacrifice. He became one of the closest collaborators of Archbishop Anastasios, being at his right hand in all challenges, sufferings and persecutions as a faithful and worthy son of the holy Church and its Chief Shepherd.
For 27 years, His Beatitude Metropolitan Joan served as Metropolitan of Korçë, becoming a paternal figure for dozens of priests, thousands of faithful and for the entire city. Under his pastoral care, the Metropolis of Korçë was transformed into a vibrant spiritual, cultural and social center. The restoration of the city’s historic cathedral “The Life-Giving Spring” is not merely a construction project, but an act of restoring the historical memory and spiritual identity of Korçë.
As a member of the Holy Synod of the Autocephalous Orthodox Church of Albania, under the leadership of the blessed Archbishop Anastasios, His Beatitude Metropolitan Joan has been a witness and collaborator of the miraculous resurrection of the Church in Albania – a resurrection that many consider a miracle of modern times.
His teaching is deeply rooted in the Gospel and the teaching of the great Fathers of the Church: “Without sacrifice there is no joy, without the cross there is no resurrection, without love there is no life”. He reminds us that hatred destroys everything, while selfishness is the opposite of love. Only by seeing the icon of God in every human being can one truly be called a Christian.
📝 Translation: AI
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