Archbishop of Tirana And Durres, Primate of Albania
Dr. Anastasios (Yannoulatos)
– Professor Emeritus of the National University of Athens
– Honorary Member of the Academy of Athens
– President of the World Council of Churches (2006-).
– Honorary President of the World Conference of Religions for Peace (2006-).
Born November 4, 1929, Piraeus, Greece.
Studies
Certificate of High School (1947, with High Honours). B.D. of the National University of Athens (1952, with High Honours). Post-graduate studies in History of Religions, Ethnology, Missions, and Africanology in the Universities of Hamburg and Marburg. Research in the Makerere University College, Kampala-Uganda, as scholar (1965-69) of the German Foundation Alexander von Humboldt. ThD of the Theological Faculty of the National University of Athens (1970, Summa cum laude). During his military service (1952-54) he attended the Schools of the Reserve Offices of Syros and of the MB Signals (to both first in rank and chief of School). He studied various religions (Hinduism, Buddhism, Taoism, Confucianism, African religions, Islam) in the countries where they prosper (e.g. India, Thailand, Sri Lanka, Korea, Japan, China, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Nigeria, Brazil, Caribbean, Lebanon, Syria, Egypt, Turkey).
Languages (Besides New and Ancient Greek) English, French, German. Working knowledge of Latin, Italian, Spanish, Russian, Kiswahili, Albanian.
Scientific career
Lehrbeauftragte, for teaching modern-Greek language and philology – University of Marburg, Germany (1966-69). He organized and directed the «Center of Missionary Studies» at the University of Athens (1971-76). Associate Professor of History of Religions (1972-76). Full Professor of History of Religions in the National University of Athens (1976-97). Prof. Emeritus (1997 ff.). At the same University: Director of the Department of the Science of Religions and Sociology (1983-86). Dean of the Theological Faculty and member of the Senate (1983-86). Vice-president of the Club of Students. Chairman of the Commission of Solidarity in the Cyprian Struggle (1975-84). Member of the Committee of Research of the University of Athens (1986-1990) and the «Inter-Orthodox Center of Athens» of the Church Greece (1971-75). Member of the Council of the Centre of Mediterranean and Arabic Studies (1978-82).
ThD h.c. of: The Theological School of the Holy Cross, Brookline, Ma, USA (1989); the Theological Faculty of the Aristoteles University of Thessaloniki (1995); the St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary (2003); Theological School of the Craiova University (2006); Theological Faculty of the Pontifical University of South Italy (2009). Honorary Member of the Theological Academy of Moscow (1998); D. Staniloae Diploma Univ. Bucharest (the highest theological distinction of this University) (2003).
PhD h.c. of: The Department of History and Archaeology of the Philosophical Faculty of the University of Ioannina (1996); the Agricultural University of Athens (1996); the Department of Political Science and Public Administration of the Law, Economic and Political Sciences and all the Departments of the Philosophical Faculty of the National University of Athens (1998); the Department of International and European Studies of the University of Piraeus (2001); The Department of Philology of the University of Crete (2002); the Departments of Physics, Medicine, Primary Education and Civic Engineers of the University of Patras (2004); Doctor of Humane Letters of Boston University (2004); the Departments of Medical and Agricultural of University of Thesalia, and Golden Medal of this University (2005); the History Department of the Ionian University, Corfou (2007); the University of Korca (2008); of the Departments of History and Ethnology as well as of Languages and Culture of Thrace’s Dimokriteian University (2009); the University of Cyprus (2010).
Church and Social Work
Ordained: Deacon (7.8.1960); Priest-Archmandrite (24.5.1964); Bishop of Androussa for the position of the General Director of «Apostoliki Diakonia of the Church of Greece» (19.11.1972). Acting Archbishop (Locum Tenens) of the Holy Archbishopric of Irinoupolis (Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania) (1981-1991). Patriarchal Exarch in Albania (Jan. 1991-June 1992). Metropolitan of Androussa (Aug. 1991-June 1992). Archbishop of Tirana, Durres and Primate of Albania (June 24, 1992 ff.). (For service in Africa and in Albania see below).
Laypreacher, catechetical work with teenagers; responsible for Bible studies, students camps, missionary efforts in new social frontiers (1954-60). Founder and director of the Inter-Orthodox Missionary Centre «Porefthendes» (1961 ff.). He organized and directed (1971-74) the Inter-Orthodox Centre of the Church of Greece; during his term of office there dozens of Conferences, Seminars and other Church and social activities were organized. During his post-graduate studies in Germany he ministered to the emigrant Greek workers and students. He has been: Member of the Council: of the High School of Social Work-Deaconesses (1977-84); of the Highest Official Committee of the Church of Greece (1977-85); of the Committee of the Ecclesiastical Education of the Ministry of National Education and Religions (1977-82); of the Commission for the Protection of the Cultural Legacy of Cyprus (1985-91), of the Scholarships Commission of the Foundation Alexander Onassis (1978-94); of the Foundation Alexander Onassis (1994-2005). Member of the Philekpaideutike Society (1994 ff.).
International inter-ecclesiastical activity
General Secretary of the «Executive Committee for the External Mission» (1958-61), and Vice-president of the International Organization of Orthodox Youth «Syndesmos» (1964-77). Member of the «International Commission for Missionary Studies» of the WCC (1963-69). Secretary for «Missionary Research and the Relations with the Orthodox Churches», in the General Secretariat of the WCC (1969-71). Member of many international scientistic committees, such as: the «Deutsche Gesellschaft für Missionswissenschaft»; the «International Society of Missionary Research»; the Commission of the WCC for the Dialogue with Other Churches and Ideologies (1975-83); the Mixed Commission of the «Conference of European Churches» and the «Conference of Roman Catholic Bishops», «Islam in Europe» (1989-91); the «International Council» of the World Conference on Religion and Peace (1985-94).
From 1959 onwards he has participated in a number of international, inter-Orthodox, inter-Christian and inter-religious conferences, and World Assemblies (several times as main speaker) representing the Church, or the University in international organizations. He has offered lectures to several University centers concerning Christian witness, the inter-religious dialogue, and worldwide solidarity and peace.
Honorary member of the Curatorium of the Roman Catholic Institution «Pro Oriente», Vienna (1989 ff.). President-Moderator of the Commission on World Mission and Evangelism of the WCC (1984-91). Member of the Central Committee of the WCC (1998-2006). Fellow of the Orthodox Academy of Crete (2001). Corresponding Member of the Academy of Athens (1993-2005). Member of the European Council of Religious Leaders/Religions for Peace (2001 ff.). Vice-president of the Conference of European Churches (2003-09). President of the World Council of Churches (2006-). Honorary President of the World Conference of Religions for Peace (2006-).
Archbishop Anastasios is considered a pioneer in the rekindling of the missionary endeavour in the Orthodox Churches. Scholar in the field of History of Religions and inter-religious dialogue. Simultaneously, he has struggled as a peace-maker within the Balkans.
East Africa
Archbishop Anastasios has played a leading role in the contemporary renewal of the External Mission of the Orthodox Church. In the decade 1981-91, as Locum Tenens (Acting Archbishop) of the Holy Archbishopric of Irinoupolis – East Africa (Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania), he established and organized the Patriarchal School «Archbishop of Cyprus Macarios», which he directed for a decade; he ordained 62 African clergymen and consecrated 42 readers-catechists coming from eight African tribes; At the same time, he promoted the work of translation of the Holy Liturgy into four African languages. He took care of the stabilization of about 150 Orthodox parishes and decades of construction of churches, of the building of seven missionary stations and worked for the creation of schools and medical stations.
Albania
On Jan. 1991-June 1992 was Patriarchal Exarch in Albania. On June 24, 1992 ff. Archbishop of Tirana, Durres and Primate of Albania. As Archbishop, within huge difficulties, he achieved the restoration, from her foundation, of the Church of Albania –more than 400 parishes were reorganized; He established the Theological Academy «Resurrection» in Durres (1992) and 2 Ecclesiastical High Schools (in Gjirokastra 1998 and Sukth-Durrës 2007), Byzantine Music School in Tirana (2012), situated in complex buildings with contemporary conditions and dormitory. He educated and ordained 168 clerics, all Albanian citizens. He established 50 Youth Centres in several cities. He took care of the translation efforts, the edition of liturgical and other religious books. He erected 150 new churches, 70 churches, monasteries, and cultural monuments, have been renovated and restored, and 160 churches have been reconstructed. Many buildings have been built, and others have been bought and reconstructed for various purposes. These 70 buildings include: preschools, schools, youth centers, health centers, metropolitan sees, hospitality homes, workshops, soup kitchens, etc.. All together there have been about 450 buildings.
He developed the charity work, through the distribution of hundreds of tons of food, clothes, medicine. He founded a monthly newspaper and three periodicals, as well as a Radio station. He took care for the establishment of the Workshops of the Church (printing-house, candle factory, carpenter’s shop, workshops for iconography and restoration of icons).
At the same time, he developed pioneer programmes in the areas of education, health, social care, rural development, culture and ecology. e.g. he established the Medical Diagnostical Centre with 24 specialities in Tirana and 3 medical centres in other cities, University “Logos” (Tirana), also 2 >Professional Institute, a technical high school, 3 primary schools, a high school, a boarding school for girls, and 17 nursery schools in different cities. He oversaw the construction of roads, aqueducts, bridges, reparation of public schools, etc.
During the critical period of Kosovo (1999), he organized a large humanitarian programme, which helped about 33.000 refugees in several parts of Albania. He linked the Church of Albania with international Ecclesiastical organizations. He is founding member of the Interchurch Bible Society of Albania and the Interfaith Council of Albania. During the political tension between Greece and Albania, he contributed to the relaxation and the rapprochement of the two countries.
Through his initiatives work was given to thousands of men, serious works of social structure were created and the Orthodox Church of Albania has come to be a multi-dynamic spiritual and developmental factor. At the same time he struggled for the easing of the controversies in the Balkans. In 2000, through the proposal of the Academy of Athens and many personalities in Albania, he was a candidate for the Nobel Peace Prize.
He was honored with
The Holy Cross of the Apostle and Evangelist Mark, First Class, of the Patriarchate of Alexandria (1985); of Saint Catherine of the Mount Sinai (1985); of Sts. Cyrill and Methodios of the Orthodox Church of Czeschoslovakia (1986); the Silver Medal of the Academy of Athens «as the promoter and pioneer of missionary theology and action» (1987), the Golden Medal with Laurel of the Greek Red Cross (1994); the Grand Cross of the Order of Honor of the Hellenic Republic (1997); the Medal of the Great Prince Vladimir (first class) of the Russian Church (1998); the Medal of Apostle Andreas of the Ecumenical Patriarchate (1999); the Grand Cross of the Order of the Orthodox Crusaders of the Holy Sepulchre (2000); the Life Achievement Prize of the Council of Greeks Abroad (2000).
He was also honored with: the Athenagoras Human Rights Award 2001 (New York); the «Pro Humanitate», of the European Cultural Institution Pro Europe (Freiburg) (2001); the Grand Cross of the Order of Apostle Paul of the Church of Greece (2001); the Golden Medal of Honor and welfare work of the City of Athens (2001); the Golden key of the City of Thessaloniki (2002), and of Lamia (2002); the Polish humanitarian award «Ecce Homo» (2003); the Medal from the President of the Romanian Republic (2003); the Golden Medal, first class, of the Municipality of Piraeus (2005); Honorary Citizen of Tirana (2005) and Korça (2007); the Prize «for outstanding activities in strengthening Unity of Orthodox Christian Nations» (Moscow 2006); Medal of Yaroslav the Wiseman of the Ukrainian Republic (2008); Grand Golden Medal of Apostle Barnabas of the Church of Cyprus (2008); the Grand Cross of the Order of Apostle Mark of the Patriarchate of Alexandria and all Africa (2009); the medal “George Kastrioti – Skanderbeg“ the Republic of Albania (2010).
Publications
Author of many books, including:
· The Spirits M’bandwa and the framework of their Cult (in Greek, 1970, Τα πνεύματα M’μπάν’ντουα και τα πλαίσια της λατρείας των).
· «The Lord of Brightness». The God of the Tribes East of Kenya. A Research in the History of Religion (in Greek, 1971; 3rd edition 1983, Κύριος της Λαμπρότητος. O Θεός των παρά το όρος Κένυα φυλών).
· Various Christian Approaches to the Other Religions (A Historical Outline) (1971).
· The Matins of Orthodoxy in the Japan (in Greek, 1971, Ο όρθρος της Ορθοδοξίας εις την Ιαπωνίαν).
· African ritual forms (in Greek, 1972, 3rd edition 1981, Μορφαί αφρικανικού τελετουργικού).
· Islam: A General Survey (in Greek, 1975; 15th edition 2006, Ισλάμ. Θρησκειολογική Επισκόπησις).
· Rouchan’gka – The Creator (in Greek, 1975, Pουχάν’γκα – O Δημιουργός).
· Positions of Christians against other religions (in Greek, 1975, Θέσεις των χριστιανών έναντι των άλλων θρησκειών).
· Aspects of Hinduism – Buddhism (in Greek, 1985, Όψεις Ινδουϊσμού – Βουδισμού).
· Universality and Orthodoxy (in Greek, 2000; 6th edition 2006 Παγκοσμιότητα και Ορθοδοξία), translated in Serbian (2002), Romanian (2003), in English: Facing the World: Orthodox Christian Essays on Global Concerns (St. Vladimir’s Seminary Press, and WCC 2003), Albanian: Globalizmi dhe Orthodhoksia (2004), Bulgarian (2005).
· Footprints of the Quest for the Transcendent (in Greek, 2004; 3rd ed. 2006, Ίχνη από την αναζήτηση του Yπερβατικού), translated in Albanian: Gjurmë nga Kërkimi i Transhendecës (2010).
· God was revealed in the flesh, (in Greek, 2006, Θεός εφανερώθη εν σαρκί…), translated in Albanian: Perëndia u shfaq në mish…(2006).
· Now everything filled with light (in Greek, 2007, Νυν πάντα πεπλήρωται φωτός…), translated in Albanian: Të gjitha u mbushën me dritë…(2007).
· Mission in Christ’s Way (in Greek, 2007, Ιεραποστολή στα ίχνη του Χριστού) and translated in English (Holy Cross Orthodox Press, 2010).
· Monks and Mission, during the 4th and 9th centuries (in Greek, 2008, Μοναχοί και Ιεραποστολή, κατά τους 4ο και 9ο αιώνες)
· To the End of the Earth (in Greek, 2009, Έως εσχάτου της γης).
· In Africa (in Greek, 2010, Στην Αφρική).
· In Albania, Cross and Resurrection (in Greek, 2011, Στην Αλβανία, Σταυρός και Ανάσταση)
He also published three Catechetical Manuels
– Divine Messages (in Greek,1960, seven reprint 1978, Θεία Μηνύματα), translated in Albanian: Mesazhe Hyjnore (2009).
– Faith and Life (in Greek, 1961, seven reprints 1982, Πίστις και ζωή).
– Spiritual way (in Greek, 1962, seven reprints 1981, Πνευματική Πορεία), translated in Albanian: Udhëtim shpirtëror (2011).
And more than 240 essays and articles, including:
– “Monks and Mission in the Eastern Church during the Fourth Century” (1966).
– “Les Missions des Eglises d’Orient” (1972).
– “Relations between Man and Nature in the World Religions” (1983).
– “Die Mystik in Byzanz” (1983).
– “Der Dialog mit dem Islam aus orthodoxen Sicht” (1986).
– “Orthodoxe Mission. Vergangenheit, Gegenwart, Zukunft” (1999).
– “Orthodoxy Faces the Third Millennium” (2000).
– “The Church of Albania. History and Spiritual Tradition” (2000).
– “Responsabilité apostolique et dimension universelle de l’Eglise” (2001).
– “Problems and Prospects of Inter-religious Dialogue” (2002).
– “God, in your grace transform the world” (2006).
– “Christen in einem multi-religiösen geeinten Europa” (2007).
– “La lumière du Christ et l’Europe” (2008).
– “Η Ορθόδοξος Αυτοκέφαλος Εκκλησία της Αλβανίας σήμερα” (2009).
– “Appelésà une seule espéranceen Christ” (2009).
Founder and editor of bilingual quarterly Porefthentes (Go-Ye) (1960-1970), of the quarterly review Panta ta Ethne (All Nations) (1981-92). Also in Albanian: the quarterly Kërkim (Search) and the monthly newspaper Ngjallja (Resurrection). From his essays and articles a number have also been published into German, French, Russian, Swedish, Finnish, Serbian, Romanian, Bulgarian, Italian, Spanish and Albanian.
January 2013
Arkiv historik Joomla. Burimi: oaca_Joomla30 / sg25k_content ID 1784. Kategoria e vjetër: Our Church