His Beatitude Patriarch Kyrios Kyrios Theophilos III attends the Funeral Service of the Blessed Archbishop Anastasios of Tirana, Durrens, and all Albania

This news is shared from the website of the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem.

From the General Secretariat of the Greek Patriarchate of Jerusalem

On Wednesday, 16/29 January 2025, His Beatitude Patriarch Kyrios Kyrios Theophilos III, Greek Orthodox Patriarch of the Holy City of Jerusalem and all Palestine and Jordan, and Honorary President of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), along with the Elder Archbishop of Constantine, Aristarchos, and Archdeacon Mark, travelled by air to Tirana, to take part in the funeral service of the blessed Archbishop Anastasios of Albania, and to honour his extensive, multifaceted, and exemplary pastoral work, which was filled with holiness and wisdom.

On Wednesday evening, the eve of the Funeral Service, His Beatitude the Patriarch of Jerusalem, Theophilos, along with His Beatitude the Archbishop George of Cyprus, held a Trisagion at the Cathedral of the Resurrection of Christ in Tirana for the repose of the blessed Archbishop Anastasios of Tirana.

On Thursday, 17/30 January 2025, the feast of the Three Hierarchs and great luminaries of the Holy Trinity (new cal.), the Divine Liturgy was celebrated in the Holy Cathedral of the Resurrection of Christ. The Divine Liturgy was led by the Locum Tenens of the Throne, His Eminence Metropolitan Ioannis of Korça, with His Eminence Metropolitan Demetrios of Gjirokastër, along with the Elder Chief Secretary of the Holy Synod of the Autocephalous Church of Albania, His Eminence Metropolitan Nathaniel of Amantia as concelebrants.

The Funeral Service was led by His All-Holiness the Ecumenical Patriarch, Bartholomew, with the Locum Tenens of the Throne, His Eminence Metropolitan Ioannis of Korça, concelebrating.

After the conclusion of the Service, the obituary was delivered in honour of the departed Hierarch, by His Beatitude our Father and Patriarch of Jerusalem, Theophilos, and is as follows:

“Your Eminence, Metropolitan John of Korça, Locum Tenens of the Archiepiscopal Throne of the Church of Albania
Your Beatitude, Most Blessed Primates
of the Autocephalous Orthodox Churches,
Beloved brothers in Christ,

The Primates of the Autocephalous Orthodox Churches united in Christ in the bond of peace, offer their condolences today to the Autocephalous Orthodox Church of Albania in its Christ-like mourning, following the departure to the Lord of its Shepherd, the blessed Archbishop of Tirana, Durrës and all Albania, His Eminence Archbishop Anastasios. We grieve, joining in the funeral service, gathered around his venerable body, and praying for the repose of his soul in the land of the living. “Sorrowing as is fitting at the separation,” we find comfort in the words of the boundless mercy shown to us by our incarnate, crucified, and risen Lord Jesus Christ, for He said, “I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live” (John 11:25).

In our prayers, it is fitting and just that we mention with praise that the Giver of all gifts endowed him with many talents, entrusting him with much, which he, “being a good and faithful servant” (Matt. 25:21), cultivated, increased, and multiplied…

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This news was originally published on the website of the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem, click here to read more.