Archbishop Anastasios of Tirana, Durres and All Albania was admitted to a Tirana hospital on 30 December 2024 due to a "seasonal virus", and was airlifted by the Hellenic Air Force to Athens four days later and admitted to Evangelismos Hospital, where he underwent emergency laparoscopic surgery to treat gastrointestinal bleeding. He died from multiple organ failure on 25 January 2025, at the age of 95.
By decision of the Holy Synod of the Church of Greece, his tabernacle was placed the following day at the Metropolitan Cathedral of Athens to be venerated by the faithful.
By decision of His Beatitude Archbishop Hieronymos of Athens and All Greece, on 26 January 2025 His Eminence Metropolitan Hierotheos of Nafpaktos and Agiou Vlasiou presided over the Divine Liturgy at the Metropolitan Cathedral of Athens, as Vice-President of the Holy Synod, in the presence of the sacred tabernacle of the late Archbishop of Anastasios.
The Holy Synod of the Orthodox Church of Albania declared a five-day period of ecclesiastical mourning. The funeral service will be held at the Cathedral of the Resurrection of Christ in Tirana on 30 January, where he will be buried in a special crypt under the cathedral.
By decision of the Holy Synod of the Church of Greece, his tabernacle was placed the following day at the Metropolitan Cathedral of Athens to be venerated by the faithful.
By decision of His Beatitude Archbishop Hieronymos of Athens and All Greece, on 26 January 2025 His Eminence Metropolitan Hierotheos of Nafpaktos and Agiou Vlasiou presided over the Divine Liturgy at the Metropolitan Cathedral of Athens, as Vice-President of the Holy Synod, in the presence of the sacred tabernacle of the late Archbishop of Anastasios.
The Holy Synod of the Orthodox Church of Albania declared a five-day period of ecclesiastical mourning. The funeral service will be held at the Cathedral of the Resurrection of Christ in Tirana on 30 January, where he will be buried in a special crypt under the cathedral.
The following video depicts Metropolitan Hierotheos on the morning of 28 January handing over the sacred tabernacle of the late Archbishop Anastasios to the people of Albania at the border between Greece and Albania, sending him off with the singing of "Christ is Risen".
By Metropolitan Hierotheos of Nafpaktos and Agiou Vlasiou
Volumes are needed to present the personality and great contribution of the late Archbishop Anastasios of Tirana, Durres and All Albania to the Church of Greece, to the University sphere, to Albania, to society and to the whole world.
I met him as a young cleric and subsequently had communication with him in all phases of his development, because he loved and respected my Elder, Saint Kallinikos, Metropolitan of Edessa, immensely.
I will never forget a scene, when in 1984 he came to the Hospital to visit Saint Kallinikos, he knelt in front of his bed, he did not want to wake him out of respect and courtesy, he kissed his feet saying, “How beautiful are the feet of those who proclaim the gospel of peace, who proclaim the gospel of good things” (Rom. 10:15) and immediately turned to me and said: “He is a jewel of the Church.”
I think that this simple and spontaneous scene characterized him throughout his life. He recognized the saints who work selflessly and sacrificially for the Church, he loved and practiced sacred missions, he embraced the diverse wounds and illnesses of people with all his pastoral work, he was exceedingly noble and ultimately he himself was and is a “jewel of the Church”.
His name, Anastasios, from his baptism and subsequently as a Cleric, showed that in an amazing way, everywhere, wherever he went, he conveyed the message of the Resurrection of Christ, as victory over death and all misery, as the triumph of life.
He excelled everywhere he went, and distinguished himself as a theologian, missionary, shepherd, researcher, university professor, bishop, speaker at conferences, and head of the Church, conveying everywhere a resurrectional word, hope of life, and selfless love. And he did all this in a noble and charming manner, with a cheerful and joyful face.
He was a resurrectional man and cleric, and with his life he confirmed his name: Anastasios.
He lived this throughout his life until his last moment. When a few days ago (January 8, 2025) on behalf of the Archbishop Hieronymos of Athens and All Greece, and all the members of the Permanent Holy Synod, we visited him together with the Metropolitan Ignatios of Demetrias, to convey to him the love of the Holy Synod and all those who knew him, he told us two phrases: “Christ is Risen” and “I am grateful to all.”
This shows the entire personality of the late Anastasios, as he expressed it throughout his life. He believed in the Resurrection of Christ, was inspired by it, wanted to resurrect all suffering people and was an extremely noble and grateful man.
The late Archbishop was indeed a "jewel of the Church" and a "resurrectional man" until the last moment of his life. This is how we will remember him and this is the example and model for all of us.
Source: Published in NEA on February 27, 2025. Translated by John Sanidopoulos.
