One year after the death (25-1-2025) of the late Archbishop of Albania Anastasios, it is common to admit that he is a living part of history, a significant local part of which he influenced and on which he indelibly imprinted the stamp of his great personality.
The more we move away from him in time and the more the small things and petty calculations are surrendered to relentless forgetfulness, the brighter and more magnificently his form will be projected as universal in the broadest sense.
Anastasios (great personalities remain by their first name in the world's consciousness) continues to be and will always be in the hearts of the Orthodox and not only of Albania, since the golden wings of his love extend to everyone.
A fighter, or rather a fighter, unyielding and unwavering, he resurrected from its ashes an Orthodox Church that had been persecuted and devastated during the years of atheism in Albania.
He gave her his breath. He gave her his breaths. He gave her his heart. He gave her his life. Without any return whatsoever. With only motivation, with only his strength, his soul's divine duty.
He emerged as a luminous figure Of the church And theology, who united and did not divide through his significant and multifaceted pastoral, charitable, and social work.
A spiritual entity and an existence of great dimensions, within his humility and simplicity, this was his greatness, without any trace of religious intolerance, he marked Orthodoxy, but also the entire religious world, with his inspired interventions, defending social justice, love and peace.
It cannot be overemphasized that this important and pioneering figure of our time demonstrated genuine Christian life through words, deeds and behaviors. From the small and insignificant things of everyday life, to the great and momentous, the difficult dilemmas, the great decisions and his decisive choices.
Archbishop Anastasios, with his attitude towards life, urges us from his grave to make the decision to enter the arena of faith and run for love, so that we may avoid disappointment over all that happens to us without us.
To all of us, who are literally lost, and are searching for criteria to distinguish and judge, measures and weights to measure and weigh, words and deeds, so that we can decide whether to take at face value what is said and what is done, Anastasius has shown us, is showing us and will show us the path of truth and resurrection.
He deposited his valuable spiritual experience in modern society, which struggles with other kinds of "deposits", and which spiritual experience constitutes a trigger and starting point and opportunity for a change of mentality, enlightenment, prudent thinking and careful study of things.
The actions of Anastasios have left, are leaving and will leave indelible traces in the Church and in the area of inter-church, inter-Christian and ecumenical relations, but also in the relations between nations and peoples.
Anastasius rose to become a global figure, multifaceted and polyphonic, of Christianity, a preacher of love, creation and peace. And most importantly, he broadened the horizons of joy in Christ, which constitutes one of the essential elements of life and which is sorely lacking in modern man.
Anastasios won, with the beauty of his words, the essence of his actions, and the greatness of his heart, our own hearts.
