The annual memorial service for the unforgettable Archbishop of Albania Anastasios was held in Tirana in an emotional atmosphere, with believers from Albania (and some from Greece) flooding the "Anastasi" Cathedral.
The multi-archpriestly divine service was presided over by his successor Ioannis, who also officiated at the memorial service, flanked by the Metropolitans of the Holy Synod of the Orthodox Church of Albania, Apollonia and Fieri Nikolaou, Elbasan Antoniou, Gjirokastra Nathanael, Veratio Astio and Korçë Anastasiou, as well as by Metropolitan Isaac of Germany.
Representatives of other religions, Albanian politicians, as well as the Greek ambassador to Tirana, attended.
Archbishop Ioannis emphasized, among other things, once again that his greatness was demonstrated in his love for all people, regardless of their origin and beliefs, speaking of “the divine liturgy after the divine liturgy.”
He was founded on his deep faith in God, his loving heart and his resurgent virtues, and his memory is not a nostalgic return to the past, but a conscious choice to keep alive the legacy he left us...
And he added that Albania needs the spirit of Anastasius. The whole world needs this spirit, because only on the divine foundation can a just relationship between people be built, exactly as Anastasius envisioned and put into practice.
Following the divine service, a trisagion was held at the tomb of the unforgettable Anastasios, officiated by the Archbishop and attended by the Synodal Hierarchs of Albania, Metropolitan Isaac of Germany and Metropolitan Athanasios of Achaia. As is known, Anastasios himself chose to be buried in Albania, in a crypt of the Church of the Resurrection, which he himself built.
And it could not have happened otherwise, since for about 34 years his heart was dedicated and devoted to this place and its inhabitants, whom he never for a moment thought of abandoning, even when things took a dangerous turn. On the contrary, he did everything he could to benefit them in various ways, as he felt them as brothers and not as strangers.
Although he came from Greece and never renounced the feeling and sense of being Greek, Albania was his spiritual land, and therefore his spiritual homeland, and being buried there leaves a timeless message of unity not only of the Orthodox, but of all peoples.
A particular impression was made by the fact that a large number of Orthodox people, not only from Albania, waited patiently to venerate his tomb and even knelt and cried in front of it.
This alone shows that from Tirana, Anastasios will continue to send out the trumpet of brotherhood and his tomb will be a source, but also proof, of love without borders.
