The funeral and interment of the late Archbishop of Tirana, Durrës, and all Albania, Anastasios, took place in Tirana this Thursday.

A vast crowd of faithful gathered at the Cathedral of the Resurrection of Christ in Tirana to pay their final respects. As per his wishes, he was laid to rest in a special crypt beneath the cathedral’s holy sanctuary. 

A sizeable Greek government delegation, led by Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, attended the service, with other top Cabinet members including Defense Minister Nikos Dendias, Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis and Finance Minister Kostis Hatzidakis.

Archbishop Ieronymos II of Athens and All Greece represented the Autocephalous Orthodox Church of Greece. 

Also present were PASOK party President Nikos Androulakis, SYRIZA MEP Nikos Farantouris, SYRIZA President Socrates Famellos and former EU Commissioner and Athens mayor Dimitris Avramopoulos, among many others. Dozens of diplomats and ecclesiastical representatives from around the world were also present to pay their respects.

Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, who officiated at the exodios funeral service, bowed in farewell to Archbishop Anastasios, solemnly declaring, “The great pillar of Orthodoxy in Albania has fallen.”

Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama also paid tribute, stating, “Anastasios of Albania is gone. It is difficult to recall another figure so deeply intertwined with Albania in our historical memory.” Reflecting on his legacy, he added, “He brought light to Albania after darkness. He was slandered yet endured with stoicism, bearing the burdens of our nations. He was Greek by origin but Albanian by citizenship.”

Mitsotakis delivered a heartfelt eulogy, saying, “Courage and hope were the guiding forces of Anastasios’ extraordinary journey—one dedicated to people and their rights. We bow in reverence before the greatness of this exceptional man. He was among the finest people in the world, a shining example of wisdom and action. His passing leaves an irreplaceable void.”

PASOK’s Androulakis added, “Today, we bid farewell to the blessed Archbishop Anastasios, a great hierarch and intellectual of our Orthodox faith. He worked tirelessly for peaceful coexistence and mutual understanding among different religions. His legacy—one of missionary and spiritual devotion—has inspired millions of Orthodox Christians worldwide. May his memory be eternal.”

The recently appointed – by the Holy and Sacred Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople – locum tenens of the Archdiocese of Albania, Metropolitan Ioannis of Korçë, also paid tribute, declaring, “He radiated light where there was darkness. He is immortal. We know he has not abandoned us.” Reflecting on Anastasios’ resilience, he added, “He stood strong as a rock. He never wavered, always reminding us, ‘God will not abandon us’.”