Archbishop Anastasios of Albania passed away today, after many days of hospitalization at the "Evangelismos" hospital, where he had been rushed from Tirana.

It all started shortly before his death in 2024, when he was admitted to the "Hygeia"  hospital in Tirana with a seasonal flu.

His health deteriorated in the following days, due to gastrointestinal bleeding. For this reason, it was necessary to airlift him from Tirana to Athens on 3/1 on a C-27J aircraft, which was provided by the Armed Forces, following a request from the National Emergency Center (EKAB).

The Archbishop was admitted to the "Evangelismos" hospital, where a few days later his condition deteriorated rapidly and he was intubated. However, his health was quite poor and after several days of hospitalization, Archbishop Anastasios of Albania passed away.

Who was the Archbishop of Albania, Anastasios?

Born on November 4, 1929 in Piraeus, Anastasios Giannoulatos was the Primate of the Orthodox Church of Albania.

Theologian, cleric, writer, Professor Emeritus of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, honorary member of the Academy of Athens, Archbishop of Tirana, Durres and all Albania, Anastasios leaves behind a rich legacy, while in 2000 he was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize.

The path of Anastasios

An excellent graduate of the 2nd Boys' Gymnasium of Athens, he studied at the Theological School of Athens of the National and Kapodistrian University, graduating in 1952, also with honors, achieving the highest score for a graduate of the Theological School of Athens – 9.53. He continued his postgraduate studies in Religious Studies, Ethnology, Missions, and African Studies, at the Universities of Hamburg and Marburg, Germany (1965-69), as a scholar of the German Alexander von Humboldt Foundation.

He was awarded a Doctorate of the Theological School of the University of Athens (1970, unanimously with honors, with a special award). During his military service (1952-54) he attended the Reserve Officers' Schools of Syros and the Chaidari Signals School, where he excelled and became "School Chief".

He was appointed Extraordinary Professor of History of Religions at the University of Athens, appointed Director of the Department of Religious Studies and Sociology (1983-1986) and from 1976 full professor and dean of the School of Theology of the University of Athens (1983-1987), from which he retired in 1997 as Professor Emeritus, having developed significant scientific work.

In Greece, he served as a lay theologian initially and worked in various areas of internal mission - preaching, Christian writing, catechesis, organization of biblical study groups, youth and student camps.

He was actively involved in Orthodox youth organizations and in 1959 founded the first missionary magazine in Greece entitled "Poreuthentes". He also founded the Greek-speaking missionary consciousness in the 20th century , with the establishment of the "Inter-Orthodox Missionary Center".

In East Africa

Archimandrite since 1964, Anastasios focused his work on Africa, mainly Uganda, but also Tanzania and Kenya, exploring the possibilities of a systematic Orthodox Mission.

He subsequently founded and organized the Patriarchal School “Archbishop Makarios of Cyprus”, which he directed for ten years. He ordained 62 African clergy and ordained 42 readers-catechists from eight African tribes, including the first four Tanzanian clergy. At the same time, he promoted the translations of the Divine Liturgy into 4 African languages.

He ensured the stabilization of approximately 150 Orthodox parishes and nuclei and the construction of dozens of churches; he erected seven missionary stations, and ensured the creation of schools and medical stations. He was recognized as a “Great Benefactor” of the Patriarchate of Alexandria (2009).