A con-celebratory synodal Divine Liturgy was held on Tuesday at the Cathedral of the Resurrection of Christ, in the Albanian capital of Tirana, on the occasion of the 30-year anniversary of the enthronement of the Archbishop of Tirana, Durres and All Albania, His Beatitude Anastasios, orthodoxianewsagency informs.

In citing what he called the extraordinary magnitude and importance of the Archbishop’s works and ministry in the Adriatic country, the Church of Albania’s Metropolitan of Korce, His Eminence Ioannis, stated that “…your best contribution is the spiritual background, on which your efforts were based: the message of the Gospel you carried, along with hope, forgiveness and respect for every human being”.

In a response, Archbishop Anastasios reminded that “…the clergy and people of the Church of Albania gratefully recall the initiative of the Ecumenical Patriarchate and the judgement of the competent Patriarchal Committee for the reconstruction of our local Church, and with heartfelt respect and sincere love they are bound together for the benefit of Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew”.

Earlier it was reported that the Head of the Russian Orthodox Church congratulated Archbishop Anastasios on the anniversary of his enthronement.