Patriarch Daniel of the Romanian Orthodox Church sent on Thursday a message of condolence to the funeral of Archbishop Anastasios of Tirana, Durrës and All Albania, who died last week aged 95 in an Athens hospital of complications after a viral infection.
According to Patriarch Daniel, the Primate of the Orthodox Church of Albania was "a remarkable personality of contemporary Orthodoxy and the entire Christian world", with a "unique" missionary vocation and a "special pastoral gift".
"His All-Holiness leaves a profound mark on the recent history of the Orthodox Church of Albania, which he has wisely and faithfully led over 33 years. Archbishop Anastasios holds the main merit for the rebirth and flourishing of the Orthodox Church of Albania in the decades that followed the fall of Tirana's communist regime, as a dynamic and diligent servant in the vineyard of our Lord Jesus Christ. Due to His All-Holiness' unwavering efforts, the Orthodox Church of Albania experienced a resurrection after years of suffering and persecution, through the construction of places of worship, theological schools, social and philanthropic institutions, as well as by the formation of a new generation of clergy and lay faithful," Patriarch Daniel emphasized.
The BOR leader also remarks the brotherly love Archbishop Anastasios manifested for the Romanian people and the Romanian Orthodox Church, which he visited several times, permanently promoting Orthodox fraternal cooperation and mutual assistance between the Orthodox Churches.
"Thus, we remember with gratitude His All-Holiness' last visit to Bucharest, in the autumn of 2017, during the events dedicated to the feast of St. Demetrius the New, the Patron Saint of Bucharest, and to the commemoration by the Romanian Patriarchate of the defenders of Orthodoxy during communism. It is with the same gratitude that we also recall our participation, together with a delegation of the Romanian Orthodox Church, in the 2014 events in Tirana dedicated to the consecration of the National Cathedral of the Resurrection of Christ, a symbol of the revival of the Orthodox Church of Albania and a crowning achievement of Archbishop Anastasios' pastoral and missionary work," Patriarch Daniel writes.
He also conveyed to the Albanian clergy and Orthodox Christians his appreciation for the former Primate of the Albanian Church.
"In these days of mourning, we assure all the hierarchs of the Holy Synod of the Orthodox Church of Albania, the clergy and the Albanian Orthodox faithful of our full esteem and prayers, beseeching the All-Merciful God to rest among the Righteous Ones the soul of our beloved brother in Christ, Archbishop of Tirana, Durrës, and All Albania, Anastasios of blessed memory, in the light, peace, and love of the Holy Trinity!," Patriarch Daniel said in conclusion of his message. AGERPRES
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