Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama delivered a heartfelt speech during the farewell ceremony for the late Archbishop Anastasios Janullatos, held on Thursday at the “Resurrection of Christ” Orthodox Cathedral in Tirana. Rama reflected on the Archbishop’s profound influence on the Albanian Orthodox Church and his contribution to fostering relations between Albania and Greece.
“As a figure of a historic social community with a significant impact on Albania’s national mosaic, Archbishop Anastas was both admired and criticized throughout his tenure as leader of the church and community,” Rama said.
He highlighted the Archbishop’s involvement in addressing the challenges faced by Albanian Orthodoxy, particularly in the context of Albania’s complex relationship with neighboring Greece. “Despite the challenges, including the fires of conflicts rooted in our shared past with Greece, the Archbishop shouldered these burdens with stoicism, a rare quality in today’s world,” Rama added.
Rama also touched on the Archbishop’s pivotal role in the revival of the Albanian Orthodox Church, uniting a fractured flock that had been wounded and scattered over three decades. “No one can ever question the authenticity of his pastoral commitment to a flock that was lost and divided, yet he brought it together with great dedication and patience,” Rama emphasized.
