Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople and Archbishop John of Albania meet in Austria

Recently, a significant meeting between Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople and Archbishop John of Tirana, Durrë and All Albania took place in Salzburg, Austria. The two Primates spent several days together, which was part of the Patriarch’s annual vacation and preceded the official visit of Archbishop John to the United States of America.

As reported by ORTHODOXIANEWSAGENCY.GR, Patriarch Bartholomew, following his annual tradition, traveled to Salzburg for a short rest and recuperation. This year, his high guest and interlocutor was Archbishop John of Albania, who was accompanied by Metropolitan Anastasios of Korcina. This important joint meeting of the two Primates took place just a few days before the scheduled official visit of Archbishop John to the Holy Archdiocese of America at the invitation of Archbishop Elpidophoros, which emphasizes its importance in interchurch relations.

The delegation that accompanied Patriarch Bartholomew included local Metropolitan Arsenios of Austria, Hieromonk Eulogius, the codifier of the Holy Synod, and His Eminence Archimandrite Kallinikos Hasapis, who serves in America. During their stay in Austria, the Patriarch and his companions visited Franz Lackner, Roman Catholic Archbishop of Salzburg, and the Maria im Paradis Monastery, known for the fact that Metropolitan Arseny of Austria periodically gives lectures on Orthodox theology and spirituality there.

At the end of their stay in Austria, Patriarch Bartholomew and Archbishop John of Albania returned to Constantinople on the same flight last Sunday, February 22.

Earlier, the Primate of the Albanian Orthodox Church, His Beatitude Archbishop John, spoke about the Ukrainian church issue. The first hierarch drew attention to the fact that the creation of the OCU split world Orthodoxy, noting that the Synod of the Albanian Church had expressed its position on this issue and it remains unchanged.