Primate of the Albanian Church calls for visible unity of Orthodoxy in the United States

The Primate of the Albanian Orthodox Church, Archbishop John, while on a visit to the United States of America, called for the strengthening and open witness to the unity of the Orthodox Churches around the world. His words were delivered on the Sunday of the Triumph of Orthodoxy after the cathedral liturgy, which united the hierarchs of various Local Churches, emphasizing the importance of both external and internal unity of Christians.

As reported by Gorthodox.com, citing the news portal of the Albanian Church, after the conciliar liturgy at St. Catherine’s Church in Braintree, Massachusetts, Archbishop John emphasized that the modern world needs visible unity of Christians, which should be manifested not only in words but also in actions. He stated: “We are one in our hearts, but we must show it to the world. It is impossible to call for dialogue with others if there is no living dialogue among ourselves.”

The service, led by Archbishop John, was a significant event that demonstrated a rare example of joint prayer by the hierarchs of different Local Churches. The liturgy was attended by representatives of the Constantinople, Serbian, Georgian, Antiochian, Alexandrian, American and other Local Churches, as well as bishops of Albanian dioceses in America, which emphasized the desire to consolidate the Orthodox world.

Archbishop John’s visit to the United States took place at the invitation of Bishop Elpidophoros of America (Patriarchate of Constantinople). The central event was his participation in the international conference “Anastasios: Archbishop, Theologian and Missionary” dedicated to the memory of the late Primate of the Albanian Church, Archbishop Anastasios. The forum is being held at the Holy Cross Divinity School in Brookline, Massachusetts, where the current Archbishop of Albania was once educated.

In his sermon delivered on the Sunday of the Triumph of Orthodoxy, Archbishop John reminded that this holiday is not only a historical memory of the victory over iconoclasm, but also a powerful call to the inner renewal of each person. According to him, the restoration of the “image of God” in the heart of the believer is the basis of true church unity and is the foundation for witnessing to the world.

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 expressed its position on this issue and it remains unchanged.