Archbishop John celebrated his first namesake day as Primate of the Albanian Church

Archbishop John of Tirana, Durrës and all Albania celebrated his first day as Primate by leading the Divine Liturgy at the Cathedral of the Resurrection of Christ in Tirana. The celebrations were attended by members of the Holy Synod of the Albanian Orthodox Church. On the occasion of the feast, His Beatitude received congratulatory messages from Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew and Pope Leo, as well as warm wishes from officials and the faithful.

According to Orthodox Times, the festive service was held on Friday, September 26, 2029, the Feast Day of the Presentation of the Holy Apostle and Evangelist John the Theologian. Archbishop John was served by members of the Holy Synod: Metropolitan Nicholas of Apollonia and Fieri, Metropolitan Anthony of Elbasan, Metropolitan Nathanael of Gjirokastrina and Bishop (and Metropolitan-elect of Korchin) Anastasios, as well as clergy from various dioceses of Albania.

At the end of the service, Archbishop John received heartfelt congratulations, bouquets of flowers and good wishes from government officials, representatives of other denominations and many faithful, among whom there were especially many young people.

In the spirit of brotherly love and respect, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew sent Archbishop John a letter on the occasion of his namesake. “Praising and glorifying the Lord of Glory, who has bestowed upon His Holy Church your Venerable Beatitude, and upon us your most precious brother and co-worker, we write to you to express the congratulations of the Holy Great Church of Christ on the occasion of your holy namesake day, as well as our personal festive wishes,” the Patriarch’s message reads.

A congratulatory letter with prayerful wishes was also sent by Pope Leo. In it he expressed the hope that Archbishop John and the whole Albanian Church, imitating the Apostle John, “will continue to advance under the guidance of the Holy Spirit on the road to reconciliation and the full restoration of communion between our Churches”.

Earlier, the Primate of the Albanian Orthodox Church, His Beatitude Archbishop John, expressed his views on the Ukrainian Church issue. The First Hierarch drew attention to the fact that the establishment of the OCU has split world Orthodoxy, noting that the Synod of the Albanian Church expressed its position on this issue and it remains unchanged.