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   From: hayesstw@telkomsa.net   
      
   Archbishop Anastasios of Albania celebrates 27 years as head of the   
   Albanian Orthodox Church   
   by NewsRoom   
   Jun 24, 2019 | 20:43   
      
   in Church of Albania   
      
   Archbishop Anastasios of Tirana, Durres and All Albania, was born on   
   November 4, 1929, in Piraeus, Greece.   
      
   Archbishop Anastasios (Yannoulatos) was Professor of History of   
   Religions (1972-92) and Dean of the Theological Faculty of the   
   National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (1983-86). B.D. and   
   Th.D. (with highest honors) and today is Professor Emeritus of the   
   same University.   
      
   He has been awarded Th.D. h.c. DD. h.c. Ph.D. h.c. from 19   
   universities, faculties or departments (from Greece, U.S.A. Cyprus,   
   Romania, Georgia, Albania, Italy), Corresponding Member (1993-2005),   
   and Honourary Member (since 2006) of the Academy of Athens.   
      
   Postgraduate Studies: History of Religions and Ethnology, at   
   Universities of Hamburg and Marburg, Germany (under the “Alexander von   
   Humboldt Stiftung” Scholarship).   
      
   Studied also world religions by traveling in countries where they   
   flourish. Languages: (Besides Modern and Ancient Greek), English,   
   French, German and a working knowledge of Latin, Italian, Spanish, and   
   Albanian.   
      
   He played a pioneering role in rekindling the Orthodox interest in   
   foreign mission (from 1958). He was ordained Deacon (1960);   
   Priest-Archimandrite (1964), Bishop of Androussa (1972) for the   
   position of the General Director of the Apostolike Diakonia of the   
   Church of Greece (1972-92); Locum Tenens (Acting Archbishop) of the   
   Holy Metropolis of Irinoupolis in East Africa (1981-1990);   
   Metropolitan of Androussa and Patriarchal Exarch in Albania   
   (1991-1992). Archbishop of Tirana, and All Albania (June, 1992   
   onward).   
      
   As General Director of the Apostoliki Diakonia, he promoted various   
   theological, educational and publishing programs; particularly, he   
   developed the sector of foreign missions.   
      
   In East Africa (Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania) he undertook the organization   
   and development of the Orthodox missions. He has been recognized as   
   “Great Benefactor of the Patriarchate of Alexandria and All Africa”.   
      
   As Archbishop of Albania (1992 to the present), under tremendously   
   difficult circumstances, he has restored and further developed the   
   Orthodox Autocephalous Church of Albania, which had been fully   
   dissolved for 23 years.   
      
   Although formal freedom was already restored to the country, the   
   beginning of the 1990s was a dramatic time period for the Community of   
   the Orthodox faithful in Albania.   
      
   Upon arriving in the country, the Archbishop encountered the fearful   
   spiritual and material void that formal atheism had left behind, but   
   he was not intimidated. He was committed to changing the situation.   
      
   Together with the work of revitalizing the Orthodox Church, innovative   
   programs were also developed in the areas of health, social welfare,   
   education, agricultural developments, culture and ecology. At the same   
   time, he struggled to assist in relieving the many tensions in the   
   Balkans.   
      
   Author of 24 books (researches in African religions, essays in   
   Theology and History of Missions, sermons etc) including Islam, a   
   general survey (16 editions), History of Living Religions, significant   
   chapters, Facing the World, Mission In Christ’s way, To the End of the   
   Earth, Coexistence, In Albania Cross and Resurrection.   
      
   Published more than 200 essays and articles of Theological and   
   pastoral themes. His studies and articles have been translated into 17   
   foreign languages.   
      
   He has been honored with 27 medals and awards of many Orthodox   
   Churches and various countries. His significant contribution to   
   Christian Mission, Theology, and the peaceful coexistence of people   
   and religious communities has been internationally recognized.   
      
   Archbishop Anastasios attended the Holy and Great Council of the   
   Orthodox Church in Crete, 16-26 of June in 2016.   
      
   Source: Basilica.ro   
   https://t.co/pv0iB0f3dr   
      
      
      
      
      
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