Metropolitan Anthony of Volokolamsk met with the Primate of the Albanian Orthodox Church

OCP News Service – 13/08/2025

Tirana – Albania: With the blessing of Patriarch Kirill of Moscow, Metropolitan Anthony of Volokolamsk, Chairman of the Department for External Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate, arrived in Albania on a working visit on August 11. The met with the new head of the Albanian Orthodox Church, Archbishop John of Tirana, Durres and All Albania, at his official residence.

Metropolitan Anthony conveyed fraternal greetings from Patriarch Kirill and congratulated Archbishop John on his election and enthronement in March. The discussion, held in a warm and cordial atmosphere, covered various issues including inter-Orthodox and international relations, the status of the canonical Church in Ukraine, and the future of cooperation between the Russian and Albanian sister Churches.

The meeting was attended by key representatives from both Churches. From the Russian Orthodox Church were Archpriest Nikolai Balashov and Archpriest Igor Yakimchuk. The Albanian side included Metropolitan Anthony of Elbasan, Metropolitan Nathanael of Amanatia, and Bishop Anastasius of Kruja.

The meeting concluded with an exchange of commemorative gifts. Following the meeting, the Russian delegation visited the Resurrection Cathedral in Tirana. They performed a funeral litany and sang “Eternal Memory” at the grave of the ever-memorable Archbishop Anastasius, who passed away on January 25 and is buried in the crypt of the cathedral.

On the same day, Metropolitan Anthony and his delegation also met with A.A. Zaitsev, the Ambassador of the Russian Federation to Albania.

Source:

OCP News Service