New Book of Archbishop Anastasios – “The Rebuilding of the Orthodox Autocephalous Church of Albania” (1991-2012)

February 2014

The Albanian Orthodox Church

On 13 February 2014, in the afternoon, in the reception hall of the Complex of the Holy Synod, near the new cathedral “Resurrection of Christ”, was held the promotion of new book of the Archbishop of Tirana, Durrës and All Albania, His Beatitude, Prof. Dr. Anastasios “The Rebuilding of the Orthodox Autocephalous Church of Albania (1991-2012)” with subtitle “With the lecture : Sharing the Good News and building the Church today. The case of Albania.”

In this event were attending known intellectuals and leaders of educational and research institutions, the deputy of the Parliament of Albania, Mr. Vangjel Dule, parliamentarians and politicians, representatives of other religious communities, diplomatic representatives, clergy and believers, proffesors and students of the Theological Academy “Resurrection of Christ” etc.. Also participated all the members of the Holy Synod of the Church.

The promotion of this book was opened by His Eminence John, who stopped to the hierapostolic action and to the unparalleled contribution of Archbishop Anastasios in rebuilding our Church, but also to his profile as intellectual and renowned scholar.

For the values of the book, and for the personality of Archbishop Anastasios, spoke Dr. Paskal Milo, the Rector of the University of Tirana, Prof. Dr. Dhori Kule, Prof. Dr. Vaso Tole, Prof. Dr. Shaban Sinani, and Prof. Dr. Beatriçe Polo.

Lecturers in particular stressed the role of Archbishop Anastasios, that simultaneously with the revival of the Orthodox faith, insisted also in the paralel social activities, promoting the values of peace and coexistence in harmony, but also in strengthening the Orthodox morality, as a contribution of making healthier the entire society. All the honored speakers, genuine scientific personalities in their sektor, were coherent in one point, that especially after reading this book, which gives the view and the summary of everything has happened for 23 years with the Orthodox Autocephalous Church of Albania, becomes even sharper the conclusion of the aggressiveness of media and sometimes political, against the church and especially against its Primate, that is totally unfounded, unethical and useless for Albania.

In the end, Archbishop Anastasios thanked for the warm words and assessments that were made. Then was shown a short documentary film about the life and the work of Archbishop Anastasios, focusing particularly on the extraordinary contribution in rebuilding from the ruins the Church, and our progress in these 23 years.

The book begins with a brief overview of the history of Christianity and of Orthodoxy in the territory of Albania, and continues with the journey of the Orthodox Autocephalous Church of Albania since 1991, focusing on specific areas of this titanic work, the problems that have come and how they were resolved.The book is quite rich with photos and with a summary in English.

Also, a very important part of this book is also that documentary, in which is published fully the “Patriarchal Tomos” of the Autocephaly of 1937, the Statute in force of our Church of 2006, the agreement signed with the state in 2009 etc.

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