Albanian Orthodox Church

The Orthodox Authocephalous Church of Albania has had a difficult time restablishing its life after the enforced atheism imposed in communist-ruled Albania in 1967. Albania was the only country in the world to ban personal religious beliefs. Also the language of the rituals (Greek) has been seen as a threat to Albanian ethnic identity by Albanian nationalists.

Related Topics:
Albania - 1967 - Greek

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Appointed to head the newly-revived Church by the Ecumenical Patriarch in 1991 was a Greek, Metropolitan Anastasios (Yannoulatos). He was named Archbishop of Tirana on 24 June 1992 and enthroned on 2 August 1992. Though at first seen by the Albanian state as a possibly dangerous Greek nationalist, Anastasios has gained respect for his charity work and now is recognised as a spiritual leader of the Albanian society by citizens of all religions, dogmas and ethnic origins.

Related Topics:
Ecumenical Patriarch - Anastasios (Yannoulatos) - Tirana - 24 June - 1992 - 2 August

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The Church currently has four dioceses, Tirana , Durrës and Elbasan; Berat and Kanina; Gjirokastër; and Korçë. The first bishops (metropolitans) appointed after the fall of the atheist communist regime were not recognised by the Albanian state due to their ethnic origin (Greek minority of Northen Epirus in Albania). The Church had to continue its reconstruction by appointing Albanian bishops of origin other than Greek. Suspicion has given its place to popularity and the number of the members of the Greek Orthodox church has risen substantially. {{orthodoxy-stub}}

Related Topics:
Tirana - Durrës - Elbasan - Berat - Gjirokastër - Korçë

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~