The body of Archbishop Anastas arrived in Tirana on Tuesday afternoon, stirring deep emotions in the capital. The funeral procession, accompanied by funeral music, walked the route from the Bank of Albania to the Orthodox Cathedral of the “Resurrection of Christ.”

Many citizens lined the streets, tearfully witnessing the passage of the Archbishop’s body and throwing flowers as a sign of honor and respect for the spiritual leader.

The procession arrived from Greece on Tuesday morning, and after crossing the Kakavija border point, it made a stop at the Cathedral in Gjirokastra, where a special religious ceremony was held in the Archbishop’s honor.

According to his final wishes, the procession also stopped in several villages of the Dropull Municipality, where residents paid their respects and expressed their admiration.

The body of the Archbishop will be placed at the “Resurrection of Christ” Cathedral in Tirana for public homage. The funeral ceremony will take place on Thursday and is expected to be attended by clergy, officials, and believers from Albania and the diaspora.

In commemoration of this moment, the Orthodox Church has declared a five-day mourning period, as decided by the Holy Synod. During an extraordinary meeting of the Synod on Saturday, Metropolitan Joani of Korça was appointed as the caretaker of the throne until the election of Archbishop Anastas’ successor.

Archbishop Anastas passed away on January 19 at the age of 95 at the “Evangelismos” Hospital in Athens, where he had been hospitalized since January 3 due to his health condition. With a life devoted to faith, interfaith dialogue, and service to humanity, he leaves behind an extraordinary legacy and stands as a symbol of hope and peace for Albanians and Orthodox believers worldwide.