The Archbishop of the Autocephalous Orthodox Church of Albania, Joan Pelushi, was enthroned on Saturday in a grand ceremony held at the “Resurrection of Christ” Cathedral. With the ceremony beginning at 11:00 a.m., he officially assumed leadership of the Autocephalous Orthodox Church of Albania, marking a new chapter for the country’s Orthodox faithful.
Hundreds of believers gathered at the central cathedral to witness the historic moment of the enthronement of the first Albanian Archbishop to take the throne of the Autocephalous Orthodox Church of Albania.
In his address, Archbishop Joan praised the contribution of the late Archbishop Anastas Janullatos for rebuilding and strengthening the Orthodox Church in Albania. He emphasized the need to preserve unity within the Orthodox community and the challenges posed by the modern era.
“God sent Archbishop Anastas at a challenging time for our Church, when it was in decline. Thanks to his sacrifices and vision, our Church was rebuilt and rose again with strength. His message was always one of love and respect for every human being — values we must continue to uphold. New challenges await us, but with faith and unity, we can overcome them,” said Archbishop Joan.
The President of the Republic, Bajram Begaj, who was the only state representative to deliver a speech, described Archbishop Joan’s enthronement as a historic moment and a new chapter in the spiritual life of the country.
“The enthronement of Archbishop Joan marks a new chapter for the Autocephaly of the Orthodox Church of Albania. This is a solemn moment that reflects the continuity of faith and devotion. I express my deep gratitude to Archbishop Anastas, who with wisdom and dedication made the Church stronger, endowing it with a precious spiritual and cultural heritage. The state will continue to stand by the Church and its faithful,” Begaj stated.
The ceremony was also attended by high-level state officials, including Speaker of Parliament Elisa Spiropali, Deputy Prime Minister Belinda Balluku, Ministers Pirro Vengu and Blendi Gonxhja, as well as former presidents Bamir Topi and Alfred Moisiu.
Also present were political figures such as MP Pandeli Majko and the leader of the Democratic Party, Sali Berisha.
The event was further honored by the presence of religious leaders from Albania, representatives of 13 Orthodox Churches from around the world, and delegations from Greece — including the Greek Minister of Defense, Nikos Dendias, and the Greek Minister of Education and Religious Affairs.
