The Holy Synod of the Autocephalous Orthodox Church of Albania, under the leadership of the Archbishop of Tirana, Durrës and all Albania, Anastas, has held its next meeting on November 14, 2024 where the new Metropolitan of Berat, Vlora and Kanina was unanimously elected. His Grace, the current Bishop of Bylis, Mr. Asti.

The enthronement of the new Metropolitan will take place on November 21, 2024, at 12:00, in the Cathedral Church of St. Dimitri in Berat.

Biography of the New Metropolitan:

His Grace, the Metropolitan of Berat, Vlora and Kanina, Mr. Asti (Bakallbashi), was born in Durrës, in 1974. He completed his theological studies at the Hieratic Theological Seminary, in Durrës (1993-1997), at the Theological Faculty of the University of Thessaloniki (1998-2003), and postgraduate studies (master’s) in Homily at the Theological Faculty of the University of Thessaloniki (2010-2012). He was appointed deacon (August 2003), archdeacon (of the Archdiocese) (November 2006), hieromonk (November 2009), archimandrite (November 2009) and Bishop, as Titular Bishop of Bylis (January 2012).

From 2012 he served as the Auxiliary Bishop of the Archbishop and from the beginning of 2018 as Protosingel of the Archbishopric of Tirana. In addition to the liturgical and pimantic work, he also served in several other sectors of the Church: In the administration of the Archbishopric of Tirana, as an external teacher of the Theological Academy in Saint Vlash of Durrës, where he taught the subject of Liturgy (2004-2017) and of Omilitika (2015-2017); has been a collaborator and co-director of the Radio Station “Ngjallja” (since 2005), co-leader of the Youth League of the Metropolis of Tirana (2010-2018) and member of the Executive Council of the Interreligious Council of Albania (2018 to date). During his service, he has participated in many international conferences and has represented the Autocephalous Orthodox Church of Albania in various inter-Orthodox and inter-Christian meetings.