John of Albania: When the Church of Albania seemed dead the Mother Church sent a worker of the Gospel and gave it lifetranslated

The Archbishop of Tirana and all Albania, Mr. John attended the anniversary of the 65 years of Priesthood of the Ecumenical Patriarch Mr. Bartholomew and in his speech, addressing His Holiness, he referred to the difficult years of the Church of Albania, but also to his predecessor, saying that "the link between the Ecumenical Patriarchate and the Patriarchate of Alexandria is a person who is no longer physically among us, but his work and contribution left indelible traces in our Churches: the Archbishop Anastasios of Albania. We are convinced that his soul rejoices, seeing the Primates of the Churches meeting in a spirit of brotherhood and unity. The speech of the Archbishop of Tirana and all Albania

It is with deep joy and sincere emotion that we claim today to be in Imbros, Your birthplace, and to concelebrate with You in this same church, where, exactly sixty-five years ago, on August 13, 1961, you received the first degree of priesthood with the laying on of hands by the venerable Metropolitan Imbros and Tenedos Melitonos.

Our presence here, as the great feast of the Dormition of...