The Archbishop of Albania Anastasios has passed away – His life and greatest achievements

The Archbishop of Albania Anastasios died today after several days of hospitalization at the “Evangelismos” hospital where he had been rushed from Tirana.

It all started just before the end of 2024, when he was admitted to the “Health” hospital Tirana with a seasonal virus.

His health condition deteriorated in the following days due to gastroenteritis. For this reason, he had to be airlifted from Tirana to Athens on 3/1 by a C-27J aircraft, which was provided by the Armed Forces, following a request from the National Emergency Aid Centre (EKAB).

The Archbishop was admitted to the “Evangelismos” hospital, where a few days later his condition deteriorated rrapidly and he was intubated. However, his health was quite deteriorated and after several days of hospitalization Archbishop Anastasios of Albania passed away.

Who was Archbishop Anastasios of Albania

Born on 4 November 1929 in Piraeus, Anastasios Giannoulatos, was the prelate of the Orthodox Church of Albania.

Theologian, clergyman, writer, Professor Emeritus of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, honorary member of the Academy of Athens, Archbishop of Tirana, Durres, and All Albania, Anastasios leaves behind a rich legacy and was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize in 2000.

The journey of Anastasios

A graduate of the 2nd High School of Arenas of Athens, he studied at the Athens School of Theology of the National and Kapodistrian University to receive his degree in 1952, also with honours, achieving the highest graduate score of the Athens School of Theology – 9.53. He continued his postgraduate studies in Religious Studies, Ethnology, Ethnology, Evangelical Studies and African Studies at the Universities of Hamburg and Marburg, Germany (1965-69), as a fellow of the German Alexander von Humboldt Foundation.

After graduating from the Alexander Humboldt University of Humboldt University in Berlin, he was a member of the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation (Alexander von Humboldt Foundation).

He was awarded a doctorate from the Faculty of Theology of the University of Athens (1970, unanimously excellent, with a special prize). During his military service (1952-54), he attended the Syros Reserve Officers’ School and the Haidarion Intervessel School, where he excelled and became “Chief of the School”.

He was promoted to Associate Professor of the History of Religions at the University of Athens, appointed Director of the Department of Religious Studies and Sociology (1983-1986), and from 1976 he became Full Professor and Dean of the Faculty of Theology of the University of Athens (1983-1987), from which he retired in 1997 as Professor Emeritus, having developed significant scientific work.

In Greece, he served initially as a lay theologian and worked in various areas of internal missionary work – preaching, Christian writing, catechesis, organizing Bible study circles, and youth and student camps.

He was very active in Orthodox youth organizations and 1959 he founded the first missionary magazine in Greece, entitled “Porefthenites”. He also established the Greek-speaking missionary consciousness in the 20th century, with the foundation of the “Diorthodox Missionary Centre”.

Source: pagenews.gr