Greek leaders & public pay respects to late Archbishop Anastasios at Athens cathedral; funeral in Albania

Greece’s state, political, and military leadership, representatives of churches and the Greek people paid tribute to the late Archbishop Anastasios of Tirana, Durrës and All Albania who died on Saturday aged 95 and whose body lay in repose at the Athens Metropolis cathedral on Sunday.

A liturgy took place at the Greek Orthodox cathedral on Sunday morning led by Metropolitan Hierotheos of Nafpaktos and Aghios Vlassios, followed by a prayer led by Archbishop Hieronymos of Athens and All Greece before the public viewing began.

Anastasios’ body will remain at the church until Monday morning, when it will be transported to Albania for a funeral service and burial.

Attending the liturgy and prayer were President of the Hellenic Republic Katerina Sakellaropoulou, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, Parliament President Nikitas Kaklamanis, PASOK-KINAL leader Nikos Androulakis, the Ministers of Education and Religions Kyriakos Pierrakakis, of Foreign Affairs George Gerapetritis, and of National Economy & Finance Kostis Hatzidakis, Niki party leader Dimitris Natsios, Athens Mayor Haris Doukias, Eurodeputy Fredi Beleri, and Olympic athlete Pyrros Dimas, among others.

Anastasios, who was born in Piraeus, revived the Autocephalous Greek Orthodox Church in Albania banned under the Communist regime in his adopted country. A scholar, author, and missionary in Africa, the late archbishop was noted for his public works for all Albanians and his support of the Greek Ethnic Minority in Albania, while he made a mark abroad for his commitment to interfaith dialog globally.

He was initially hospitalized with a viral infection in Tirana on December 30, and when his condition deteriorated soon after was transferred to the intensive care of a Greek hospital, where he died on Saturday morning.

Source: pagenews.gr