By Ben Andoni
The passing of the highest-ranking cleric of the Albanian Orthodox Church is a great loss for the Albanian Orthodox community. Archbishop Anastasios Yannoulatos, due to his citizenship, his stance, and the way he led the Albanian Church, garnered much respect but also stirred various reactions. Every activity of the Albanian Orthodox Church faced opposition, which the cultured cleric skillfully defused with prudence, great knowledge, and care.
Albanian politics, across all spectrums, despite occasionally provoking him indirectly, remained respectful and appreciative of his prudence, culture, and above all, his role. Although Albanian authorities delayed granting him citizenship, it was eventually awarded in 2017 by President Ilir Meta.
Within the Church, his few opponents lacked the stature to confront him on theological issues, matters related to the Albanian Church, or organizational aspects. This explains how he calmly led the Church since 1992, guiding it through the difficult transition from socialism’s void to building a fully functional structure. He prepared an entire clergy, including high-ranking clerics, who will now need to take on the fate of the Albanian Orthodox Church and demonstrate the depth of faith rooted among Albanians.
It is clear that it will take time for Albania to have another cleric with the formation and stature of Archbishop Anastasios. As for diplomatic relations, it is unlikely the Albanian Church will find another representative with such recognition and respect, not only in his native Greece but also within the Patriarchate itself. To put it into perspective, Archbishop Anastasios (official name: Anastasios Gerasimos Yannoulatos) served as the General Apostolic Administrator of the Greek Orthodox Church, the highest administrative role in one of the most influential Orthodox Churches. He also worked in several African countries, spreading and establishing Orthodox Christian missions in Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania on behalf of the Patriarchate.
In the early 1990s, he came to Albania as an exarch (a diplomatic clerical representative) to rebuild the Church, and in 1992 he was elected as its primate. Not only did he oversee the reconstruction of many churches across the country, but he also completed the grand cathedral in Tirana and established the Clerical Academy in St. Vlash, Durrës—legacies that alone are enough to keep his figure deeply respected.
The Holy Synod, the body responsible for choosing his successor, will need some time under its statute to designate the next cleric. Fortunately, there are now several clerics of Albanian origin heading dioceses, but their true weight will only be revealed when they lead the Albanian Church.
Will there be clashes among individuals who occasionally emerge with claims on theological or authority-related matters? How will respect and recognition for figures like Fan Noli and other patriotic contributors of the Church continue? And how will the Church confront the decline in the number of believers in an increasingly secular era?
These are a string of questions, and their answers remain to be seen. For now, the Albanian Orthodox Church must show how it will carry forward Archbishop Anastasios’ legacy and its own individuality. (Javanews)