Archbishop Anastasios’ Remains Arrive in Tirana for Public Pilgrimage Ahead of Funeral

The remains of the late Archbishop Anastasios of Albania have arrived in Tirana, where they will remain for public veneration until Thursday, when the funeral service and burial will take place.

The archbishop’s remains were transported from Greece, arriving at the Albanian border station of Kakavia early on Tuesday morning, where they were received with solemnity and reverence by a military procession, local clergy, and hundreds of Albanian faithful.

As the procession entered Albanian territory, a trisagion was sung, followed by the iconic hymn “Christ is Risen,” a song the archbishop often led during his tenure, having revived the Albanian Orthodox Church after its years of hardship. The procession continued through the region, with crowds of villagers showering the hearse with flowers and chanting “Christ is Risen,” particularly moving moments taking place in Dervitsani, where residents blocked the road in tribute to their beloved pastor.

In the Holy Diocese of Argyrokastro, where Archbishop Anastasios had made significant contributions, hundreds gathered to bid their final farewell, including students from the schools he had founded. A memorial service was held before the remains were transferred to Tirana. As the procession departed, the bells of the cathedral rang out, echoing the grief of the people.

Upon arrival at the Tirana Cathedral at 4:00 PM local time, the archbishop’s remains were received by an honorary procession. Hundreds of believers from all over Albania lined the streets, with children holding white roses and Byzantine music students lighting candles. The community paid their respects, applauding and showering flowers, before the remains were placed on a public pilgrimage at the Holy Church of the Resurrection of Christ.

The funeral service is scheduled for Thursday at 11:00 AM local time (12:00 PM Greek time), after the Divine Liturgy. Dignitaries from Greece, including Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Archbishop Hieronymos, are expected to attend, alongside patriarchs from around the world. Archbishop Anastasios will be laid to rest in a crypt he personally prepared beneath the cathedral’s sacred platform.

The archbishop, who arrived in Albania at age 62 after a distinguished missionary career in Africa, devoted 33 years to the reconstruction of the Albanian Orthodox Church. Despite facing threats to his life, he became a cornerstone of the nation’s spiritual and social development, rebuilding ecclesiastical structures and helping elevate Albania’s society from a time of deep political and social turmoil.