President of the Republic, His Excellency Bajram Begaj’s Address on the Occasion of the Enthronement of His Beatitude, Archbishop Joan
Honored Holy Synod,
His Beatitude Archbishop Joan, Archbishop of Tirana, Durrës, and all Albania,
Distinguished Orthodox believers and attendees,
It is a distinct pleasure for me to be among you today on this marked and historic day for the Autocephalous Orthodox Church of Albania.
Today marks a historic day for the Autocephaly of the Albanian Orthodox Church and for the entire Albanian society.
With your enthronement today as Archbishop of Tirana, Durrës, and all Albania, Your Beatitude, you stand alongside your predecessors: Visarion Xhuvani, Kristofor Krisi, Pais Vodica, Damian Kokoneshi, and Anastas Janullatos.
Each of them, with their unique gifts, has played a valued role in the proclamation and recognition of our Church’s Autocephaly. The enthronement of His Beatitude, Archbishop Joan, heralds a new chapter in our nation’s spiritual life—a chapter that begins with hope, faith, and responsibility.
This is a solemn moment, embodying continuity and dedication.
In this new journey, I cannot help but express my deep gratitude to the previous Archbishop Anastas, who served with wisdom and dedication for decades, lending strength, light, and a valuable legacy to the Autocephalous Orthodox Church of Albania.
The Orthodox Church in our lands is not just a religious institution. It has always been a guide and protector of spiritual, cultural, and national values.
In times of peace or turmoil, it has stood by the faithful as a comforting voice and an inspiring example. It has played an irreplaceable role in shaping a society that is just, loving, and honorable.
New states that included Orthodox believers, upon declaring political independence, would first proclaim the autocephaly of their church according to the principle, “a free church in a free state,” followed by official recognition from the Ecumenical Patriarchate.
The same path was followed by the Albanian Orthodox believers with the historic Congress of Berat nearly 10 years after the declaration of Albania’s independence (September 10-12, 1922).
This congress set the path for the establishment of Albanian autocephaly, with invaluable contributions from Theofan Noli, Visarion Xhuvani, Jerotheo Jaho, Kristofor Kisi, and many others.
After many efforts, negotiations, and other congresses, in 1937 the Patriarchal and Synodal Tomos was issued, officially recognizing the Autocephaly of the Orthodox Church of Albania. Regrettably, what foreign invaders could not do was done by the dictatorial regime through internal communist persecution. On November 22, 1967, Albania was declared the world’s first and only atheist state, demolishing every religious edifice in the country and disrobing every cleric.
The regime also dismantled the much-desired Autocephaly.
After 23 years of state-enforced atheism and after 33 years of historic missionary activity by Archbishop Anastas, we are finally experiencing with joy the enthronement of Your Beatitude, Archbishop Joan, unanimously elected by a Synod dominated by Albanian bishops.
Dear His Beatitude,
Your enthronement coincides with a special year in which all of Christianity commemorates the 1700th anniversary of the First Ecumenical Council of Nicaea. Among other things, this council formulated the first creeds of Christian faith, established the principle of synodality of the Universal Church as a democratic principle, and the correct method for calculating the date of Easter, as well as sanctioned the celebration of Easter by all Christians around the world on the same day.
God has made it possible that in this commemorative year, all Christians worldwide will celebrate Easter together, reminding us of the importance of approximation, unity, and complete communion, as it was for the first thousand years of Christianity.
From this sacred cathedral, let us today send a message that transcends faith boundaries and invites all people of good will to build a more just, humble, united, and brotherly society.
Dear His Beatitude,
On this blessed day, I wish your service to be peaceful, long, enlightened, and inspiring.
I pray that God gives you strength, wisdom, and humility on this noble journey. May you always be an example of dedication and love for the faithful and for all our society.
May you be a leader who builds bridges, fosters coexistence, strengthens faith, and spreads love, peace, hope, and justice among people.
In this great mission, you will not be alone. The Church and the faithful will always be with you, and the state will support everything that serves the good of the people, strengthens harmony and coexistence among faiths, enhances understanding, and the values that unite us.
Finally, allow me to join the prayers and congratulations of the faithful of Albania and beyond, wishing that your years leading the Albanian Orthodox clergy be numerous, blessed, and fruitful, safeguarding the rights and interests of the Autocephalous Orthodox Church of Albania and the Albanian nation.
May God be with you at every step of this noble journey!
Congratulations, His Beatitude, Archbishop Joan!