Orthodox believers in Tirana pay tribute to the deceased patriarch

Thousands of Albanians gathered in Tirana today to pay their last respects to Archbishop Anastasius, who passed away in Athens five days ago.

Anastasius, who was the Archbishop of Tirana, Durres and all of Albania and the head of the autocephalous Orthodox Church of Albania.

People gathered around the Cathedral of the Resurrection of Christ in the center of Tirana.

Anastasius revived the Orthodox Church in Albania after the fall of communism.

All religions were banned for almost 50 years, at a time when the country was completely isolated from the rest of the world.

The communists confiscated the property of Islamic, Orthodox, Catholic, and other religious communities, and used religious buildings as warehouses, silos, sports centers, and the like.

Albanian leaders and Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, who is visiting Albania, were joined by representatives of Orthodox clergy from around the world.

It took two days for the funeral procession carrying Anastasia's body to reach Tirana after entering Albania from Greece.

A similar service was held at the main cathedral of the Greek Orthodox Church in Athens before the procession traveled to Tirana.