Anastasios Yanulatos, the Archbishop of Albania and a towering figure in the revival of the Orthodox Church in the country, has passed away at the age of 95.
The revered clergyman took his final breath this morning at 8:30 in Athens’ Evangelismos Hospital, following weeks of intensive care due to multi-organ failure.
The Autocephalous Orthodox Church of Albania, in a statement brimming with sorrow, urged believers to pray for the soul of their departed spiritual leader, who dedicated over 33 years to rebuilding the church from the ruins left by Albania’s atheist regime.
Under his leadership, hundreds of churches were rebuilt, new clergy were trained, and schools and charitable institutions were established, breathing life back into Albania’s Orthodox community.
The faithful across Albania mourn the loss of a spiritual giant, who leaves behind an indelible legacy of sacrifice, resilience, and hope.
“He rebuilt a faith from the ashes,” a churchgoer remarked, summing up the Archbishop’s monumental contributions.
Services to honour his life and legacy are expected to be announced soon.
