Divine Liturgy and Funeral Service of Archbishop Anastasios (Video)


His Eminence Metropolitan Ioannis of Korça presided over the Divine Liturgy held at the Holy Cathedral of the Resurrection of the Lord in Tirana, in front of the body of the late Archbishop Anastasios of Albania.
At 12:00 Greek time, the funeral service took place presided over by His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, with the participation of many heads of churches and their representatives.
His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew arrived to the Cathedral, accompanied by His Beatitude Patriarch Theodoros II of Alexandria and All Africa, His Eminence Elder Metropolitan Emmanuel of Chalcedon and His Eminence Metropolitan George of Guinea, representative of the Patriarchate of Alexandria in Athens. His Beatitude Patriarch Theofilos of Jerusalem was also present.
A large screen was set up outside the Cathedral so that those present were able to follow the funeral service inside the church.
The funeral swervice was also attended by the Primates of the Orthodox Churches, such as the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, Archbishop Georgios of Cyprus, Patriarch Theophilos of Jerusalem, Patriarch Theodoros of Africa, and Archbishop Ieronymos of Athens and All Greece. Metropolitan Nifon of Târgoviște also participated on behalf of the Romanian Patriarchate.
At the same time, the funeral service was honored by the presence of the Prime Ministers of Greece and Albania, Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Edi Rama, in recognition of the spiritual and social work of the late Archbishop.
The atmosphere in the Holy Cathedral of the Resurrection of the Lord, where the body of Anastasios has been lying since Tuesday afternoon, was in keeping with the founder of the Autocephalous Church of Albania. People continued to come in large numbers to venerate the body of the Blessed Archbishop.
The faithful from all over Albania arrived at the Cathedral until the morning of the funeral with emotion, love and respect for their Archbishop Anastasios.
Many faithful traveled to Tirana from all regions of Albania to pay tribute to their Archbishop who served them with love for 33 years, respecting the dignity of each person. He was the Archbishop of all those who suffered injustice, who lived in poverty and economic hardship. This loss is especially felt by the clergy, whom he chose, trained, trusted and supported.
The presence and contribution of the youth was especially felt in the Cathedral these days, as Archbishop Anastasios worked for them to bring fruitful results. Representatives and leaders of religious communities, with whom the Archbishop has been working for years for inter-religious harmony in Albania, were also present in the Cathedral. Many public figures, representatives of political parties, members of the government, diplomatic corps and embassies were also present.
Source: orthodoxtimes.com