Η Ορθόδοξη Εκκλησία στη μετακομμουνιστική Αλβανία

Abstract

The changes in the Communist countries also affected Albania, and Ramiz
Alia’s recognition of religious freedom in Albania at the end of 1990 had
favourable consequences for the hitherto banned Autocephalous Orthodox
Church of Albania. The Oecumenical Patriarchate was immediately anxious to
reorganise the Church of Albania. To this end, early in 1991, it appointed a
Patriarchal Exarch in the person of Anastassios Yannoulatos, Bishop of
Androussa, who went th Tirana in July and called a General Meeting of Clergly
and Laity on 1 and 2 August.
With his assiduous efforts and the support of international church
organisations and various other bodies, Anastassios made a considerable
contribution to the re-establishment of the Church in Albania.
On 24 June 1992, he was elected Archbishop of Tirana and All Albania, the
three Albanian bishoprics were upgraded to metropolitanates, and three
metropolitans were elected to serve in them.
Anastassios’s election was opposed by Albanian Moslems and nationalists, who were shielded by government agents appointed by Sali Berisha, and it is
uncertain whether he will be albe to stay on in Albania. The three metropolitans
were not allowed to carry out their duties at all. For his part, Berisha gave added
support to Islam and forged links between Albania and the Islamic countries.
This has distanced Albania from Europe and hindered the development of the
Orthodox Church, which is also being weakende by the departure of members of its congregation for Greece.