Thousands of mourners, from both Greece and Albania, gathered at the Annunciation Cathedral in Athens on Sunday to pay their respects to the late Archbishop Anastasios of Albania.
Revered for his humility, dedication to Orthodoxy, and missionary work, the beloved archbishop’s body has been lying in repose since the morning, as clergy perform memorial services.
The solemn farewell will continue until Monday morning, when the archbishop’s casket will depart from the cathedral, accompanied by the Hellenic Navy Band.
On Tuesday, January 28, the procession will cross the border at Kakavia, where an honor guard will pay tribute.
Archbishop Anastasios will be accompanied on this journey by senior clerics from the Albanian Church, including Metropolitan Nicholas of Apollonia and Fier, Bishop Anastasios of Kruja, and two priests who were his close collaborators during the post-communist revival of the Albanian Orthodox Church.
Representing the Church of Greece, Metropolitan Ierotheos of Nafpaktos and Agios Vlasios, vice president of the Holy Synod, will also join the delegation.
Archbishop Anastasios’ legacy as a spiritual leader and unifier continues to resonate across borders, as faithful bid farewell to a figure who symbolized the enduring strength of faith and humility.