FLASH
Shkruar nga Pamfleti
Who are the two most favored names to take over as head of the Orthodox Church?
The Archbishop of Tirana, Durrës and all of Albania, Anastas Janullatos, passed away today, after a several-week battle with illness. He was initially treated in Tirana, then sent to Athens, where despite interventions, he passed away at the age of 95.
Since 1992 until today, he has led the Albanian Orthodox Church and after his passing, the question arises as to who will be his successor.
It will be the Graceful Synod of the Autocephalous Orthodox Church of Albania, which, according to the Statute of the Church, will meet next to decide who will be the new Archbishop of the Autocephalous Orthodox Church of Albania.
The Synod will consist of; His Grace, Joan - Metropolitan of Korça; His Grace, Dhimitri - Metropolitan of Gjirokastra; His Grace, Nikola - Metropolitan of Apollonia and Fier; His Grace, Andoni - Metropolitan of Elbasan; His Grace, Nathanael - Metropolitan of Amantia and His Grace, Asti - Metropolitan of Berat.
Meanwhile, referring to the Church Statute, the election of the new Archbishop must take place within a period of 3 to 6 months.
But who are the names being rumored?
So far, two names have circulated and they are: Father Joan Pelushi and Archimandrite Anastas (Mamaj).
Fatmir Pelushi, known as Father Joan Pelushi, is the Metropolitan of Korça. He was born on January 1, 1956. He studied for several years at the Orthodox Theological School of the Holy Cross near Boston in the United States.
Father Joani graduated from the Holy Cross Orthodox School of Theology in Boston, with a Master of Divinity degree. He studied in the USA thanks to a scholarship established there by Albanians in America in memory of Bishop Fan Noli.
He previously served as a lecturer and dean of the Theological Academy of the Albanian Orthodox Church.
Upon graduating from "Holy Cross" with a Master's degree in Theological Studies, he returned to Albania, and Archbishop Anastasios appointed him to teach at the Seminary, as well as to serve in other places within the Church. On July 18, 1998, he was elected as Metropolitan of Korça and was enthroned two days later.
But in diplomatic circles, there is talk that there is a will left by Archbishop Anastasios to designate as his successor the cleric he baptized with his name.
It is about a brand new cleric, aged 45, who is called Auxiliary Bishop Anastas, but whose previous name is Enkelejd Mamaj. Born into a Muslim family, with a father who was a former official of the post-communist secret service, Mamaj converted to Orthodoxy and was educated with an Athens scholarship along with a group of other young Albanians. Mamaj was educated for a year in Athens to learn the language, then graduated in economics from the University of Vlora. After graduating, he worked as an employee and head of offices in several branches of second-tier banks in the city of Vlora.
While he was a simple bank clerk, he approached the circle of the Metropolitan of Vlora and Berat, Ignat, an Arvanite cleric who spoke Albanian perfectly. Enkelejd Mamaj was then sent to study theology at the "Ngjallja e Kristi" academy in Shënavlash, Durrës, where the large Orthodox monastery is also located. He completed his doctorate at the private 'Logos' University, which is funded by the Orthodox Church in 2023. Immediately after completing his studies, he was quickly catapulted to a high position, that of Auxiliary Bishop of Kruja. Mamaj was baptized by the Archbishop himself, who also gave him his name, Anastas.
As stated on the official church website, Mamaj was ordained Deacon (brother) on January 22, 2018 by His Beatitude, Archbishop of Tirana, Durrës and All Albania, Mr. Anastas. On October 20, 2019, he was ordained a priest and on August 9, 2020, he received the title of Archimandrite.
We will have to wait and see who the successor will be, but this time it is almost certain that the head of the church will be Albanian. / Pamphlet
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