Archbishop Anastasios’ Body Arrives in Albania for Final Farewell

The news in Greek

1. αρχιεπίσκοπος (m.)
   Ο ανώτατος ιερέας σε μία ορθόδοξη εκκλησιαστική περιφέρεια. ↩︎
2. σορός (f.)
   Το σώμα ενός νεκρού ανθρώπου. ↩︎
3. αποχαιρετισμός (m.)
   Η πράξη του να λέμε αντίο. ↩︎
4. γνωστός
   Αυτός που είναι γνωστός ή διάσημος σε πολλούς ανθρώπους. ↩︎
5. έργο (n.)
   Οποιαδήποτε σημαντική ή δημιουργική δραστηριότητα ή αποτέλεσμα αυτής. ↩︎
6. συμβολή (f.)
   Η συμμετοχή ή βοήθεια σε κάτι. ↩︎

Translation

Text Comprehension

Question: How old was Archbishop Anastasios when he died?

Question: Where was Archbishop Anastasios’ body transported from and to?

Vocabulary

Greek	English
αρχιεπίσκοπος (m.)	archbishop
σορός (f.)	corpse
αποχαιρετισμός (m.)	farewell
γνωστός	known
έργο (n.)	work
συμβολή (f.)	contribution

Read the full story

During his lifetime, Archbishop Anastasios was renowned for his missionary work and efforts to promote peace, being nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize during the Kosovo war. Born Anastasios Yannoulatos, he was instrumental in rebuilding the Albanian Orthodox Church, becoming its head in 1992, a recovery period following communist suppression.

Before his body left Greece, it lay in state at the Metropolitan Cathedral of Athens, where large crowds gathered to pay their respects. The ceremony concluded with a mass attended by various religious leaders, Greek officials, and ordinary citizens. The mourners included President Katerina Sakellaropoulou and Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis among others, reflecting the high regard in which he was held.

The body was transported to Albania, accompanied by a solemn convoy including military honours. Key religious figures from both the Greek and Albanian Orthodox churches escorted the body to Albania. The procession crossed the Greek-Albanian border via the Kakavia checkpoint and was received by a guard of honour.

Upon arrival in Tirana, Archbishop Anastasios’ body will lie in state at the Cathedral of the Resurrection of Christ, allowing the Albanian public to pay their respects until his funeral on Thursday. The funeral service is expected to be attended by prominent leaders, including Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, further acknowledging the archbishop’s widespread influence and legacy.

The Albanian Orthodox Church has announced five days of mourning, with services reflecting on Archbishop Anastasios’ contributions to religious and cultural life. His ensuing burial will take place beneath the altar of the cathedral, a space he specifically designed for this purpose.

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