The Holy Synod of Albania

     By the grace of God, in 1998, the Holy Synod of the Autocephalous Orthodox Church of Albania was reestablished.

     The enthronement of His Grace Ignati, Metropolitan of Berat, Vlora, Kanin, and all Myzeqe, took place on Saturday, July 18, 1998, in the St. Spyridon Church in Berat.  His Beatitude Anastasios, Archbishop of Tirana, Durres, and All Albania lead the service, together with two representatives from the Ecumenical Patriarchate, His Grace Evangjelos, Metropolitan of Pergamos and His Grace Meliton, Metropolitan of Philadelphia.

     In the afternoon of the same day, Archbishop Anastasios and Metropolitan Ignat formed the first core of the Holy Synod of the Autocephalous Orthodox Church of Albania, where together with the two representatives of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, they convened an extraordinary meeting of the Holy Synod in Tirana.

     Archimandrite Joan Pelushi was chosen as the Metropolitan of Korca.  Prior to this he has served as a professor and dean at the Theological Academy “The Resurrection of Christ” in Durres.

     The Venerable Fr. Kozma Qirjo was chosen as Bishop of Apolonia.  He was one of the earlier generation of priests, who had heroically continued baptizing and celebrating the Divine Liturgy in a secret way even during the cruelest years of religious persecution.

     Archbishop Anastasios with Metropolitans Meliton and Ignatios, celebrated the ordination of the Metropolitan of Korca on the 20^th of July together with a large number of the faithful in the Annunciation Church in Tirana.  Whereas the enthronement was held in the metropolitan church “The Lifegiving Source” in Korca on July 25^th.

     On July 23^rd, Archbishop Anastasios, together with Metropolitans Ignatios and Joan lead the enthronement of the Bishop of Apolonia.  Protopresbyter Jani Trebicka was designated the General Secretary of the Holy Synod of Autocephalous Orthodox Church of Albania. 

     On August 11^th, 2000 His Grace Kozma Qirjo passed away, leaving the throne of the Bishop of Apolonia vacant.

     On November 11^th, 2006 at the meeting of the Holy Synod of the Autocephalous Orthodox Church of Albania, they decided to raise three of our Church’s archimandrates to the level of bishops- Demetrious Sinaiti, Nikolla Hyka, and Andon Merdani.

     Archimandrite Demetrious Sinaiti, was appointed Metropolitan of Gjirokaster (The metropolis in which he has served for the past 15 years as a substitute metropolitan).

     On November 16^th in the Annunciation Church of Tirana, Archbishop Anastasios, His Grace Ignatios, and His Grace Joan lead the episcopal ordination service for Archimandrite Demetrious Sinaiti.  The Enthronement Ceremony for the Metropolitan of Gjirokaster His Grace Demetrious, took place on November 26^th in the Archangels’ Church in Gjirokaster.

     Archimandrite Nikolla Hyka, who was given the title Bishop of Apolonia, was ordained bishop on November 19^th at the Annunciation Church of Tirana by Archbishop Anastasios, His Grace Ignatios, His Grace Joani, and His Grace Demetrious.

     Archimandrite Andon Merdani, who was given the title Bishop of Kruja, was ordained bishop on November 21^st in the Annunciation Church of Tirana by Archbishop Anastasios, His Grace Ignatios, His Grace Joani, His Grace Demetrious, and His Grace Nikolla.

     His Grace Nikolla and His Grace Andoni are from the new generation of Albanian clergy, formed in the Orthodox Theological Academy “The Resurrection of Christ” in Durres.

     The Holy Synod of the Autocephalous Orthodox Church of Albania is now comprised of the following members: Archbishop Anastasios as head, Metropolitan of Berat Ignatios, Metropolitan of Korca Joani, Metropolitan of Gjirokaster Demetrious, Bishop of Apolonia Nikolla, Bishop of Kruja Andoni, and the General Secretary Protopresbyter Jani Trebicka.