Archimandrite Anastas is elected Auxiliary Bishop of Kruja

2024-12-09 14:06:00, Aktualitet CNA

The Gracious Synod of the Autocephalous Orthodox Church of Albania, under the presidency of His Beatitude, the Archbishop of Tirana, Durrës and all Albania, Mr. Anastas, gathered today on December 9, 2024 and elected with an absolute majority of votes Archimandrite Anastas (Mamaj) as Auxiliary Bishop of the former Episcopate of Kruja, who, according to the Church Statute, will be a member of the Gracious Synod.

The ordination of the newly elected Bishop will take place on December 15, 2024, in the Cathedral of the Resurrection of Christ, in Tirana.

Archimandrite Anastas is elected Auxiliary Bishop of Kruja

Short biography

The newly elected Auxiliary Bishop of Kruja, Mr. Anastas (before Baptism, Enkeled Mamaj), was born on August 6, 1979 in Albania, in the city of Vlora, where he completed nine years of high school. In 1999, he studied at the Department of Greek Language at the Faculty of Philosophy of the University of Athens. He graduated from "Ismail Qemali" University of his hometown and received a degree in Business Administration (MSc) during the years 2001-2005. In the years 2005-2009 he held important positions at the Italo-Albanian Bank, while from 2009 to 2017 he held management positions at Union Bank.

At the same time, from 2006 to 2014, he was a member of the Clerical-Lay Council of the Orthodox Church of Albania and a close collaborator of the late Metropolitan of Berat, Vlora and Kanina, Mr. Ignat, until his death.

In 2017, he studied at the Theological Academy "Resurrection of Christ" and later at the Department of Theology and Culture at LOGOS University College, where he received a degree (BSc) in Social Theological Studies and Religious Sciences in 2023.

Archimandrite Anastas is elected Auxiliary Bishop of Kruja

Ordained Deacon on January 22, 2018 by His Beatitude, Archbishop of Tirana, Durrës and all of Albania, Mr. Anastas. On October 20, 2019 he was ordained a priest and on August 9, 2020 he received the title of Archimandrite.

From 2017 until today, he contributes to the administration of church property and economic activities of the Church of Albania.

He is the Executive Director of the University Institution "LOGOS", representative of Archbishop Anastas in the Executive Council and member of the Administrative Council of the Foundation "Orthodox Evangelism Clinic". Also, he is a counselor at the "Frymë Dashurie" Educational Institution.

From December 3 of this year, he also serves as Protosingel of the Archbishopric of Tirana and Durrës. In addition to his mother tongue, he also speaks Greek, Italian and English./ CNA