His Beatitude, Archbishop Anastas Janullatos celebrates his 95th birthday

2024-11-04 10:13:00, Aktualitet CNA

His Beatitude, Archbishop Anastas Janullatos today celebrates his 95th birthday. Archbishop Anastas Janullatos was born on November 4, 1929 in Piraeus, Greece.

Janullatos has rebuilt the Autocephalous Orthodox Church of Albania from the ruins. His contribution is extraordinary.

Archbishop Anastas Janullatos in 1991, appointed by the Ecumenical Patriarch Patriarchal Exarch in Albania. In June 1992, he was elected Archbishop of Tirana, Durrës and all of Albania and on August 2, 1992 he was enthroned in the Church of the Annunciation in Tirana.

Through many difficulties, he rebuilt the Autocephalous Orthodox Church of Albania from the ruins, reorganized more than 400 parishes, founded the Theological Academy "Resurrection of Christ" in Durrës (1992) and two ecclesiastical Lyceums, educated and delivered 159 clergy.

He established 50 youth centers in different cities. He took care of the translation and publication of liturgical books and other religious books. 155 new churches were built, 63 others were restored and more than 160 existing churches were repaired, as well as 75 church centers (Archdiocese and metropolitan buildings, schools, medical centers, guest houses, youth camps, etc.). The total construction work amounts to nearly 500 buildings.

He founded a monthly newspaper and three magazines, as well as a radio station. He took care of the construction of Church workshops (printing, candle factory, carpentry, icon workshops and their restoration).

At the same time, it developed pioneering programs in the fields of education, health, social care, rural development, culture and ecology. Founded the Diagnostic Medical Center Archived April 1, 2019 at the "Wayback Machine" with 24 specialties in Tirana and 4 medical centers in other cities; also Theological Academy, two Vocational Training Institutes; from 2010 in Tirana "Logos" University College Archived June 3, 2019 at the Wayback Machine, a vocational high school, 5 primary and secondary schools, a dormitory for girls and 20 kindergartens in different cities.

His Beatitude, Archbishop Anastas Janullatos celebrates his 95th birthday

He took care of the construction of roads, aqueducts, bridges, repair of public schools, etc. During the critical period of Kosovo (1999), he organized a wide humanitarian program, which helped about 33,000 refugees in different countries of Albania. It connected the Church of Albania with international church organizations. He is a founding member of the Interdenominational Bible Society of Albania and the Interreligious Council of Albania. During the political tensions between Greece and Albania, it contributed to their softening and to the rapprochement of the two countries.

On October 24, 2008, according to Article 10 of the Constitution of the Republic of Albania, Archbishop Anastas Janullatos signed the Agreement provided by the Constitution between the Autocephalous Orthodox Church of Albania and the Council of Ministers, which was subsequently ratified in the People's Assembly and on January 22, 2009, was decreed by the President of the Republic Mr. Bamir Topi and became state law No. 10057/22.1.2009.

Agreement that regulates the relations between the State and the Autocephalous Orthodox Church of Albania according to the legal regime of Albania, which is administered and regulated according to the new Statute approved in November 2006, in the special Clerical-Laic Assembly, in Durrës.

His Beatitude, Archbishop Anastas Janullatos celebrates his 95th birthday

Through his initiatives and work, jobs have been provided to thousands of people. Janullatos made the Orthodox Church of Albania a multi-dynamic spiritual factor and factor of progress.

He is an initiator in the renewal of the missionary effort in the Orthodox Church. Scholar in the field of History of Religions and interreligious dialogue.

At the same time, he has tried as a peacemaker in the Balkans. His contribution to the field of science, to contemporary Christian witness, to rapprochement with other Christian confessions, to interreligious dialogue and to peaceful coexistence between peoples and religions, is universally recognized. He has been awarded many decorations and awards from different countries./ CNA