On Sunday, March 9th a jubilant and festive Divine Liturgy was celebrated in the St. George Cathedral in Boston, Mass. U.S. It was lead by the two Albanian bishops of America, His Grace Nikoni (Liolin) and His Grace Ilia (Ketri). His Beatitude, Archbishop Anastasios of Tirana and all Albania was invited and participated as well.

Fr. Artur Liolini spoke first about this anniversary and said in his remarks that this spiritual institution’s unbroken continuation of activity attests to the longsighted vision which Fan Noli had when he began the attempts for the autocephaly of the Albanian Orthodox Church of America.

     Following this, His Beatitude, Archbishop Anastasios greeted all those present in Albanian and in English and honored the memory and works of Archbishop Theofan.  Later, His Grace Ilia and His Grace Nikoni, stood before all in attendance and read a joint declaration of understanding and collaboration between the two centers of Albanian Orthodoxy in the U.S.

In his remarks, Bishop Ilia Ketri said that the progress of the Albanian Orthodox was also one of Noli’s dreams and called the signing of this declaration a continuation of the works and desires of Archbishop Noli for understanding, forgiveness, and collaboration.

Also, Archbishop Anastasios, His Grace Nikoni, and His Grace Ilia paid homage to Archbishop Theofan and put flowers at his photograph.