The Church of Apostle Paul and Saint Asti

     The Apostle Paul and St. Asti Church in the port city of Durres was built with the initiative, care, love, and funds secured by His Beatitude, Archbishop Anastasios of Albania for the rebuilding of the Autocephalous Orthodox Church of Albania and for the Glory of God.
    In November 1994 the cornerstone was placed by Archbishop Anastasios and 5 years later in November 1999 the Orthodox Christians of Durres had the great honor to receive the Ecumenical Patriarch, Bartholomew I with joy and doxology during his official visit to Albania. Later in the beginning of 2002, construction ended and the first services began in this church for Holy Week of that year.
     This year another important event was added to the church’s history. On May 3rd 2009, Mhyrr bearers’ Sunday, Archbishop Anastasios inaugurated the church with the Consecration Service, one of the most impressive and beautiful services in the Orthodox Church.

Historical Background

     Christianity in Durres traces back to the earliest days. According to tradition the first to preach Christianity in this area was Apostle Paul in the first century. Durres is continually referred to throughout history as an Archbishopric and Metropolitan See on which several other dioceses depended. Durres has had several hierarchs that have been important for the history of the Church as well as for the cultural history of Albania. Quite a number of them are referred to in the various Ecumenical Synods and regional synods.Since the time that the Church in Albania was declared Autocephalous in 1937 up until the present day the historical name of Durres is mentioned together with Tirana as part of the Archbishopric although the See was in fact transferred to Tirana when it became the capital city.
     There have also been anumber of saints that have shone forth from the Church of Durres, such as St. Cesar, the first bishop assigned to Durres in the first century (feastday on December 8th); St. Asti, bishop of Durres in the end of the 1st century who was crucified near the walls of the city fortress (July 6th). There were also 7 Christians from Italy: Peregrin, Lukian, Pompei, Hisikius, Papius, Saturnin, and Germanus who were drowned at sea when St. Asti was crucified (July 7th). St. Anton was an archbishop of Durres and later of Thesalonika in the 9th century and was imprisoned in the time of the Iconoclasts (November 2nd). St. John Kukuzeli, the great composer of Byzantine church music, was also born and lived in Durres in the 12th-13th centuries (October 1st).
     Historical monuments and archeological finds give concrete proof of the centuries of active church life in this city and the surrounding areas.

Apostle Paul and St. Asti have always been popular saints for the Orthodox Christians of Durres and in their honor a number of churches have been built. Today the Orthodox community of Durres has once again a new church dedicated to these saints (as well as one dedicated to St. George which was reconstructed in 1994 and 1997).
	About the Church The church was built across from the site where the St. Spiridon Church (destroyed in 1967) and the Metropolitan See (now in ruins) had been. The architectural design for this church was done by the Technical Offices of the Archbishopric and the construction was carried out by a local building firm. The church is a basilica with a cupola surrounded with columned vestibules.
It is covered in white stone and the roof has the typical Byzantine style red tiles. The inside of the church is also complete with bells, an Episcopal throne, a psalter’s stand, and a hand-carved iconostasis (carved by masters from the city of Pogradec). In the basement there is also a hall for gatherings complete with a kitchen, a stage, offices, class rooms, and a library.
	*** * * * *** The church is truly a work of architectural art and a new monument in the cultural and historical life of the city. It is a holy temple that will mold Orthodox Christians through the centuries to focus on the eternal life in Christ, a cultural and spiritual temple to create a community with love for one another and for the glory of God!

The construction of this church dedicated to the Apostle Paul and St. Asti is indeed a regeneration of the Christian life and the apostolic tradition for which the city of Durres has always been known.

Translated by Georgia Bendo

Photo: Archdeacon Asti

Kisha e Apostull Pavlit dhe e Shën Astit
Lagja 3, Rruga “Skënderbej”, pranë BKT, Durrës.
Tel/Faks: 052 230 767