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“The
consolidation of real Autocephaly and the fullfillment of ecclesiastical
hierarchy is without a doubt a work of Archbishop Anastasios”, said His
Grace John.
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On the
Sunday of St. Thomas, on 15 April, in “Annunciation of Theotokos
Mary” Church in Tirana, numerous faithful participated in the Divine
Liturgy and also celebrated the 70th anniversary of our
Autocephalic Orthodox Church.
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12 April 1937 is a very important date as
Archbishop Anastasios said, “for the life of our Church.” On this
date we celebrate the TOMOS assignation of Autocephaly from the
Ecumenical Patriarchate.
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In this festive and synodical
Divine Liturgy that was lead by the members of the Holy Synod, His
Grace John, Metropolitan of Korça, read the TOMOS before the present
faithful.
“Our Church received
her own place in the constitutional system of the Orthodox Church”,
said Archbishop Anastasios later. If we didn’t have this TOMOS, we
wouldn’t be known officially as an Autocephalous Church. |
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Further
more, His Grace John said, “Consolidation of true Autocephaly and
fulfillment of ecclesiastical hierarchy is without a doubt a work of
Archbishop Anastasios. I believe that what has been written, is not
false, but the contrary is true because Archbishop Anastasios has
always been the protector, consolidator and invigorator of our
Autocephalic Church. |
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As the
Archbishop said, “Autocephaly doesn’t mean to be independent from
the other churches, because we are related dogmatically, but
Autocephaly means to be self-governing in relation to every other
community inside and outside the country, as was emphasized in TOMOS.
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“Having this opportunity today”, said Bishop John, “I would like to
express my thanks to the Archbishop for his great work not only for
the reconstruction of the Church, but in strengthening and the
consolidation of the Autocephaly. May God give him a long life for
the betterment of our Church and the Christianity throughout the
world”.
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During the Divine Liturgy, Spiro Kostoli, professor of
Ecclesiastical Byzantine Music at the Theological Academy
“Resurrection of Christ”, was ordained deacon.
Luljeta Pjetri
Translated
by Robert Pelushi and Melanie Linderman |
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