The funeral for the late Archbishop of Tirana, Durres and All Albania Anastasios was held at the Orthodox cathedral in Tirana on Thursday, with Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew presiding.
The funeral service was attended by Orthodox patriarchs, archbishops, ecclesiastical delegations, representatives of the Vatican, a representative of the World Council of Churches and the heads of the religious communities of Albania.
Archbishop Ieronymos of Athens and All Greece arrived together with Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and a number of Greek government ministers. Delegations were also sent by main opposition PASOK-Movement for Change, led by party president Nikos Androulakis, and opposition SYRIZA-Progressive Alliance with party leader Sokratis Famellos.
Albania's state and political leadership, as well as several diplomatic missions in the country, were among the dignitaries attending, including Albanian President Bajram Begaj, Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama and the country's main opposition leader Sali Berisha.
Among those delivering funeral orations during the service were Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, the Locum Tenens of the Archbishop’s Throne Metropolitan John of Korçën, the coordinator of the World Council of Churches Bishop Heinrich Bedform-Strohm and the prime ministers of Greece and Albania.