Mission in Albania

The Church steeple of the Cathedral of Resurrection in Tirana - in front of the Tower of Babel?
There are several links between the Study Centre for Eastern Churches and the Orthodox Church of Albania:

  • In 2018 Nathan Hoppe and his family were awarded the "Silver Rose of St. Nicholas" for their missionary commitment to the reconstruction of the Church in Albania (see documentation).
  • In 2020, the German translation of the book by Archbishop Anastasios (Yannoulatos) of Albania on "Mission in Christ's Way" was published at the Study Centre (see NEWS).
  • From 1 to 5 February 2020, a group from the doctoral programme DE CIVITATE HOMINIS visited Albania and, under the guidance of Nathan Hoppe and his team, could get first-hand experience about the situation of Church and Society in Albania. A great honour was the private audience by Archbishop Anastasios for the participants on 2 February 2020 after the liturgy (see below).
  • On February 14, 2020, a delegation of the Study Centre took part in the presentation of the Klaus Hemmerle Prize to Archbishop Anastasios in Aachen Cathedral (see below).

Photos of the study trip to Albania (February 2020)

Photo with Archbishop Anastasios after the private audience

Click on the following pictures to enlarge and scroll :

The group with the Catholic archbishop Mons. George Frendo o.p. The Ressurection Cathedral in Tirana by night The tower of the Cathedral - like a bundle of four candles, illuminating the town The Cathedral - a church with open doors The cupola of the Cathedral: Christ Pantokrator Attending Divine Liturgy on Sunday, 2nd February Prof. Guido Vergauwen o.p. and Prof. Barbara Hallensleben - during Divine Liturgy Procession of altar boys Archbishop Anastasios with Metropolitan Nathanael, Bishop Asti - and Daniel Hoppe as altar server Archbishop Anastasios, blessing the people Father Yurii Taraban from Ukraine, concelebrating in the Divine Liturgy Bishops and Priests during the Divine Liturgy First warm greeting by Archbishop Anastasios Swiss Chocolate for the children's group after the Liturgy Private Audience with Archbishop Anastasios "> Presentation of the Archbishop's book The archbishop listening to the presentation of the group members Frescos in the new Cathedral, commemorating the destruction of former church buildings Frescos in the new Cathedral, commemorating the beginning of new Church life Meeting with American orthodox missionaries - in a typical Albanian restaurant around an open fireplace Reception in the Theological Faculty of the Logos University by Prof. Georgios Gaitanos A rich library! A discovery in the library: Thomas Aquinas in Albanian A group of students The icon of St. Vlash (Blasius)
In front of the Church of the Monastery A nun of the monastery, explaining the icon of the holy Myrrhbearers The icon of the holy Myrrhbearers Lunch with victims of the earthquake on 26th November 2019, still without home With Father Gerassim in his Church in Durrës Roman Amphitheatre - for about 20'000 people An old byzantine tower, broken down by the earthquake At the Adriatic Sea At table with young people of the Albanian Orthodox Church Morning prayer with the team of the Children's Service Breakfast with the team of the Children's Service Soup Kitchen for poor and homeless people Diagnostic Center, established by the Orthodox Church Modern equipment for computer-assisted tomography Reception by the administrative director of the Logos-University Old bells - will they ring again? Fabrication of candles Woodcarving for frames of iconostases Restauration of icons Atelier of iconography Icon of the Sower Interview for Radio Resurrection "> Last evening with View over the city to the mountains Archbishop Anastasios - the prophetic figure for the Albanian Church and Society

Klaus Hemmerle Prize for Archbishop Anastasios (14th February 2020 in Aachen Cathedral)

Invitation to the award ceremony ...

Speech of Archbishop Anastasios

Laudatory speech of Cardinal Kurt Koch

Aachen Cathedral - a worthy setting for the award ceremony Laudatory Speech by Cardinal Kurt Koch Bestowal of the Prize by two members of the Focolari Movement Archbishop Anastasios during his speech The delegation from Fribourg: Prof. Barbara Hallensleben, Prof. Guido Vergauwen, Dr. Stefanos Athanasiou, (Stefan Constaninescu - just taking the photo) Dr. Bernward Kröger from the publishing house Aschendorf and Prof. Barbara Hallensleben, selling the book of the Archbishop A warm welcome to Dr Stefanos Athanasiou, future professor at the Theological Faculty in Albania A common mission - Archbishop Anastasios and Pope Francis Guests from the Orthodox Churches in Germany Address by Archbishop Augoustinos, Metropolitan for the Greek Orthodox Church in Germany