The news in Greek
Ο Αρχιεπίσκοπος Αναστάσιος της Αλβανίας πέθανε σε ηλικία 95 ετών. Η σορός του μεταφέρθηκε από την Αθήνα στα Τίρανα για αποχαιρετισμό . Ήταν γνωστός για το έργο του στην ορθόδοξη εκκλησία της Αλβανίας και τη συμβολή του στην ειρήνη. Πολλοί άνθρωποι απέδωσαν τιμές σε Αθήνα και Τίρανα.
Translation
Archbishop Anastasios of Albania has passed away at the age of 95. His body was transported from Athens to Tirana for a farewell ceremony. He was renowned for his work in the Orthodox Church of Albania and his contributions to peace. Many people paid their respects in both Athens and Tirana.
Exercise: Text comprehension
Question 1: How old was Archbishop Anastasios when he died?
He was 95 years old.
Question 2: Where was Archbishop Anastasios' body transported from and to?
His body was transported from Athens to Tirana.
Exercise: Vocabulary
Read the full story
▌27/01/2025
The body of the late Archbishop Anastasios of Albania, who passed away at the age of 95, has been transferred from Athens to Tirana for a farewell ceremony. Following his death at Evangelismos Hospital in Athens, Greece mourned the loss of the archbishop, who was acclaimed for his role in revitalising the Orthodox Church in Albania despite decades of religious oppression.
During his lifetime, Archbishop Anastasios was renowned for his missionary work and efforts to promote peace, being nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize during the Kosovo war. Born Anastasios Yannoulatos, he was instrumental in rebuilding the Albanian Orthodox Church, becoming its head in 1992, a recovery period following communist suppression.
Before his body left Greece, it lay in state at the Metropolitan Cathedral of Athens, where large crowds gathered to pay their respects. The ceremony concluded with a mass attended by various religious leaders, Greek officials, and ordinary citizens. The mourners included President Katerina Sakellaropoulou and Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis among others, reflecting the high regard in which he was held.
Archbishop Anastasios' Body Arrives in Albania for Final Farewell (Illustration)
The body was transported to Albania, accompanied by a solemn convoy including military honours. Key religious figures from both the Greek and Albanian Orthodox churches escorted the body to Albania. The procession crossed the Greek-Albanian border via the Kakavia checkpoint and was received by a guard of honour.
Upon arrival in Tirana, Archbishop Anastasios' body will lie in state at the Cathedral of the Resurrection of Christ, allowing the Albanian public to pay their respects until his funeral on Thursday. The funeral service is expected to be attended by prominent leaders, including Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, further acknowledging the archbishop’s widespread influence and legacy.
The Albanian Orthodox Church has announced five days of mourning, with services reflecting on Archbishop Anastasios’ contributions to religious and cultural life. His ensuing burial will take place beneath the altar of the cathedral, a space he specifically designed for this purpose.
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Advanced: Reports from Greece
- Archbishop Anastasios: His Remains to Arrive in Albania on Tuesday (Newsit.gr)
- Anastasios' Body Lies in State at the Metropolis (Protagon)
- Until 10 a.m., the remains of the late Archbishop Anastasios will be at the Metropolitan Cathedral of Athens. (Zougla.gr)
- Archbishop Anastasios: Greece Bids Farewell as His Remains are Transferred to Albania (Ethnos)
- Archbishop Anastasios of Albania: Public Viewing Until 10:00 AM - Funeral to be Held in Albania (Athens Voice)