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{{church|name==Beginings==The '''Church of Albania''' as a church using the Albanian language is a late comer to an ancient region [[Image:Church of EuropeAlbania. The heritage gif|center|Church of Albania]]|founder=[[Apostles]]|independence=1922|recognition=1937 by [[Church of the Byzantine Roman Empire that resided in the areas in which Albanians lived meant that Greek was the language Constantinople|Constantinople]] |primate=[[Anastasios (Yannoulatos) of their churches. It was only in recent timesAlbania|Archbishop Anastasios]]|hq=Tirana, that is, the last hundred years or so, as nationalism came to the forefront in the Balkans that the idea came Albania|territory=Republic of an independent Albanian country in which the Orthodox church would use Albanian as its liturgical Albania|possessions=—|language. The idea of an Albanian liturgical language was in part realized through the efforts of an Albanian Orthodox émigré in the United States of America who began translating the Orthodox services into =Albanian|music=[[Byzantine Chant]] / Choral|calendar=[[Julian Calendar|Julian]], became an Orthodox [[priestRevised Julian Calendar|Revised Julian]]|population=600, and began using 000 [http://www.cnewa.org/ecc-bodypg-us.aspx?eccpageID=25&IndexView=toc]|website=[http://www.orthodoxalbania.org/ Orthodox Albania]}}The '''Church of Albania''' is one of the Albanian translations among Albanian communities both in America and Europe. This was [[Theophan (Noli) of Durres autocephaly|Fr. Theophan (Fan) Noliautocephalous]] in 1908. He was also part Orthodox churches whose territory consists of the nationalist movementRepublic of Albania.

At the same time[[Image:Berat cathedral.jpg|left|thumb|250px|Cathedral of St. Demetrius in Berat, Albania]]==Beginnings==The '''Church of Albania''' as a church using the nationalist movement for an independent Albanian nation bore fruit with language is a declaration latecomer to an ancient region of independence in 1912Europe. The declared independence heritage of the Byzantine Roman Empire that resided in the areas in which Albanians lived meant that Greek was ratified after World War I when the League language of Nations granted membership to Albania. Frtheir churches. Noli It was also only in recent times, that is, the last hundred years or so, as nationalism came to the political forefront in the Balkans that the idea came of an independent Albanian country in which the Orthodox church would use Albanian as this new nation its liturgical language. The idea of an Albanian liturgical language was formed. Now consecrated a bishop in Albania, he was named Bishop part realized through the efforts of Korca and Metropolitan an Albanian Orthodox émigré in the United States of Durres, and America who began translating the ruling hierarch of Albania. In 1922Orthodox services into Albanian, a became an Orthodox [[Councilpriest]] held at Berat proclaimed autocephaly for , and began using the Albanian church over the objections translations among Albanian communities both in America and Europe. This was [[Theophan (Noli) of the Patriarch of Constantinople who, Durres |Fr. Theophan (Fan) Noli]] in 1926, offered an agreement that would lead to future autocephaly1908. This He was also part of the Albanian government rejectednationalist movement.

In 1929At the same time, two the nationalist movement for an independent Albanian Orthodox bishops were consecrated by Bp. John Bessarion and nation bore fruit with a Serbian bishopdeclaration of independence in 1912. Thus, a synod The declared independence was ratified after World War I when the League of bishops Nations granted membership to Albania. Fr. Noli was also in the political forefront as this new nation was formed . Now consecrated a bishop in Tirana Albania, he was named [[Bishop]] of Korca and [[Metropolitan]] of Durres, and the church repeated its declaration ruling [[hierarch]] of autocephalyAlbania. A In 1922, a [[schismsynod|Council]] ensued between the two churches until on held at Berat proclaimed [[April 12autocephaly]], 1937, when for the Albanian church over the Ecumenical Patriarch recognized objections of the [[autocephalousPatriarch of Constantinople]] status of who, in 1926, offered an agreement that would lead to future autocephaly. This, the Albanian churchgovernment rejected.

In 1929, two Albanian Orthodox bishops were [[Consecration of a bishop|consecrated]] by Bp. [[John Bessarion]] and a Serbian bishop. Thus, a [[synod]] of bishops was formed in Tirana and the church repeated its declaration of autocephaly. A [[schism]] ensued between the two churches until on [[April 12]], 1937, when the Ecumenical Patriarch recognized the autocephalous status of the Albanian church. In the meantime, the church organization developed. Diocesan sees were established at Tirana, Berat, Argyrokastro, and Korytsa. Albanian began to be used more widely as Albanian translations of the service books became available, replacing Greek as the liturgical language. In 1937 a an Orthodox [[seminary]] was founded at Korystsa.

The peace of the church was savagely destroyed when the communists took over the government of the country in 1945. Influential Orthodox [[clergy was ]] were executed, and in 1949, the Archbishop of Tirana, Christopher Kissi, was removed from office, thus beginning the systematic removal of bishops who were not acceptable to the communist regime. The communists became more and more oppressive, exceeding even the oppressive measures in other communist regimes in Eastern Europe. In 1967, the regime closed all religious institutions and forbade any religious practices. At the same time, Abp. Damianos of Tirana was sent to prison where he died in 1973. The church was virtually destroyed.

==Church Restoredrestored==As the communist world began to disintegrate in 1990, the government in Albanian Albania followed in its disintegration and the . The persecution of the church Church ended. But, but the Orthodox [[hierarch]]y hierarchy had been destroyed. Having granted [[autocephaly]] to the Albanian church, the Patriarch of Constantinople stepped in to guide the Albanians in their recovery. He appointed Metropolitan [[Anastasios (Yannoulatos) of Androusis Albania|Anastasios]] of Androusa as Patriarchal [[Exarch]] in Albania to begin the reconstruction of the autocephalous Orthodox Church of Albania. On [[June 24]], 1992, the Holy Synod of the [[Ecumenical Patriarch]] Patriarchate elected Anastasios as Archbishop of Tirana and All Albania. The Synod also named three other bishops to the [[diocese|diocesan ]] vacancies. But, but the government refused their entry into Albania, calling instead for the appointment of ethnic Albanians. Tensions continued between the Greek -centered hierarchy and the Albanian government over naming ethnic Albanians to the hierarchy of the Albanian church. This was complicated by tensions between the Greek and Albanian governments over the ethnic Greek minority in Albania. The situation was finally resolved in 1998, when by mutual agreement among the Ecumenical Patriarch, the Albanian Church, and the Albanian government, Metr. Ignatios of Berat, who was one of the three bishops named earlier by the Ecumenical Patriarch, was enthroned, the other two hierarchs resigned, and two ethnic Albanians were elected. [[Archimandrite]] John Pelushi was elected Metropolitan of Korytsa (Korça) and Fr. Kosma Qirjo was elected Bishop of Apollonia, thus forming a full [[Holy Synod]] for the Church of Albania. In 2000, Bishop Kosma, who was 77 years old when elected, died and has not been replaced. Since 1991, the re-established Church has built over 83 new [[church]]es and five [[monastery|monasteries]]. Some 72 churches and monuments have been renovated and restored and over 140 churches have been repaired. In temporary facilities, the Resurrection of Christ Theological Academy was opened in March 1992 and moved to new facilities at the St. Vlash Monastery in Durrës in 1996. There were only 22 Orthodox priests alive when the communist regime collapsed; of these, only three were living in 2003, but by 2003, the seminary graduated 128 priests, all Albanian citizens. A severe shortage of priests continues. ==Holy synod==*Anastasios (Yannoulatos) Archbishop of Tirana, Durres, and All Albania 1991 - *Ignatios Metropolitan of Berat 1998 - *Joani (Pelushi) Metropolitan of Korca 1998 - *Demetrious (Sinaiti) Metropolitan of Gjirokaster 2006 -*Nikolla (Hyka) Bishop of Apolonia 2006 - *Andoni (Merdani) Bishop of Kruja 2006 -  ==Reposed hierarchs==Kozma (Qirjo) Bishop of Apolonia 1998 - 2000

The situation was finally resolved in 1998, when by mutual agreement among ==External links==*[http://www.orthodoxalbania.org/ Official Site of the Ecumenical Patriarch, the Albanian Church, and the Albanian government Metrof Albania]*[http://www.cnewa.org/default. Ignatios aspx?ID=25&pagetypeID=9&sitecode=HQ&pageno=1 Eastern Christian Churches: The Orthodox Church of Berat, who was one of the three bishops named earlier Albania] by the Ecumenical PatriarchRonald Roberson, was enthroned, the other two resigned, and two ethnic Albanians were elected. a [[ArchimandriteRoman Catholic]] John Pelushi was elected Metropolitan of Korca priest and Frscholar*[http://www. Kosma Qirjo was elected Bishop of Apollonia, thus forming a full Holy Synod for the Church of Albania. In 2000, Bishop Kosma, who was 77 years old when elected, died and hasn’t been replacedalbanianorthodox.com Albanian Orthodox Library]

Since 1991, the re-established church has built over 83 new [[church]]es and five [[monastery|monasteries]]. Some 72 {{churches and monuments have been renovated and restored and over 140 churches have been repaired. In temporary facilities, the Resurrection of Christ Theological [[Academy]] was opened in March 1992 and moved to new facilities at the St. Vlash Monastery in Durres in 1996. There were only 22 Orthodox priests alive when the communist regime collapsed. Of these only three were living in 2003. But, by 2003, the seminary graduated 128 priests, all Albanian citizens. But, of a severe shortage of priests continue.}}

==External Links==[[Category:Albanian Dioceses| ]]*[http[Category://www.orthodoxalbania.org/ Official Site of the Church of Jurisdictions|Albania]]*[http[Category://www.cnewa.org/ecc-bodypg.aspx?eccpageID=25&indexview=toc Church of AlbaniaFeatured Articles]]

[[Categoryes: JurisdictionsIglesia Ortodoxa de Albania]][[fr:Église d'Albanie]][[ro:Biserica Ortodoxă a Albaniei]]