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Head of Albania Orthodox Church dies, devoted mourn

Archbishop Anastasios, head of the Orthodox Church of Albania, died at a hospital in Athens at the age of 95 on Saturday, the church announced.

Anastasios played a crucial role in reviving the church in Albania, an independent branch of the Eastern Orthodox Church, after being chosen to lead it in 1992 following the fall of the communist routine which had actually ruled the Muslim-majority nation for decades.

Anastasios was admitted to a health center in Tirana with influenza in early December however his condition shabby and he was airlifted to Athens to be dealt with at Evangelismos Health center.

His Beatitude dropped off to sleep in the Lord today ... at Evangelismos Hospital in Athens, due to several organ failure, the Orthodox Church of Albania stated in a press release.

People lit candles in front of the Orthodox Cathedral in Tirana to mourn their loss while the bells rang continually.

He gave a lot to Albania especially for us as a country where religious beliefs was rejected to us for 50 years.? t was challenging to start persuading people that they have to think again someplace, Iva Ademi, 65, told Reuters.

Greek lawmakers observed a minute's silence in the neighboring's nation parliament at a start of a session on Saturday morning.

A vocal fan of dialogue among various religious beliefs, Anastasios had actually formerly acted as a missionary in a number of nations in Africa and was popular for his charitable work to assist the bad and outcast in Albania.

The President of Albania and the Greek Prime Minister expressed their acknowledgements.

Albania today mourns the loss of his beatitude, the Archbishop of Tirana, Durrës, and All Albania, said president Bajram Begaj in a press release.

(source: Reuters)