A memorial evening dedicated to Metropolitan Amfilohije of Montenegro and the Littoral and Archbishop Anastasios of Tirana, Durrës and All Albania was held in Podgorica, highlighting their contributions to the revival and expansion of Orthodox Christianity in the Balkans, Africa and Latin America. The event also featured the presentation of Archbishop Anastasios’ book Missionary Work in the Footsteps of Christ.

The gathering took place on October 29 in the crypt of the Cathedral of the Resurrection of Christ as part of the sixth annual Days of Metropolitan Amfilohije, according to the website of the Metropolitanate of Montenegro and the Littoral.

Among those attending were Metropolitan Joanikije of Montenegro and the Littoral, Metropolitan Nathanael of Gjirokastër and Bishop Kirill of Buenos Aires and South and Central America.

Participants recalled the lives and spiritual legacies of the two hierarchs, who shared a longstanding friendship and a common commitment to missionary work. Both played significant roles in rebuilding Orthodox communities in their homelands and supporting the spread of the faith beyond national borders.

Rebuilding the Orthodox Church After Decades of Persecution

Archbishop Anastasios (Yannoulatos) was a central figure in the restoration of the Orthodox Church of Albania following the collapse of the country's communist regime.

For decades, religion had been subjected to severe persecution in Albania. In 1967, the country officially declared itself the world's first atheist state. Churches were closed or destroyed, clergy were persecuted, and religious life was effectively banned.

When Anastasios arrived in Albania in 1991, he encountered a Church whose infrastructure had been almost entirely devastated. Only a small number of priests remained, while many churches lay in ruins or had been converted to other uses.

The task of rebuilding the Church began virtually from scratch. The Archbishop's first words to the faithful became a symbol of hope for a community emerging from decades of persecution: "Christ is risen! God is with us, and we are with God."

Under his leadership, churches were restored, new clergy were trained, and educational and charitable institutions were established. Gradually, Albania's Orthodox community regained the opportunity to participate fully in church life.

However, Anastasios' missionary vocation had developed long before his arrival in Albania. From an early age, he believed that Orthodox missionary work should extend beyond Greece and reach peoples with little previous exposure to the Orthodox faith. He helped establish a missionary movement and its journal, Porefthentes, dedicated to spreading Christianity.

He subsequently spent many years working in Africa, particularly in Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania. His activities included establishing Christian communities, ordaining local clergy, baptizing converts and training future priests. His work contributed to the growth of Orthodoxy on the continent and the development of local leadership capable of sustaining church life independently.

The memorial evening also featured the presentation of his book Missionary Work in the Footsteps of Christ, a collection of 15 articles on proclaiming the Gospel, written between 1964 and 2003.

Metropolitan Amfilohije: Restoring Faith and Church Life in Montenegro

Metropolitan Amfilohije (Radović) is remembered as one of the most influential spiritual figures in modern Montenegro. He led the Metropolitanate of Montenegro and the Littoral of the Serbian Orthodox Church from 1990 until his death in 2020, playing a major role in restoring church life after decades of communist rule.

During his leadership, churches and monasteries were renovated and built, theological institutions were established, and Orthodox communities were strengthened. He was widely recognized for his theological knowledge, remarkable energy and ability to communicate with large audiences and people from diverse backgrounds.

Amfilohije also played an active role in Montenegro's public life, advocating the preservation of Orthodox heritage and the protection of church sanctuaries. His sermons and pastoral work left a lasting mark on the country's spiritual landscape.

His missionary activities, however, extended far beyond the Balkans. South and Central America held a special place in his ministry, where he supported the establishment and development of Orthodox communities, the restoration of churches, the construction of parish facilities and the organization of regular worship services.

Through his efforts, parishes developed in Argentina, Brazil, Guatemala and Ecuador, bringing together descendants of Orthodox immigrants and local people who had independently embraced the Orthodox faith.

Speaking at the memorial event, Bishop Kirill of Buenos Aires and South and Central America emphasized that Metropolitan Amfilohije viewed missionary work as much more than introducing people to Orthodox traditions. Its essential purpose, he believed, was to bring people into the life of the Church through baptism and participation in divine services.

A Friendship United by a Common Mission

A central theme of the evening was the longstanding friendship between Metropolitan Amfilohije and Archbishop Anastasios, which began during their youth while studying in Greece.

Although their ministries eventually took them to different countries and continents, they shared a common understanding of the Church's mission: Orthodoxy must not only preserve its traditions but also reach out to people and bring the Gospel to new communities.

Recalling both hierarchs, Metropolitan Joanikije highlighted their ability to recognize the spiritual challenges of their time and find words that helped people rediscover their faith.

He also shared personal memories of meeting Archbishop Anastasios, who, even in advanced age, retained remarkable mental clarity, a strong memory and a deep love for the Church.

According to Metropolitan Joanikije, both hierarchs completed their earthly journeys leaving behind an immense spiritual legacy, yet their presence continues to be felt within the Church community.

Bishop Kirill also reflected on the connection between the two missionaries, emphasizing that they shared not only a longstanding friendship but also a firm belief in cooperation among the local Orthodox Churches.

Metropolitan Amfilohije believed that joint missionary initiatives, translations of theological literature and support for Orthodox communities around the world should be a common responsibility of the entire Orthodox Christian world.

The memorial gathering in Podgorica served as a tribute to two hierarchs whose ministries crossed national and continental boundaries, demonstrating how missionary work, education and pastoral service can help restore Christian communities and strengthen the presence of Orthodoxy across the world.